App Crashes After Replacing Securestore With Asyncstorage In Production Build

Apr 3, 2025 by ADMIN 78 views

Introduction

Replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage in an Expo app can be a straightforward process, but it can lead to unexpected issues in production builds. In this article, we will explore the problem of an app crashing after replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage in a production build.

What Happened?

I recently replaced SecureStore with AsyncStorage in my Expo app. The app runs fine on my simulator, but after building and installing the production version, it crashes on launch. This issue is not specific to a particular platform, as it occurs on both Android and iOS devices.

Environment

Here are the details of my environment:

Expo SDK Version: 51
@react-native-async-storage/async-storage Version: 1.23.1

System Information

Here is the system information for my development environment:

System:
  OS: macOS 15.1.1
  CPU: (11) arm64 Apple M3 Pro
  Memory: 204.55 MB / 18.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.11.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.11.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.11.0/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2024.12.02.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.0
      - iOS 18.0
      - macOS 15.0
      - tvOS 18.0
      - visionOS 2.0
      - watchOS 11.0
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2024.2 AI-242.23339.11.2421.12550806
  Xcode:
    version: 16.0/16A242d
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.14
    path: /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
  react:
    installed: 18.2.0
    wanted: 18.2.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.74.5
    wanted: 0.74.5
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Steps to Reproduce

Here are the steps to reproduce the issue:

Replace SecureStore with AsyncStorage for storing course data.
Run the app on a simulator – everything works fine.
Build the app (eas build or expo build), install, and run it on a physical device.
The app crashes immediately on launch.

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

AsyncStorage not initialized: AsyncStorage might not be initialized properly in the production build, leading to a crash.
SecureStore not properly replaced: SecureStore might not be properly replaced with AsyncStorage, causing a conflict and resulting in a crash.
App configuration issues: App configuration issues, such as incorrect app settings or missing dependencies, might cause the app to crash.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

Check AsyncStorage initialization: Verify that AsyncStorage is initialized properly in the production build.
Check SecureStore replacement: Ensure that SecureStore is properly replaced with AsyncStorage.
Check app configuration: Review the app configuration to ensure that all settings and dependencies are correct.
Enable debug mode: Enable debug mode to get more detailed error messages and logs.
Use a debugger: Use a debugger to step through the code and identify the exact point where the app crashes.

Conclusion

Replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage in an Expo app can be a complex process, and it requires careful attention to detail. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can identify and fix the issue causing the app to crash. Remember to always test your app thoroughly in a production environment to ensure that it works as expected.

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips to help you troubleshoot and fix the issue:

Use a version control system: Use a version control system, such as Git, to track changes and identify the exact point where the issue occurred.
Use a code review tool: Use a code review tool, such as Codecov, to identify code changes and potential issues.
Use a debugging tool: Use a debugging tool, such as React Native Debugger, to step through the code and identify the exact point where the app crashes.
Test on multiple devices: Test the app on multiple devices to ensure that it works as expected on different platforms.

Introduction

Replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage in an Expo app can be a complex process, and it requires careful attention to detail. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this issue.

Q: What is the difference between SecureStore and AsyncStorage?

A: SecureStore is a secure storage solution provided by Expo, which allows you to store sensitive data, such as passwords and API keys, securely. AsyncStorage, on the other hand, is a simple storage solution that allows you to store data in a key-value pair format.

Q: Why do I need to replace SecureStore with AsyncStorage?

A: You might need to replace SecureStore with AsyncStorage if you are using a version of Expo that does not support SecureStore or if you need more control over the storage process.

Q: What are the common issues that occur when replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage?

A: Some common issues that occur when replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage include:

App crashes: The app might crash immediately on launch due to a conflict between SecureStore and AsyncStorage.
Data loss: Data stored in SecureStore might be lost when replacing it with AsyncStorage.
Inconsistent behavior: The app might exhibit inconsistent behavior, such as crashing or freezing, due to the replacement of SecureStore with AsyncStorage.

Q: How do I troubleshoot the issue of the app crashing after replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage?

A: To troubleshoot the issue of the app crashing after replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage, follow these steps:

Check AsyncStorage initialization: Verify that AsyncStorage is initialized properly in the production build.
Check SecureStore replacement: Ensure that SecureStore is properly replaced with AsyncStorage.
Check app configuration: Review the app configuration to ensure that all settings and dependencies are correct.
Enable debug mode: Enable debug mode to get more detailed error messages and logs.
Use a debugger: Use a debugger to step through the code and identify the exact point where the app crashes.

Q: What are some best practices for replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage?

A: Some best practices for replacing SecureStore with AsyncStorage include:

Test thoroughly: Test the app thoroughly in a production environment to ensure that it works as expected.
Use a version control system: Use a version control system, such as Git, to track changes and identify the exact point where the issue occurred.
Use a code review tool: Use a code review tool, such as Codecov, to identify code changes and potential issues.
Use a debugging tool: Use a debugging tool, such as React Native Debugger, to step through the code and identify the exact point where the app crashes.

Q: Can I use both SecureStore and AsyncStorage in my app?

A: Yes, you can use both SecureStore and AsyncStorage in your app. However, you need to ensure that they are used correctly and do not conflict with each other.

Q: How do I migrate data fromStore to AsyncStorage?

A: To migrate data from SecureStore to AsyncStorage, follow these steps:

Get the data from SecureStore: Get the data stored in SecureStore using the SecureStore.getItem() method.
Store the data in AsyncStorage: Store the data in AsyncStorage using the AsyncStorage.setItem() method.
Remove the data from SecureStore: Remove the data from SecureStore using the SecureStore.removeItem() method.

By following these best practices and troubleshooting steps, you can successfully replace SecureStore with AsyncStorage in your Expo app and ensure that it works as expected in a production environment.