Do I need to commit .gitignore?

Yes — .gitignore should be committed to the repository so all collaborators benefit from the same ignore rules.

How do I add custom patterns?

Open your .gitignore file and add the pattern on a new line. Use # for comments, * for wildcards, / to match directories, and ! to un-ignore a previously ignored path.

How do I ignore a file that is already tracked?

Adding a file to .gitignore does not remove it from tracking if it was previously committed. Run: git rm --cached to stop tracking it without deleting the file locally.

Should I commit ios/ and android/ in Expo?

In the managed workflow: no — Expo generates them. In the bare workflow: yes — you manage them directly and they must be committed.

.gitignore for Expo

Expo React Native build artifacts, .expo directory, and native build outputs.

Quick presets

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Expo

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8 patterns · 209 B

# Generated by DevZone Tools — https://devzone.tools/tools/gitignore-generator
# Templates: Expo
# 2026-04-20

# ---- Expo ----
# Expo
node_modules/
.expo/
dist/
web-build/
ios/
android/
*.orig.*
.env.local

What this template ignores

Ignores .expo/ local project settings, Expo web-build/ and dist/ output, and native ios/android directories for managed workflow projects.

Common additions

+!ios/ — keep if using bare workflow
+!android/ — keep if using bare workflow

Commonly paired with

reactnative node typescript Combine →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to commit .gitignore?: Yes — .gitignore should be committed to the repository so all collaborators benefit from the same ignore rules.
How do I add custom patterns?: Open your .gitignore file and add the pattern on a new line. Use # for comments, * for wildcards, / to match directories, and ! to un-ignore a previously ignored path.
How do I ignore a file that is already tracked?: Adding a file to .gitignore does not remove it from tracking if it was previously committed. Run: git rm --cached <file> to stop tracking it without deleting the file locally.
Should I commit ios/ and android/ in Expo?: In the managed workflow: no — Expo generates them. In the bare workflow: yes — you manage them directly and they must be committed.

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