Expo + Android TV

howto.md

Applications built with Expo and React Native WILL NOT launch correctly unless proper configured.

This solves: https://forums.expo.io/t/rn-expo-build-for-android-tv/9403 and https://stackoverflow.com/questions/51707841/android-tv-app-shows-white-screen

1. For the Expo managed workflow update app.json:

"android": {
      ...
      "intentFilters": [
        {
          "action": "MAIN",
          "category": [
            "LEANBACK_LAUNCHER"
          ]
        }
      ]
    },

This will automatically update the AndroidManifest.xml .MainActivity with the following intent-filter:

<intent-filter>
   <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
   <category android:name="android.intent.category.LEANBACK_LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>

2. For the bare workflow (e.g. ejected to ExpoKit):

Update android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml with the following:

<activity
   android:name=".MainActivity"
   android:launchMode="singleTask"
   android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize"
   android:theme="@style/Theme.Exponent.Splash"
   android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustResize">
   ...
   <!-- ADD THE INTENT FILTER FROM BELOW TO LAUNCH APP ON ANDROID TV-->
   <intent-filter>
      <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
      <category android:name="android.intent.category.LEANBACK_LAUNCHER" />
   </intent-filter>
   ...
   <!-- ADD DETACH APP SPECIFIC INTENT FILTERS -->
</activity>

3. FYI

The problem is .experience.TvActivity run by default when launching on the Android TV launcher.