[iOS 26] Keyboard closes without animation when unfocusing a TextInput

[matthieugicquel]

Description

On iOS 26, when the keyboard closes, it disappears instantly instead of animating.

Example on a blank app with just a TextInput, closing the keyboard by pressing the "back" button in the bottom right:

ScreenRecording_09-06-2025.17-07-21_1.MP4

Video is on iOS 26 beta 9.

This may not be a react-native only issue because other, non react-native, apps do suffer from it (eg the Hey email app).
But native apps do not seem to suffer from the issue, so with the release approaching, it's probably time to find a solution for React Native apps.

Building the app with either Xcode 16.4 or 26 does not change the result.

Steps to reproduce

1. Create a new app (or clone the repro)
2. Install it on an iOS 26 device
3. Open a text input
4. Close the text input by tapping the back button

React Native Version

0.81.0

Affected Platforms

Runtime - iOS

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

System:
  OS: macOS 15.6.1
  CPU: (12) arm64 Apple M4 Pro
  Memory: 2.61 GB / 48.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 24.4.1
    path: ~/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.1/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: ~/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.1/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 11.4.2
    path: ~/.local/share/mise/installs/node/24.4.1/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.07.21.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.5
      - iOS 18.5
      - macOS 15.5
      - tvOS 18.5
      - visionOS 2.5
      - watchOS 11.5
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2025.1 AI-251.25410.109.2511.13752376
  Xcode:
    version: 16.4/16F6
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.16
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.0.0
    wanted: 20.0.0
  react:
    installed: 19.1.0
    wanted: 19.1.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.81.1
    wanted: 0.81.1
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Stacktrace or Logs

Not relevant

MANDATORY Reproducer

https://github.com/matthieugicquel/rn-repro-keyboard-animation-ios-26

Screenshots and Videos

No response

[boerkey]

Hi @matthieugicquel, why do you think it's related to React Native? As I double checked TextInput props, there is no prop related with Keyboard hide animation or something.

[atulgpt17]

Hi @matthieugicquel is this break or behaviour change from old RN version? If yes can you mention the version on which it got changes and also attach the video on the version where it was working fine?

[erniethomason]

I'm building a native app with UIKit and I'm having the same problem with keyboard closing without animation. In some builds it will show animation and some will not. I haven't found a reason or solution. But I don't think it's a purely React Native issue.

[liy010]

I'm building a native app with UIKit and I'm having the same problem with keyboard closing without animation. In some builds it will show animation and some will not. I haven't found a reason or solution. But I don't think it's a purely React Native issue.

Similarly, when I turn off the keyboard on iOS 26, there is no animation, but it works normally on the simulator (iOS 17.2)

[rileysay]

Also experiencing. Unlcear what changed

[cipolleschi]

thanks forthe messages. From @erniethomason message, it looks that the problem is on UIKit and not on React Native.
I'm closing the issue as we can't fix UIKit, let's hope that Apple fixed the issue in the framework by now.

[t-khush]

adding a comment here since i've been able to repro a similar keyboard animation bug on ios 26, seems like it still hasn't been fixed. built the same app on ios 18 and the animations work as intended