React Native 0.87 was officially released on August 11, 2026, according to the official release announcement. That leads to a simple decision: you can write most React Native code on Windows, but you need macOS for the local Xcode toolchain, iOS Simulator, native iOS debugging, and iOS builds.
Symptom: You have a Windows computer, but your React Native project must run on iOS.
Fastest solution: Keep coding on Windows, then use a remote Mac when you reach iOS verification or Xcode build work.
Last updated August 26, 2026. Version and tool information was checked against the React Native release, environment, and Apple Xcode documentation linked in this guide.
This guide is for:
- Students beginning React Native 0.87 on Windows 11.
- Beginners whose course requires both Android and iOS submissions.
- Learners who already built the interface but are blocked by iOS Simulator, native dependencies, or signing.
The Windows–Mac task boundary
React Native has a shared development layer and a native platform layer. The shared layer includes JavaScript or TypeScript, screens, navigation, state management, API calls, and much of your business logic. You can learn and write these parts on Windows.
The iOS layer is different. The React Native environment setup documentation identifies Xcode as part of the iOS development toolchain. Xcode supplies the compiler, simulator integration, iOS SDK components, and Apple-specific build tools. Windows does not provide that local toolchain.
That means “developing a React Native iOS app on Windows” can describe two very different activities:
- Writing code that is intended to run on iOS.
- Actually compiling and running the iOS target.
The first can happen on Windows. The second needs macOS.
This distinction prevents a common beginner mistake: seeing a shared screen in a framework preview and assuming that the iOS native project has already passed its real test.
What Windows can handle
During the Windows phase, you can:
- Create or open a React Native project.
- Write reusable components.
- Build layouts and navigation.
- Connect to a web API.
- Use Git to save versions.
- Run Android debugging tools.
- Fix JavaScript and TypeScript errors.
- Document the commands and dependency versions used by the project.
You may also use an Expo preview for an early look at JavaScript-driven screens. That is useful for learning, but it is not an iOS build result. Expo’s own explanation of Expo Go and development builds describes why native modules and development builds can require a different workflow.
What requires macOS
Move to a Mac when you need to:
- Open the iOS workspace or project in Xcode.
- Start iOS Simulator.
- Compile the iOS target.
- Test a native dependency.
- Inspect an iOS permission or project setting.
- Test a change that affects the native iOS directory.
- Sign an application for a device or distribution.
For a beginner, this is the most useful rule:
If the task mentions Xcode, iOS Simulator, an iOS SDK, signing, certificates, or a native module, plan a Mac session.
The first Windows coding phase
Do not wait for a Mac before learning the shared part of the project. Your first objective is to create a clean, repeatable project that can be moved to macOS without guesswork.
Create the smallest working project
Follow the course’s React Native 0.87 setup instructions rather than mixing commands from unrelated tutorials. Keep the project name simple, create one screen, and confirm that the application starts on the platform available to you.
At this stage, focus on:
- A basic screen with text and a button.
- A second screen or simple navigation flow.
- One API request or local data example.
- A visible loading and error state.
- A clear folder structure.
Avoid adding five libraries before the first screen works. Every extra package can introduce another version constraint or native requirement.
Save the project in Git
Create a repository before making major changes. Commit after each meaningful milestone, such as:
- Project creation.
- First screen.
- Navigation.
- Data loading.
- Styling changes.
- New dependency installation.
Use a short commit message that explains the change. If the iOS build fails later, you can compare the last working commit with the first failing one.
Also record:
- React Native version.
- Node.js version.
- Package-manager version.
- Operating system.
- Commands used to install dependencies.
- Packages added after project creation.
This record is more valuable than a screenshot of a successful preview because it helps you rebuild the same environment on a Mac.
Separate preview from verification
A preview answers: “Does this JavaScript-driven screen appear?”
An iOS build answers more difficult questions:
- Can the native iOS project compile?
- Are all native packages linked or configured correctly?
- Are permissions valid?
- Does the selected simulator support the deployment target?
- Does the application launch after the native build completes?
Keep these results separate in your notes. Calling a preview “an iOS test” can hide the exact problem that appears during the first Xcode build.
The environment handoff
Before connecting to a Mac, make the project portable. The goal is not to copy a half-finished folder manually. The goal is to reproduce the project from a known commit.
Version and tool checks
React Native 0.87 was released on August 11, 2026, and its release notes include the changes specific to that version. The official Strict TypeScript API documentation should also be checked if your project or course enables that API mode.
On the Mac, verify the following against the official React Native environment requirements:
- The React Native version used by the project.
- A supported Node.js version.
- Xcode.
- Xcode command-line tools.
- The required iOS platform components.
- CocoaPods or other dependency tools required by the project.
- A simulator runtime that matches the project’s needs.
If your lesson names Xcode 26.6, treat that as a course requirement to verify, not as a reason to install an unconfirmed beta toolchain. Apple’s Xcode system requirements are the correct reference for matching Xcode with macOS.
React Native 0.87 also includes Swift Package Manager support for iOS as an experimental path. Do not switch your project’s dependency method simply because the feature exists. Beginners should follow the installation path used by the official setup instructions or by their course, unless a specific package requires another method.
Access and project preparation
Before the first Mac session:
- Push the latest commit to your repository.
- Check that the lockfile is included.
- Remove secrets from the repository.
- Write down any required environment variables.
- Confirm that you can access the account used for the repository.
- Check whether the project requires an Apple account.
- Note the course’s required simulator or iOS version.
- Leave enough time for dependency installation and the first build.
Do not create certificates or App Store Connect records just to display a practice screen in Simulator. Signing becomes important for a physical iPhone and distribution. Apple’s build and run documentation explains the normal Xcode flow, while Apple’s provisioning profile documentation covers the separate profile process.
The first remote Mac session
A remote Mac is useful here because it gives you access to macOS only when the course reaches an iOS-specific checkpoint. You still write most code where you are comfortable.
Step 1: Connect and inspect the machine
Connect to the remote Mac through the available remote desktop, SSH, or web console method. Remote desktop is needed for Xcode and iOS Simulator. SSH is useful for Git, dependency installation, and command-line checks, but it cannot replace a graphical simulator session.
Confirm that:
- You can open Terminal.
- You can open Xcode.
- You can start iOS Simulator.
- Your repository account is available.
- The project directory is writable.
- The installed tools match the project notes.
Do not begin by changing ten system settings. First identify whether the assigned Mac already has the tools your course expects.
Step 2: Get the known project version
Open Terminal and clone the repository, or pull the latest commit if the project is already present.
git clone YOUR_REPOSITORY_URL
cd YOUR_PROJECT_FOLDER
git checkout YOUR_WORKING_BRANCH
Use your actual repository URL and branch name. Do not paste access tokens into a command that may be saved in shell history.
Install the project dependencies using the command required by its lockfile. For example, a project using npm normally uses:
npm install
If the repository specifies another package manager, follow that repository’s instructions instead. The important point is consistency between Windows and Mac, not loyalty to one command.
Step 3: Understand the moving parts
Metro is React Native’s JavaScript bundler. Think of it as a small delivery service that prepares your JavaScript code and sends it to the running app.
Native dependencies are packages that include platform-specific code. A navigation library written only in JavaScript is easier to move between systems. A package that accesses the camera, notifications, Bluetooth, or native storage may need iOS configuration and a real Xcode build.
Simulator is Apple’s virtual iPhone environment. It is not a real phone, but it lets you check many screens and interactions without owning an iPhone.
Install the iOS dependencies required by the project. If the project uses CocoaPods, the repository or React Native instructions may require a command such as:
cd ios
pod install
cd ..
Do not run this blindly if the project uses another documented dependency path. Check the generated files and the course instructions first.
Step 4: Open the iOS target
Open the workspace or project file specified by the project instructions. Projects using CocoaPods commonly require the workspace rather than the project file. If you choose the wrong file, Xcode may show missing dependency or linking errors that are not caused by your application code.
Start the simulator from Xcode or the command line. React Native’s official iOS Simulator instructions provide the supported run commands for the project setup.
For a first launch, use the least complicated path:
- Start the simulator.
- Start Metro if the project requires it.
- Select the intended simulator device.
- Run the iOS target.
- Wait for the first native compilation.
- Read the first clear error if the build fails.
The first compilation can expose environment issues that a Windows preview never sees. That is expected. Save the complete error output before changing files.
Step 5: Record the result
Write down:
- The commit that was tested.
- The simulator selected.
- Whether the app compiled.
- Whether the first screen appeared.
- Whether a JavaScript change refreshed.
- Any native dependency error.
- Any signing message.
- The command or Xcode action that succeeded.
This turns a vague “it worked once” into a repeatable test record.
The first-build success criteria
A successful first session has several levels. Do not combine them.
Simulator launch: The iOS target compiles and opens in iOS Simulator.
Repeatable development run: You can stop and start the app again, reload a JavaScript change, and preserve useful logs.
Real-device testing: The app runs on a physical iPhone. This can introduce device permissions, signing, certificates, and provisioning requirements.
Distribution build: The app is prepared for external installation or submission. This is a separate task involving signing and distribution settings.
For a beginner completing a course exercise, Simulator launch and repeatable development are often enough. If the assignment explicitly requires a physical device or distribution artifact, follow Apple’s signing documentation rather than treating Simulator success as proof that the package can be installed elsewhere.
Decision table for your learning setup
| Task | Windows only | Remote Mac needed | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| JavaScript or TypeScript practice | Yes | No | Project starts and code is committed |
| Shared React Native interface | Yes | No | Screens behave as expected on the available platform |
| Android debugging | Usually | No | Android tools and device or emulator are configured |
| Expo preview | Often | Not always | Preview is not the same as a native iOS build |
| iOS Simulator | No | Yes | Xcode and a compatible simulator runtime |
| iOS native dependency testing | No | Yes | Package installation and native project changes |
| Physical iPhone testing | No | Yes | Apple account, signing, device access |
| Distribution or App Store submission | No | Yes | Certificates, provisioning, and Apple distribution workflow |
The table gives you a workflow decision, not a promise that every project behaves identically. A package can add its own native requirements, so check its documentation before assuming that a JavaScript-only preview covers the complete app.
Common beginner misunderstandings
“React Native 0.87 works on Windows, so iOS must work there”
React Native’s shared code can work on Windows, but the iOS build still depends on Apple’s native tools. Windows is a suitable coding environment for much of the project. It is not a replacement for macOS when Xcode is required.
“Expo preview proves the iOS build works”
Expo preview is excellent for quickly checking screens and basic interactions. It cannot validate every native module, permission, project setting, or Xcode compilation path. Treat it as an early feedback loop, not as the final iOS checkpoint.
“A remote Mac is only useful for packaging”
A remote Mac can be useful much earlier. You can use it to open iOS Simulator, identify a native dependency problem, inspect Xcode logs, and confirm that a project runs before you spend time polishing features that may fail on iOS.
“Signing should be configured on day one”
Signing is necessary for some real-device and distribution tasks, but it is not the first requirement for every simulator exercise. Start with the course’s actual deliverable. Add Apple account, certificate, and provisioning work when the target requires it.
Independent FAQ
React Native 0.87 and Windows development
You can write JavaScript or TypeScript, build shared screens, manage dependencies, and test Android from Windows. However, a Windows computer cannot provide the local Xcode toolchain required for native iOS builds. Use Windows for daily coding, then move the project to macOS for iOS Simulator testing, native troubleshooting, and Xcode builds.
The point where a Mac becomes necessary
You need macOS when your lesson requires iOS Simulator, Xcode, an iOS native module, an iOS project file change, code signing, or a real-device build. You do not need a Mac for most shared React Native UI work, JavaScript or TypeScript practice, Git operations, or Android-only exercises.
Remote Mac and iOS Simulator
A remote Mac can run iOS Simulator when the host includes Xcode and the required iOS platform components. Connect through a remote desktop session, open the project there, start the simulator, and run the iOS target. The usability of the session depends on the connection and the host setup, so test the graphical workflow before scheduling a long study session.
Expo preview versus Xcode
Expo Go or a similar preview can show JavaScript-driven screens, but it does not prove that your native iOS project builds. Development builds and native modules have different requirements. An Xcode build remains necessary when you need to verify native dependencies, permissions, iOS project settings, or a signed application.
Preparation for the first iOS build
Prepare a Git repository, the course-required React Native version, compatible Node.js and package-manager versions, Apple account access if signing is required, and the project’s environment notes. On the Mac, verify Xcode, command-line tools, iOS platform components, dependencies, and simulator availability before troubleshooting application code.
The first-week dual-track routine
Use Windows for the high-frequency work and reserve Mac time for platform checkpoints.
A simple routine is:
- Write a small feature on Windows.
- Run the available local preview or Android test.
- Commit the change with a clear message.
- Push the branch to the repository.
- Open the remote Mac only after a meaningful checkpoint.
- Pull the commit and run the iOS target.
- Record the result and any native error.
- Return to Windows to fix shared code where possible.
- Repeat the iOS check after native changes.
Run an iOS check immediately after adding a native library, changing permissions, editing the iOS project, changing the deployment target, or altering the dependency installation method. Do not wait until the end of the course. A small early failure is easier to isolate than a large collection of untested changes.
You can also read SSHMac’s help center before the first remote session to understand access and connection procedures. If you are comparing the available remote Mac workflow with buying hardware, the SSHMac service overview gives the service context without changing the technical boundaries described above.
When a remote Mac is the sensible compromise
For a student, buying a Mac can be unnecessary if the immediate goal is only to complete occasional iOS checks. Staying entirely on Windows leaves you unable to validate the native iOS target. A local Mac solves that limitation, but it also creates an upfront hardware cost, requires maintenance, and may sit unused between assignments. A virtualized macOS setup can add installation, compatibility, and performance uncertainty while still failing to provide the clean Xcode workflow you need.
That makes a remote Mac a reasonable middle path for short courses, first builds, and deadline-based iOS verification: you keep Windows for everyday React Native work and rent macOS only when the project reaches Simulator, native dependency, or Xcode stages. If that matches your schedule, review the available SSHMac remote Mac options and choose a period that covers your actual course checkpoints rather than paying for access you will not use.
The key decision is simple: learn the shared React Native layer on Windows, but treat macOS as a required verification environment once iOS-specific tooling enters the assignment.