Auth0 React Native Integration

Add authentication to React Native and Expo mobile applications using react-native-auth0.

Prerequisites

React Native or Expo application
Auth0 account and application configured as Native type
If you don't have Auth0 set up yet, use the auth0-quickstart skill first

When NOT to Use

React web applications - Use auth0-react skill for SPAs (Vite/CRA)
React Server Components - Use auth0-nextjs for Next.js applications
Non-React native apps - Use platform-specific SDKs (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android)
Backend APIs - Use JWT validation libraries for your server language

Quick Start Workflow

1. Install SDK

Expo:

npx expo install react-native-auth0

React Native CLI:

npm install react-native-auth0
npx pod-install  # iOS only

2. Configure Environment

For automated setup with Auth0 CLI, see Setup Guide for complete scripts.

For manual setup:

Create .env:

AUTH0_DOMAIN=your-tenant.auth0.com
AUTH0_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id

3. Configure Native Platforms

iOS - Update ios/{YourApp}/Info.plist:

<key>CFBundleURLTypes</key>
<array>
  <dict>
    <key>CFBundleTypeRole</key>
    <string>None</string>
    <key>CFBundleURLName</key>
    <string>auth0</string>
    <key>CFBundleURLSchemes</key>
    <array>
      <string>$(PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER).auth0</string>
    </array>
  </dict>
</array>

Android - Update android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml:

<activity
    android:name="com.auth0.android.provider.RedirectActivity"
    android:exported="true">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
        <data
            android:host="YOUR_AUTH0_DOMAIN"
            android:pathPrefix="/android/${applicationId}/callback"
            android:scheme="${applicationId}" />
    </intent-filter>
</activity>

Expo - Update app.json:

{
  "expo": {
    "scheme": "your-app-scheme",
    "ios": {
      "bundleIdentifier": "com.yourcompany.yourapp"
    },
    "android": {
      "package": "com.yourcompany.yourapp"
    }
  }
}

4. Add Authentication with Auth0Provider

Wrap your app with Auth0Provider:

import React from 'react';
import { Auth0Provider } from 'react-native-auth0';
import App from './App';

export default function Root() {
  return (
    <Auth0Provider
      domain={process.env.AUTH0_DOMAIN}
      clientId={process.env.AUTH0_CLIENT_ID}
    >
      <App />
    </Auth0Provider>
  );
}

5. Use the useAuth0 Hook

import React from 'react';
import { View, Button, Text, ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native';
import { useAuth0 } from 'react-native-auth0';

export default function App() {
  const { user, authorize, clearSession, isLoading } = useAuth0();

  const login = async () => {
    try {
      await authorize({
        scope: 'openid profile email'
      });
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Login error:', error);
    }
  };

  const logout = async () => {
    try {
      await clearSession();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Logout error:', error);
    }
  };

  if (isLoading) {
    return <ActivityIndicator />;
  }

  return (
    <View>
      {user ? (
        <>
          <Text>Welcome, {user.name}!</Text>
          <Text>{user.email}</Text>
          <Button title="Logout" onPress={logout} />
        </>
      ) : (
        <Button title="Login" onPress={login} />
      )}
    </View>
  );
}

6. Test Authentication

Expo:

npx expo start

React Native:

npx react-native run-ios
# or
npx react-native run-android

Detailed Documentation

Setup Guide - Automated setup, native configuration, deep linking
Patterns Guide - Secure storage, biometric auth, token refresh
API Reference - Complete SDK API, methods, configuration options

Common Mistakes

| Mistake | Fix | |---------|-----| | Forgot to wrap app with Auth0Provider | All components using useAuth0() must be children of Auth0Provider | | Forgot to configure deep linking | Add URL scheme to iOS Info.plist and Android AndroidManifest.xml (see Step 3) | | Callback URL mismatch | Ensure callback URL in Auth0 Dashboard matches your app's URL scheme (e.g., com.yourapp.auth0://YOUR_DOMAIN/ios/com.yourapp/callback) | | iOS build fails after install | Run npx pod-install to link native dependencies | | App created as SPA type in Auth0 | Must be Native application type for mobile apps | | Not handling auth errors | Wrap authorize/clearSession calls in try-catch blocks | | Deep link not working on Android | Verify android:exported="true" is set on RedirectActivity |

Related Skills

auth0-quickstart - Basic Auth0 setup
auth0-migration - Migrate from another auth provider
auth0-mfa - Add Multi-Factor Authentication

Quick Reference

Core Hook API:

useAuth0() - Main hook for authentication
authorize() - Initiate login
clearSession() - Logout
user - User profile object
getCredentials() - Get tokens for API calls
isLoading - Loading state

Common Use Cases:

Login/Logout → See Step 5 above
Secure token storage → Automatic with Auth0Provider
Biometric authentication → Patterns Guide
API calls with tokens → Patterns Guide
Token refresh → Automatic with getCredentials()

auth0-react-native