[BUG] Fatal Exception: UIApplicationInvalidInterfaceOrientation Supported orientations has no common orientation with the application, and [RCTFabricModalHostViewController shouldAutorotate] is returning YES

[renatomserra]

Describe the bug
after upgrading to react native 79 i started getting this crash in prod for some iOS users

Fatal Exception: UIApplicationInvalidInterfaceOrientation Supported orientations has no common orientation with the application, and [RCTFabricModalHostViewController shouldAutorotate] is returning YES

Smartphone (please complete the following information):

• OS: iOS
• Device: Any ipad (i only rotate on tablets)
• Version Any

Environment

System:
  OS: macOS 26.0.1
  CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
  Memory: 130.92 MB / 16.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.21.1
    path: /Users/renatoserra/.nvm/versions/node/v22.21.1/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.19
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.4
    path: /Users/renatoserra/.nvm/versions/node/v22.21.1/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.04.28.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.15.2
    path: /Users/renatoserra/.rbenv/shims/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:
    Build Tools:
      - 34.0.0
    Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2021.2 AI-212.5712.43.2112.8815526
  Xcode:
    version: 26.1.1/17B100
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.13
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.7.5
    path: /Users/renatoserra/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 18.0.0
    wanted: 18.0.0
  react:
    installed: 19.0.0
    wanted: 19.0.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.79.7
    wanted: 0.79.7
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

info React Native v0.83.0 is now available (your project is running on v0.79.7).
info Changelog: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/releases/tag/v0.83.0
info Diff: https://react-native-community.github.io/upgrade-helper/?from=0.79.7&to=0.83.0
info For more info, check out "https://reactnative.dev/docs/upgrading?os=macos".

AppDelegate.sift

import Expo
import React
import ReactAppDependencyProvider
import Firebase
import FBSDKCoreKit
import GoogleSignIn
import RNBootSplash

@UIApplicationMain
public class AppDelegate: ExpoAppDelegate {
  var window: UIWindow?
 
  var reactNativeDelegate: ExpoReactNativeFactoryDelegate?
  var reactNativeFactory: RCTReactNativeFactory?
 
  public override func application(
    _ application: UIApplication,
    didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]? = nil
  ) -> Bool {
    
    // Configure Firebase
    FirebaseApp.configure()

    
    // Configure Facebook SDK
    ApplicationDelegate.shared.application(
      application,
      didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: launchOptions
    )
    
    let delegate = ReactNativeDelegate()
    let factory = ExpoReactNativeFactory(delegate: delegate)
    delegate.dependencyProvider = RCTAppDependencyProvider()
 
    reactNativeDelegate = delegate
    reactNativeFactory = factory
    bindReactNativeFactory(factory)
 
#if os(iOS) || os(tvOS)
    window = UIWindow(frame: UIScreen.main.bounds)
    factory.startReactNative(
      withModuleName: "main",
      in: window,
      launchOptions: launchOptions)
#endif
 
    return super.application(application, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: launchOptions)
  }
 
  public override func application(_ application: UIApplication, supportedInterfaceOrientationsFor window: UIWindow?) -> UIInterfaceOrientationMask {
    return OrientationDirector.getSupportedInterfaceOrientationsForWindow()
  }
  
  // Linking API
  public override func application(
    _ app: UIApplication,
    open url: URL,
    options: [UIApplication.OpenURLOptionsKey: Any] = [:]
  ) -> Bool {
    // Handle Facebook SDK
    if ApplicationDelegate.shared.application(app, open: url, options: options) {
      return true
    }
    
    // Handle Google Sign In
    if GIDSignIn.sharedInstance.handle(url) {
      return true
    }
    
    // Handle React Native Linking
    if RCTLinkingManager.application(app, open: url, options: options) {
      return true
    }
    
    return super.application(app, open: url, options: options)
  }
 
  // Universal Links
  public override func application(
    _ application: UIApplication,
    continue userActivity: NSUserActivity,
    restorationHandler: @escaping ([UIUserActivityRestoring]?) -> Void
  ) -> Bool {
    let result = RCTLinkingManager.application(application, continue: userActivity, restorationHandler: restorationHandler)
    return super.application(application, continue: userActivity, restorationHandler: restorationHandler) || result
  }
}
 
class ReactNativeDelegate: ExpoReactNativeFactoryDelegate {
  // Extension point for config-plugins
 
  override func sourceURL(for bridge: RCTBridge) -> URL? {
    // needed to return the correct URL for expo-dev-client.
    bridge.bundleURL ?? bundleURL()
  }
 
  override func bundleURL() -> URL? {
    #if DEBUG
        return RCTBundleURLProvider.sharedSettings().jsBundleURL(forBundleRoot: ".expo/.virtual-metro-entry")
    #else
        return Bundle.main.url(forResource: "main", withExtension: "jsbundle")
    #endif
  }

  override func customize(_ rootView: UIView) {
    super.customize(rootView)
    RNBootSplash.initWithStoryboard("BootSplash", rootView: rootView) // ⬅️ initialize the splash screen
  }
}

[gladiuscode]

Hi @renatomserra,
a user previously opened a similar issue related to iPad, may be related to the difference between how Apple allows us to ship apps on iPad and iPhone.

Can you tell me how you've set up the orientation properties in the project settings please?

Thanks!

[renatomserra]

Thank you for the reply!

i have in app delegate swift

  public override func application(_ application: UIApplication, supportedInterfaceOrientationsFor window: UIWindow?) -> UIInterfaceOrientationMask {
    return OrientationDirector.getSupportedInterfaceOrientationsForWindow()
  }

in bridging header

#import "OrientationDirector.h"

and in JS

import RNOrientationDirector, {
  OrientationType,
} from 'react-native-orientation-director';


....


  // Handle device orientation changes
  useEffect(() => {
    let orientationTimeout;
    let lastOrientation;

    const listener = RNOrientationDirector.listenForDeviceOrientationChanges(
      ({orientation}) => {
        if (!isTablet) {
          return;
        }

        // Clear any pending timeout
        if (orientationTimeout) {
          clearTimeout(orientationTimeout);
        }

        // Only update if orientation changed
        if (orientation !== lastOrientation) {
          // Wait 500ms before applying orientation lock to avoid flicker
          orientationTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
            if (RNOrientationDirector.isLockableOrientation(orientation)) {
              RNOrientationDirector.lockTo(orientation, OrientationType.device);
              lastOrientation = orientation;
            }
          }, 200);
        }
      },
    );

    return () => {
      if (orientationTimeout) {
        clearTimeout(orientationTimeout);
      }
      listener.remove();
    };
  }, []);

[gladiuscode]

Sure thing, here to help!

I actually meant the setup in the XCode Project Settings, where you toggle the allowed orientation based on the target.
What you've sent me is helpful, but I need them too please.

I'll try to replicate your issue by configuring the example app like your current app.

Thanks

[renatomserra]

hmm i dont have anything related to orientation on my xcode settings, i didnt see any step in the instructions about it. am i missing something?

[gladiuscode]

Hi @renatomserra,
you should have some settings like the screenshot below, could you give me your configuration please? I'll update the example app to support iPad as a valid destination and match your settings to try and replicate the issue

Thanks!

[renatomserra]

[renatomserra]

Hellow @gladiuscode have you managed to figure something out? 🙏

[gladiuscode]

Hi @renatomserra,
I'm sorry but I've spent the last week bedridden due to a truly nasty flu that I've caught.

I'll look into it as soon as I'm well, I'm getting there tho :)

[renatomserra]

oh no! hope you recover quick!

[gladiuscode]

Hi @renatomserra

I've debugged this issue but I couldn't manage to replicate the crash.
I can tell you the following tho:

On iPad, anytime you try to force an orientation, you trigger the following underline error: OrientationDirectorImpl - requestGeometryUpdate error Error Domain=UISceneErrorDomain Code=101 "The current windowing mode does not allow for programmatic changes to interface orientation." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The current windowing mode does not allow for programmatic changes to interface orientation.}

I've looked it up and found the following:

1. Apple support forum: If your app allows multitasking (iPad default) you can't lock the orientation. Does you app allows it? If so, you should aim for Requires Fullscreen and avoid locking it on the React Native side or Native anyway;
2. Apple Doc: here, at the bottom of the page, we can read about the setup differences between iPad and iPhone, particularly, it says that IPad are either multitasking or fullscreen, the first one requires all orientation and can't lock (if you lock with my library, you force only one supported orientation) while the latter allows you to lock;

So, even tho I can't manage to replicate the issue, I suggest you to check up your setup, you've shared with me your orientation configuration and I think you are currently running a multitasking app, so when a user splits the view, let's say, with safari app and tries to rotate, probably it triggers the crash.

If you've got an iPad, you could try the example app and see if you manage to trigger the crash.

Do let me know