'react-native' is not recognized as an internal or external command

# 'react-native' is not recognized as an internal or external command

To solve the error "react-native is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file":

1. Prefix the react-native command with npx instead of using it directly.
2. Alternatively, install the react-native-cli package globally.

Copied!
'react-native' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

The term 'react-native' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program.

The first thing you should try is to prefix the react-native command with npx as shown in this GitHub repo.

Copied!
npx react-native init MyApp

cd MyApp

npx react-native start

If you get an error stating that "cb.apply is not a function", you have to update your npm version.

Copied!
npm install -g npm@latest --force

If you get an error that npx is not installed, install it by running the following command.

Copied!
#   👇️ for Windows
npm install -g npx

#   👇️ for macOS or Linux
sudo npm install -g npx

To open CMD as an administrator:

1. Click on the Search bar and type CMD.

2. Right-click on the Command Prompt application and click "Run as administrator".

You can also use the npx react-native command in an existing project.

Copied!
yarn react-native start

npx react-native start

Alternatively, you can add a start script in your package.json file.

Copied!
{
  "scripts": {
    "start": "react-native start"
  }
}

Then you can run the script with the npm run start command.

Copied!
npm run start

Alternatively, you can install the react-native-cli package globally.

Copied!
npm uninstall -g react-native-cli
npm install -g react-native-cli

react-native init AwesomeApp

If you get a permissions error, prefix the commands with sudo or open CMD as an administrator.

If none of the suggestions helped, try restarting your terminal and your IDE.

Alternatively, you can follow the "setting up the development environment" instructions in this section of the React Native docs.

If the error persists, add npm to your PATH environment variable manually.

# Add npm to your PATH environment variable

To add npm to your PATH environment variable:

1. Click on the Search bar and type "environment variables".
2. Click on "Edit the system environment variables".

3. Click on the "Environment Variables" button.

4. In the "System variables" section, select the "Path" variable and click "Edit".

5. Click on "New" and then click "Browse".

6. Your npm directory is most likely located under %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm or in other words, C:\Users\YOUR_USER\AppData\Roaming\npm.

Copied!
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm

# 👇️ same as below (make sure to replace YOUR_USER)
C:\Users\YOUR_USER\AppData\Roaming\npm

If you can't find it, run the npm config get prefix command.

Copied!
npm config get prefix

7. Add the path to npm and click on "OK" twice to confirm.

8. Close your Command prompt application and then reopen it.

You might also have to restart your PC, but that's not always necessary.

9. Try to issue a react-native command after you've restarted your shell.

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

• ViewPropTypes has been removed from React Native [Solved]
• TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'transformFile')
• TypeError: cli.init is not a function in React Native
• Unable to find expo in this project - have you run yarn / npm install yet?