Why Navigation Headaches in React Native in 2025 ?, Navigating between screens: best practices
Navigation Headaches in React Native : React Native is a mainstream framework for developing cross-platform mobile applications, and React Navigation is the defacto library for managing navigation between screens. But developers usually experience all sorts of “navigation headaches” – from obscure warnings to unpredictable behavior – particularly when initializing or customizing the navigation stack.
This guide explores the most common navigation challenges in React Native, with emphasis on the ubiquitous “Non-serializable values were found in navigation state” warning, best practices for navigating from one screen to another, and how to install and implement the Native Stack Navigator correctly.
Common navigation issues in React Native
1. Non-serializable values in navigation state
One of the most frequent and confusing warnings is:
“Non-serializable values were found in navigation state.
This warning typically appears when you pass non-serializable data—such as functions, class instances, or complex objects—as parameters when navigating between screens. Navigation Headaches in React Native, React Navigation expects all parameters to be serializable because navigation state may be persisted, restored, or used for deep linking. Non-serializable values can break these features
Example Scenario: Passing a Callback Function
const onNextPress = () => {
navigation.navigate(“ScreenB”, { callBack: () => console.log(“Called!”) });
};
This will trigger a warning because the callback is a function, which is not serializable.
Why is this a problem?
- It can break state persistence and deep linking.
- It can cause unexpected bugs during navigation or app reload.
How to fix it
- Avoid passing functions or class instances in navigation parameters.
- Instead, use a state management tool (such as Redux or Context) to share functions or data between screens.
- If you must pass functions and understand the risks, you can suppress the warning using LogBox.ignoreLogs, but this is not recommended for production code.
2. Screen unmounting/remounting unexpectedly
Another common problem is the screen unmounting and remounting during navigation, causing the local state to reset. Navigation Headaches in React Native, This usually happens when you create components inside other components or pass new function references as props, causing React to treat them as new components.
Best practice
- Always define screen components outside of the render function.
- Pass only serializable, static props to the screen.
3. Navigation stack issues and incorrect configurations
Issues like headers or footers behaving strangely, or screens not updating after navigation actions often arise from:
- Incorrect or outdated package imports.
- Not initializing the navigator properly.
- Incorrectly configuring screen components.
Solution
- Always import the navigator from the latest @react-navigation package.
- Initialize navigators before using them.
Use the correct API for stack, tab, or drawer navigators.
Navigating between screens: best practices
How navigation works in React Navigation
Navigating between screens involves:
- Defining a navigator (stack, tab, drawer).
- Registering a screen with a unique name and a component.
- Using navigation.navigate(‘ScreenName’, params) to move between screens.
Example: Basic Stack Navigation
import { NavigationContainer } from ‘@react-navigation/native’;
import { createStackNavigator } from ‘@react-navigation/stack’;
const Stack = createStackNavigator();
function HomeScreen({ navigation }) {
return (
<Button
title=”Go to Details”
onPress={() => navigation.navigate(‘Details’)}
/>
);
}
function DetailsScreen() {
return <Text>Details Screen</Text>;
}
export default function App() {
return (
<NavigationContainer>
<Stack.Navigator>
<Stack.Screen name=”Home” component={HomeScreen} />
<Stack.Screen name=”Details” component={DetailsScreen} />
</Stack.Navigator>
</NavigationContainer>
);
}
This pattern ensures predictable navigation and prevents common bugs
Explanation of the “non-serializable value” warning
What triggers the warning?
- Passing a function, class instance, or complex object as a parameter to Navigation.navigate.
Example:
navigation.navigate(“ScreenB”, { onPress: () => {} }); // Triggers warning
Why does React Navigation care?
- Navigation state can be saved to disk or sent over the network (for deep linking, state persistence).
- Non-serializable values cannot be saved or restored reliably, leading to potential bugs.
How to avoid this
- Pass only serializable data (strings, numbers, arrays, plain objects).
- Use global state (context, redux) or events to share callbacks between screens.
- If you need to update state on the previous screen, consider using navigation events or global state instead of callbacks in parameters.
Installing the Native Stack Navigator Library
To use the Native Stack Navigator for better performance and native feel, you need to install the correct packages:
Step-by-step installation
1.Install dependencies:
npm install @react-navigation/native @react-navigation/native-stack react-native-screens react-native-safe-area-context react-native-gesture-handler react-native-reanimated
2.Link native dependencies (if using older React Native):
npx pod-install ios
3.Import and use the native stack navigator:
import { NavigationContainer } from ‘@react-navigation/native’;
import { createNativeStackNavigator } from ‘@react-navigation/native-stack’;
const Stack = createNativeStackNavigator();
export default function App() {
return (
<NavigationContainer>
<Stack.Navigator>
<Stack.Screen name=”Home” component={HomeScreen} />
<Stack.Screen name=”Details” component={DetailsScreen} />
</Stack.Navigator>
</NavigationContainer>
);
}
This setup provides a smoother, more native navigation experience.
Comparison: Common Navigation Headaches and Solutions
| Headache | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Non-serializable values warning | Passing functions/instances in params | Pass only serializable data; use global state for callbacks |
| Screens unmount/remount unexpectedly | Creating components/functions in render | Define components outside render; avoid dynamic function props |
| Navigation stack misbehavior (headers, footers, etc.) | Misconfigured imports or initialization | Use correct package imports; initialize navigators properly |
| Screens not updating after navigation | Improper state management | Ensure screens respond to navigation state and use keys properly |
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Key points
- Pass serializable data in navigation parameters at all times to prevent warnings and possible bugs.
- Define screen components and navigation logic outside the render function to avoid remounting issues.
- Utilize the newest version of React Navigation package and strictly adhere to the official setup instructions for seamless navigation.
- Avoid passing functions as parameters and utilize global state or navigation events to share complex data between screens.
- Test navigation for both Android and iOS to catch platform-specific bugs early.
Read Also : What is React Strict Mode ?
Conclusion
React Navigation is robust, but it can be tricky if not used correctly. The most common headaches — especially the “Non-serializable values were found in navigation state” warning — are usually caused by passing non-serializable data or incorrectly configuring the navigator. Navigation Headaches in React Native, By following best practices for navigation, using only serializable parameters, and properly installing the Native Stack Navigator library, you can avoid these pitfalls and create seamless, reliable navigation flows in your React Native app.
If you encounter persistent navigation issues, consult the official troubleshooting guide and community forum, as there are well-documented solutions for many problems.