SoLoaderDSONotFoundError: couldn't find DSO to load: libreactnative.so

[FreTimmerman]

Description

continuation of #49111 which was closed without resolution, even though many others have the same issue.

it looks like it's only Play Store test emulators that are crashing (pixel 6/6pro/7/7a, nexus,...)
but perhaps it's also real users with real devices, not sure on that last one.

Steps to reproduce

1. run app

React Native Version

0.81.1

Affected Platforms

Runtime - Android

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

System:
  OS: macOS 26.2
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
  Memory: 262.11 MB / 16.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.17.0
    path: /usr/local/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 4.10.3
    path: /usr/local/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.2
    path: /usr/local/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2026.01.05.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.2
      - iOS 26.2
      - macOS 26.2
      - tvOS 26.2
      - visionOS 26.2
      - watchOS 26.2
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2025.2 AI-252.27397.103.2522.14617522
  Xcode:
    version: 26.2/17C52
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.17
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.0.1
    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

Fatal Exception: com.facebook.soloader.SoLoaderDSONotFoundError: couldn't find DSO to load: libreactnative.so
	existing SO sources: 
		SoSource 0: ApplicationSoSource[DirectorySoSource[root = /data/app/~~XqhJ1EpBs99Ahf1FxVSQNw==/my.app-s-j3U1pjJ9NznSe6OnKJYQ==/lib/arm64 flags = 0]]
		SoSource 1: DirectApkSoSource[root = [/data/app/~~XqhJ1EpBs99Ahf1FxVSQNw==/my.app-s-j3U1pjJ9NznSe6OnKJYQ==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a]]
		SoSource 2: DirectorySoSource[root = /system/lib64 flags = 2]
		SoSource 3: DirectorySoSource[root = /vendor/lib64 flags = 2]
	Native lib dir: /data/app/~~XqhJ1EpBs99Ahf1FxVSQNw==/my.app-s-j3U1pjJ9NznSe6OnKJYQ==/lib/arm64

       at com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.doLoadLibraryBySoName(SoLoader.java:1216)
       at com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.loadLibraryBySoNameImpl(SoLoader.java:1078)
       at com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.loadLibraryBySoName(SoLoader.java:943)
       at com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.loadLibraryOnAndroid(SoLoader.java:859)
       at com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.loadLibrary(SoLoader.java:842)
       at com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.loadLibrary(SoLoader.java:812)
       at com.facebook.react.internal.featureflags.ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxInterop.<clinit>(ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxInterop.kt:28)
       at com.facebook.react.internal.featureflags.ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxInterop.override(ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxInterop.kt)
       at com.facebook.react.internal.featureflags.ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxAccessor.override(ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxAccessor.kt:615)
       at com.facebook.react.internal.featureflags.ReactNativeFeatureFlags.override(ReactNativeFeatureFlags.kt:402)
       at com.facebook.react.defaults.DefaultNewArchitectureEntryPoint.load(DefaultNewArchitectureEntryPoint.kt:97)
       at com.facebook.react.defaults.DefaultNewArchitectureEntryPoint.load(DefaultNewArchitectureEntryPoint.kt:43)
       at com.facebook.react.ReactNativeApplicationEntryPoint.loadReactNative(ReactNativeApplicationEntryPoint.java:31)
       at my.app.MainApplication.onCreate(MainApplication.kt:36)
       at android.app.Instrumentation.callApplicationOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1211)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.handleBindApplication(ActivityThread.java:6728)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1500(ActivityThread.java:247)
       at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:2057)
       at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:106)
       at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:201)
       at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:288)
       at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:7842)
       at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
       at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:548)
       at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1003)
       at de.robv.android.xp0sed.Xp0sedBridge.main(Xp0sedBridge.java:112)

MANDATORY Reproducer

I don't have a reproducer that I can share

Screenshots and Videos

No response

[react-native-bot]

Warning

Unsupported version: It looks like your issue or the example you provided uses an unsupported version of React Native.

Due to the number of issues we receive, we're currently only accepting new issues against one of the supported versions. Please upgrade to latest and verify if the issue persists (alternatively, create a new project and repro the issue in it). If you cannot upgrade, please open your issue on StackOverflow to get further community support.

[react-native-bot]

Warning

Missing reproducer: We could not detect a reproducible example in your issue report. Reproducers are mandatory and we can accept only one of those as a valid reproducer:

• For majority of bugs: send us a Pull Request with the RNTesterPlayground.js edited to reproduce your bug.
• If your bug is UI related: a Snack
• If your bug is build/upgrade related: a project using our Reproducer Template

You can read more about about it on our website: How to report a bug.

[react-native-bot]

Warning

Unsupported version: It looks like your issue or the example you provided uses an unsupported version of React Native.

Due to the number of issues we receive, we're currently only accepting new issues against one of the supported versions. Please upgrade to latest and verify if the issue persists (alternatively, create a new project and repro the issue in it). If you cannot upgrade, please open your issue on StackOverflow to get further community support.

[FreTimmerman]

what does the bot mean, 0.81.1 is unsupported version??? the table it links even shows that it's still active.

Version	Type	Support level
0.81.x	Previous (-1) minor series	Active

[muhammad-kumail]

Facing same issue in
Android OS : 12
Pixel 6 Pro

Firebase Crashlytics:

Fatal Exception: QJ0
couldn't find DSO to load: libreactnative.so existing SO sources: SoSource 0: ApplicationSoSource[DirectorySoSource[root = /data/app/~~NpA7rPxCsohhsCYwH5y8-w==/com.myapp-AgILHbfs8IIq5aLn_dm_qw==/lib/arm64 flags = 0]] SoSource 1: DirectApkSoSource[root = [/data/app/~~NpA7rPxCsohhsCYwH5y8-w==/com.myapp-AgILHbfs8IIq5aLn_dm_qw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a]] SoSource 2: DirectorySoSource[root = /system/lib64 flags = 2] SoSource 3: DirectorySoSource[root = /vendor/lib64 flags = 2] Native lib dir: /data/app/~~NpA7rPxCsohhsCYwH5y8-w==/com.myapp-AgILHbfs8IIq5aLn_dm_qw==/lib/arm64

[vexenuch]

Facing same issue in Android OS : 12 Pixel 6 Pro

Firebase Crashlytics:

Fatal Exception: QJ0 couldn't find DSO to load: libreactnative.so existing SO sources: SoSource 0: ApplicationSoSource[DirectorySoSource[root = /data/app/~~NpA7rPxCsohhsCYwH5y8-w==/com.myapp-AgILHbfs8IIq5aLn_dm_qw==/lib/arm64 flags = 0]] SoSource 1: DirectApkSoSource[root = [/data/app/~~NpA7rPxCsohhsCYwH5y8-w==/com.myapp-AgILHbfs8IIq5aLn_dm_qw==/base.apk!/lib/arm64-v8a]] SoSource 2: DirectorySoSource[root = /system/lib64 flags = 2] SoSource 3: DirectorySoSource[root = /vendor/lib64 flags = 2] Native lib dir: /data/app/~~NpA7rPxCsohhsCYwH5y8-w==/com.myapp-AgILHbfs8IIq5aLn_dm_qw==/lib/arm64

I’m dealing with the same issue.

RN: 0.81.5
Expo: 54.0.33
NewArchEnabled: true

I also received this crash from 4 devices via Crashlytics. These 4 crash reports affected 2 users. In all cases, the device was a Pixel 6 Pro running Android 12 (just like @muhammad-kumail, I also received this crash on a Pixel 6 Pro with Android 12).

Crashlytics report:

Fatal Exception: com.facebook.soloader.SoLoaderDSONotFoundError: couldn't find DSO to load: libreactnative.so  
existing SO sources:  
SoSource 0: BackupSoSource[root = /data/data/com.myapp.package/lib-main flags = 1 apks = [/data/app/~~PATH_ID==/com.myapp.package-ID==/base.apk]]  
SoSource 1: ApplicationSoSource[DirectorySoSource[root = /data/app/~~PATH_ID==/com.myapp.package-ID==/lib/arm64 flags = 0]]  
...  
Native lib dir: /data/app/~~PATH_ID==/com.myapp.package-ID==/lib/arm64  

com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.doLoadLibraryBySoName (SoLoader.java:1216)  
com.facebook.soloader.SoLoader.loadLibraryBySoNameImpl (SoLoader.java:1078)  
com.facebook.react.internal.featureflags.ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxInterop.<clinit> (ReactNativeFeatureFlagsCxxInterop.kt:28)  
com.facebook.react.defaults.DefaultNewArchitectureEntryPoint.load (DefaultNewArchitectureEntryPoint.kt:97)  
com.myapp.package.MainApplication.onCreate (MainApplication.kt:48)

When I first received this crash report, I tried setting Expo’s useLegacyPackaging: true in the config. As a result, it became true in gradle.properties during the build. After that, I compared the production builds of this version with the version where it was false using Android Studio, but I couldn’t see any difference. I still released it, and I received the same crash report 3 more times.

At this point, I honestly don’t know what exactly I should do. What is the correct and effective solution for this?

I also saw someone using useLegacyPackaging true in build.gradle instead of gradle.properties. But how much would this increase the app’s storage size? And is this actually an effective solution? I’m concerned about both.

For now, I’ve removed useLegacyPackaging true from gradle.properties and will continue like this until an effective solution for this crash is found.