Why does the @stripe/stripe-react-native CardForm crash on Android standalone APKs?

Below is a list of recommendations to troubleshoot a crash on Android when displaying the CardForm component in a standalone APK:

1. Ensure Native Dependencies Are Configured
   The CardForm component comes from a native module. When running in Expo Go the module might only be partially loaded. However, when you build a standalone APK, the native configuration must be properly set up. Make sure you have followed the steps for installing and configuring @stripe/stripe-react-native. For example, use the correct command so that Expo picks up the matching version:

   BASHCopied
   npx expo install @stripe/stripe-react-native

2. Configure Android-Specific Settings with the Plugin
   Unlike iOS, Android needs additional configuration.

   • In your app.json (or app.config.js), you must include the plugin configuration. For example, you might need to provide a returnUrl (even if you are not redirecting) so that the native module is properly configured.
   • Also verify you have updated the AndroidManifest.xml as recommended (this happens automatically in a prebuild if you have the correct plugin set up).

   A sample snippet in app.json might look like:

   JSONCopied
   {
     "expo": {
       "plugins": [
         [
           "@stripe/stripe-react-native",
           {
             "merchantIdentifier": "merchant.com.yourid",
             "returnUrl": "yourapp://stripe-redirect"
           }
         ]
       ]
     }
   }

   Adjust the values based on your project requirements.

3. Using a Custom Development Client or a Full Standalone Build
   Since the CardForm uses native code, it won’t work in a “vanilla” Expo Go app if the native module isn’t preinstalled. Make sure that you’re using either a development build (using expo-dev-client) that includes the native code or a fully standalone build for Android.

4. Verify Initialization With StripeProvider
   Ensure that you have wrapped your app (or at least the part that uses CardForm) inside the StripeProvider with your publishable key. For example:

   JSXCopied
   import { StripeProvider } from '@stripe/stripe-react-native';
   
   export default function App() {
     return (
       <StripeProvider publishableKey="pk_test_yourkey">
         <YourAppContent />
       </StripeProvider>
     );
   }

5. Test a Release Build
   Sometimes crashing issues appear only in release builds. After making changes, rebuild your APK and test it on a physical Android device. You can build a development client locally using expo-dev-client before moving to a full build.

6. Check Logs and Symbolicate
   If the app still crashes, try capturing log output (using Android Studio’s logcat) to locate the exact error message. If you see errors related to native code or missing configuration, recheck the installation steps in the @stripe/stripe-react-native README and the Expo guide for deploying to app stores.

Following these steps should help you diagnose and resolve the crash on Android. If you still experience issues, consider verifying that all instructions in the native installation instructions for expo modules have been followed (for example, regenerating native directories using expo prebuild if needed).