Uncontrolled multiline TextInput doesn't auto-grow

Description

Uncontrolled multiline TextInput doesn't grow in size when its content spans multiple lines while typing.

Minimum reproducible code:

<View
      style={{ height: 500, justifyContent: "center", padding: 20, width: 180 }}
    >
      <TextInput
        multiline
        placeholder="height increases"
        defaultValue="super long text that will cause the height to span multiple lines"
        enablesReturnKeyAutomatically={true}
        returnKeyType="go"
        style={{
          borderWidth: 1,
          fontSize: 13,
          padding: 4,

          // multilineExpandable
          height: "auto",
          maxHeight: 100,
        }}
      />
</View>

ScreenRecording_11-17-2025.21-53-10_1.mov

If the defaultValue is long enough to take multiple lines, then it does auto-grow/shrink on subsequent edits

ScreenRecording_11-17-2025.22-00-48_1.MP4

Steps to reproduce

paste the reproduction code snippet to an empty screen
try typing into the input until the content starts wrapping

React Native Version

0.81.4

Affected Platforms

Runtime - iOS

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

System:
  OS: macOS 26.1
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M4
  Memory: 1.16 GB / 32.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 24.8.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v24.8.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 4.9.2
    path: ~/.n/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 11.6.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v24.8.0/bin/npm
  Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.1
      - iOS 26.1
      - macOS 26.1
      - tvOS 26.1
      - visionOS 26.1
      - watchOS 26.1
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: Not Found
  Xcode:
    version: 26.1.1/17B100
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: javac 25
    path: ~/.sdkman/candidates/java/current/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
  react:
    installed: 19.1.0
    wanted: "*"
  react-native:
    installed: 0.81.4
    wanted: "*"
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found

Stacktrace or Logs

MANDATORY Reproducer

https://snack.expo.dev/@vova.sqds/uncontrolled-multiline-textinput-doesnt-auto-grow

Screenshots and Videos

No response

Following.

I was able to reproduce this issue, this issue happens only on iOS with the New Architecture (Fabric). The TextInput auto-expands correctly for the initial multi-line defaultValue, but after clearing and typing again it stops resizing. Works fine on Android and on iOS Legacy Architecture.

+1, is there any workaround in the meantime, besides making it controlled

+1, is there any workaround in the meantime, besides making it controlled

haven't found any :|

+1, is there any workaround in the meantime, besides making it controlled

The workaround is to set defaultValue as multiline initially and then set text to the true default value on render

useEffect(() => {
  executeOnce(() => {
    inputRef.current?.setNativeProps({ text: defaultValue });
  })
}, [defaultValue])

<TextInput
  defaultValue={`
          
  `}

@sintylapse

It's very hacky but I've had success creating a hidden View absolutely positioned exactly under the TextInput with a Text element inside it set to the value and style of the TextInput.

Using the View's onLayoutChange() I take the height of the View and animate the TextInput to that height.

@sintylapse I couldn't get your solution working in my code.

Fix uncontrolled multiline TextInput not resizing when children change

+1

feat(mobile): TextField + AutosizeTextArea primitives

feat(mobile): Multica for iOS — first version (#2337)

feat(mobile): Multica for iOS — first version (multica-ai#2337)

I primarily use React Native to build websites. There is the same issue on web. Works fine on Android.

Fix chat composer: grow to 6 lines and shrink back after send

Fix uncontrolled multiline TextInput not resizing when children change

@janicduplessis

We hit this too and traced the cause on iOS / Fabric. It reproduces in a blank npx @react-native-community/cli init --version 0.86.3 app (New Architecture on, prebuilt core, Xcode 27.1, iOS 26.5 simulator), and the same code is unchanged in 0.88.0 and on main.

Minimal repro: an uncontrolled <TextInput multiline placeholder="Title" style={{ fontSize: 22, lineHeight: 28, padding: 8 }} /> that mounts empty. Type a sentence longer than one line: the field stays one line high, the text scrolls and the first line is cut off. The same field with defaultValue="a" grows as expected.

Root cause (ReactCommon/react/renderer/components/textinput/BaseTextInputShadowNode.h, line numbers as of 0.86.3):

updateStateIfNeeded (L154) returns early when the React-tree attributed string is content-equal to the state's reactTreeAttributedString (L160). For a field that mounts empty, both have zero fragments, so isContentEqual is true and the state is never written. The state keeps its default reactTreeAttributedString, whose base TextAttributes::fontSizeMultiplier is NaN (TextAttributes.h L49, quiet_NaN()).
While the user types, RCTTextInputComponentView _updateState updates only attributedStringBox. reactTreeAttributedString keeps the NaN multiplier.
attributedStringBoxToMeasure (L199) sets meaningfulState (L201) only if the state's reactTreeAttributedString.getBaseTextAttributes().fontSizeMultiplier == layoutContext.fontSizeMultiplier. NaN never compares equal, so meaningfulState is always false.
With meaningfulState false, the node measures getAttributedString(layoutContext) from props.text. For an uncontrolled input that stays empty, so it falls back to getPlaceholderAttributedString (L217) and measures the placeholder: one line.

A field that mounts with text gets past step 1 (the strings differ), so its state gets a real multiplier and meaningfulState becomes true after the first native update. That matches the reports above: a long defaultValue works, and an empty start does not.

A possible fix: write the state when the base text attributes differ even if the content is equal, or treat a NaN multiplier in the state as "not set" so it does not block meaningfulState.

@janicduplessis, #56291 looks related (stale attributedStringBox when children change). From the description I couldn't tell whether it also covers this NaN-multiplier path for a plain uncontrolled input that mounts empty. It may be worth a check.

Workaround we use: an invisible Text with the field's exact font, line height, padding and font scaling, holding the current text (from onChangeText, or the placeholder when empty). The TextInput is laid absolutely over it, so the copy sizes the container. The copy is hidden from accessibility (aria-hidden, importantForAccessibility="no-hide-descendants") and has pointerEvents="none". Making the input controlled also avoids it, but brings back the stale-eventCount write-back problem while typing.

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Uncontrolled multiline TextInput doesn't auto-grow #54570

Description

Steps to reproduce

React Native Version

Affected Platforms

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

Stacktrace or Logs

MANDATORY Reproducer

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Uncontrolled multiline TextInput doesn't auto-grow #54570

Description

Description

Steps to reproduce

React Native Version

Affected Platforms

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

Stacktrace or Logs

MANDATORY Reproducer

Screenshots and Videos

Activity

valentinchelle commented on Nov 22, 2025

Thotaharshavardhani commented on Nov 24, 2025

Nedi11 commented on Nov 25, 2025

vova-sqds commented on Nov 27, 2025

sintylapse commented on Jan 23, 2026

tmw102 commented on Jan 24, 2026

victoriomolina commented on May 1, 2026

iqorlobanov commented on May 14, 2026

TheBlueFriend commented on Aug 31, 2026

cadumillet commented on Oct 25, 2026

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