Deprecated API Usage Expo React Native - react-native

Question

I have an expo RN app that I was able to successfully upload to TestFlight last month but now is being rejected because of the AppStore's depreciation of the UIWebView version. I have removed all references of UIWebView, I have cleared the cache, I have refreshed the package-lock.json and even force removed all references with grep -r "UIWebView" . command. Nothing is working. Every time I rebuild my iOs app with Expo and then upload to TestFlight the build fails and throws this generic unhelpful error: This build is invalid.
I get an email with the below slightly more helpful message:
TMS-90809: Deprecated API Usage - New apps that use UIWebView are no
longer accepted. Instead, use WKWebView for improved security and
reliability. Learn more
I found one article saying I need to update my expo SDK version to 37 but when I do this my app breaks because I am on an old react native version (v 0.59) and they are not compatible.
I would really hate to rip apart my app, update the RN version, update the expo SDK version to only have the error persist.
Is there a way to get my app on App Store Connect without having to update my RN and expo SDK version in my app.json?
docs I have already looked through:
ITMS-90809: Deprecated API Usage -- Apple will stop accepting submissions of apps that use UIWebView APIs
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/uiwebview
app.json
{
"expo": {
"name": "companyname",
"slug": "companyname",
"privacy": "public",
"sdkVersion": "35.0.0",
"platforms": ["ios", "android", "web"],
"version": "1.0.0",
"orientation": "portrait",
"icon": "./assets/logo.png",
"splash": {
"image": "./assets/logo_original.png",
"resizeMode": "contain",
"backgroundColor": "#ffffff"
},
"updates": {
"fallbackToCacheTimeout": 0
},
"assetBundlePatterns": ["**/*"],
"ios": {
"supportsTablet": true,
"bundleIdentifier": "com.companyname.companyname",
"buildNumber": "9.0.8"
},
"android": {
"package": "com.companyname.companyname",
"versionCode": 2.0,
"config": {
"googleMaps": {
"apiKey": "123"
}
},
"permissions": [
"ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION",
"ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
"CAMERA",
"MANAGE_DOCUMENTS",
"READ_CONTACTS",
"READ_CALENDAR",
"WRITE_CALENDAR",
"READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE",
"READ_PHONE_STATE",
"RECORD_AUDIO",
"USE_FINGERPRINT",
"VIBRATE",
"WAKE_LOCK",
"WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE",
"com.anddoes.launcher.permission.UPDATE_COUNT",
"com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT",
"com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE",
"com.google.android.gms.permission.ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION",
"com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES",
"com.htc.launcher.permission.READ_SETTINGS",
"com.htc.launcher.permission.UPDATE_SHORTCUT",
"com.majeur.launcher.permission.UPDATE_BADGE",
"com.sec.android.provider.badge.permission.READ",
"com.sec.android.provider.badge.permission.WRITE",
"com.sonyericsson.home.permission.BROADCAST_BADGE"
]
}
}
}
package.json
{
"main": "node_modules/expo/AppEntry.js",
"scripts": {
"start": "expo start",
"android": "expo start --android",
"ios": "expo start --ios",
"web": "expo start --web",
"eject": "expo eject",
"test": "jest",
"postinstall": "node overwrite/migrate.js"
},
"jest": {
"preset": "react-native"
},
"dependencies": {
"#ptomasroos/react-native-multi-slider": "^2.0.0",
"#react-native-community/datetimepicker": "^2.2.3",
"#shoutem/ui": "^1.0.4",
"add": "^2.0.6",
"expo": "35.0.0",
"expo-cli": "^3.20.3",
"expo-constants": "^8.0.0",
"expo-device": "^2.0.0",
"expo-file-system": "^7.0.0",
"expo-image-picker": "^7.0.0",
"expo-linear-gradient": "^7.0.1",
"expo-location": "^5.0.1",
"expo-permissions": "^5.0.1",
"faker": "^4.1.0",
"firebase": "~7.0.0",
"firebase-admin": "^8.10.0",
"react": "16.8.3",
"react-dom": "^16.8.6",
"react-native": "0.59.8",
"react-native-animatable": "^1.3.3",
"react-native-app-intro-slider": "^3.0.0",
"react-native-collapsible": "^1.5.1",
"react-native-datepicker": "^1.7.2",
"react-native-deck-swiper": "^1.6.7",
"react-native-device-info": "^5.5.3",
"react-native-draggable-flatlist": "^1.1.9",
"react-native-elements": "^1.2.6",
"react-native-flash-message": "^0.1.15",
"react-native-gesture-handler": "^1.2.2",
"react-native-gifted-chat": "^0.12.0-beta-0",
"react-native-google-places": "^3.1.2",
"react-native-google-places-autocomplete": "^1.3.9",
"react-native-image-slider-show": "^1.0.3",
"react-native-keyboard-aware-scroll-view": "^0.9.1",
"react-native-maps": "0.24.2",
"react-native-multi-slider": "^0.3.6",
"react-native-picker-select": "^6.3.3",
"react-native-screens": "^2.5.0",
"react-native-swiper-flatlist": "^2.0.3",
"react-native-vector-icons": "^6.6.0",
"react-native-view-overflow": "0.0.4",
"react-native-web": "^0.11.4",
"react-navigation": "^3.13.0",
"redux": "^4.0.4"
},
"rnpm": {
"assets": [
"utils/Fonts/"
]
},
"devDependencies": {
"babel-eslint": "^10.0.3",
"babel-plugin-module-resolver": "^3.2.0",
"babel-preset-expo": "^5.2.0",
"eslint": "^6.6.0",
"eslint-config-react": "^1.1.7",
"eslint-config-react-native": "^4.0.0",
"eslint-import-resolver-babel-module": "^5.1.0",
"eslint-plugin-import": "^2.18.2",
"eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y": "^6.2.3",
"eslint-plugin-prettier": "^3.1.1",
"eslint-plugin-react": "^7.16.0",
"eslint-plugin-react-hooks": "0.0.0-f6b8d31a7",
"eslint-plugin-react-native": "^3.8.1",
"prettier": "^1.19.1"
},
"private": true
}

Answer 1

You need to update to SDK 37 to remove all dependencies on UIWebView. See this blog post for more information, in particular under the "UIWebView Removed" heading. https://blog.expo.io/expo-sdk-37-is-now-available-dd5770f066a6