Prompt
I need OAuth for a React Native app
Latest observation
Oct 6, 2026
OpenAI APIWeb search: off
Sure — OAuth in a React Native app usually means:
- Open the provider’s login/consent screen
- Receive the redirect back into the app
- Exchange the code for tokens
- Use the token to call your API
Recommended approach
For React Native, the safest/common option is:
- Authorization Code Flow with PKCE
- Avoid the old implicit flow
- Use a system browser or in-app auth session, not a WebView
Good libraries
Depending on your setup:
react-native-app-auth
Great for OAuth/OIDC flows, very common choice.expo-auth-session
Best if you’re using Expo.react-native-inappbrowser-reborn
Useful for opening the auth URL in a secure browser session.
High-level flow
1. Register your app with the OAuth provider
You’ll need:
client_id- redirect URI, like:
myapp://oauthredirect- or an Expo redirect URI
- scopes, like
openid profile email
2. Configure deep linking
Your app must handle the redirect URI.
iOS
Add a custom URL scheme in Info.plist
Android
Add an intent filter in AndroidManifest.xml
3. Start login
Generate:
code_verifiercode_challenge
Then open the authorization URL.
4. Handle redirect
The provider redirects to your app with:
codestate
5. Exchange code for tokens
Send the authorization code + PKCE verifier to the token endpoint.
6. Store tokens securely
Use:
expo-secure-storereact-native-keychain
Avoid plain AsyncStorage for sensitive tokens.
Example using react-native-app-auth
npm install react-native-app-auth
import { authorize } from 'react-native-app-auth';
const config = {
issuer: 'https://accounts.google.com',
clientId: 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID',
redirectUrl: 'com.myapp:/oauthredirect',
scopes: ['openid', 'profile', 'email'],
};
async function login() {
try {
const result = await authorize(config);
console.log(result.accessToken);
console.log(result.idToken);
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
}
If you use Expo
Use expo-auth-session instead.
npx expo install expo-auth-session
Then use AuthSession.startAsync() or the newer auth request hooks.
Important security notes
- Use PKCE
- Do not put your client secret in the mobile app
- Do not use a WebView for OAuth unless the provider explicitly allows it
- Use secure token storage
- Validate
stateto prevent CSRF - Prefer short-lived access tokens + refresh tokens if supported
If you want, I can help you with one of these next:
- A complete React Native OAuth example
- OAuth setup for Expo
- OAuth setup for Google / Auth0 / Azure / GitHub
- iOS + Android deep linking config
- Backend token exchange flow
If you tell me your provider and whether you’re using Expo or bare React Native, I can give you the exact code.