[Android] BackHandler receives no events on API 35 with predictive Back enabled

[DanyKrk]

Description

With android:enableOnBackInvokedCallback="true", a minimal bare React Native application does not deliver hardwareBackPress to JavaScript on Android API 35.

The app has one BackHandler listener that logs hardwareBackPress received, increments a visible counter, and returns true.

Observed on a Pixel 8 Pro emulator / Android API 35: pressing the system navigation-bar Back button leaves Back count: 0, emits no hardwareBackPress received log, and returns Android to the home screen.

The reproduction uses React Native 0.87.1.

Control result

Using the same React Native 0.87.1 application and device configuration, with no other source changes, changing only android:enableOnBackInvokedCallback from true to false makes hardwareBackPress reach JavaScript: Back count increments and the app remains visible.

Related reports checked

• BackHandler not working on android #51349: closest symptom, but it was reported on unsupported RN 0.75.1 and has no mandatory reproducer. Its enableOnBackInvokedCallback=false result also
  differs.
• Are there any plans to replace unsupported APIs (KEYCODE_BACK and #onBackPressed) to support Android's new Predictive back gesture?  #34529: historical RN Predictive Back migration discussion for Android 13 / target SDK 33; it does not cover this API 35, navigation-bar Back result.
• bug: back handler stops working after re-foregrounding the app #54887: active but different regression: BackHandler stops working only after app re-foregrounding on API 36+.
• [SDK 54] Back navigation with gesture does not work on Android with Expo Router when the predictive back gesture is enabled expo/expo#39092: Expo Router stack-navigation scope, labeled upstream react-native-screens; this reproduction excludes Expo, navigation, and Screens.
• react-native-screens discussion [autodocs] add doc blocks to more things #2540: primarily Fragment Predictive Back support. Later comments mention a different API 36+ BackHandler regression after app
  re-foregrounding.

I did not find an exact duplicate for: bare React Native, API 35, target SDK 36, android:enableOnBackInvokedCallback=true, and hardwareBackPress not reaching
JavaScript on the first system navigation-bar Back press.

Expo relevance

Expo's android.predictiveBackGestureEnabled: true maps to android:enableOnBackInvokedCallback=true in the generated Android manifest. This reproduction does not include Expo, so Expo-specific behavior was not tested; however, Expo bare apps using that setting may be affected by the same native configuration.

Steps to reproduce

1. Clone https://github.com/DanyKrk/android-backhandler-api35-repro

2. Install dependencies and start Metro:

    cd ReproducerApp
    corepack yarn install --frozen-lockfile
    corepack yarn start
   

3. In another terminal, build and install the debug APK:

     cd ReproducerApp/android
     ./gradlew :app:assembleDebug
     adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
   

4. Use a Pixel 8 Pro emulator running Android API 35.

5. Open the app and press the system navigation-bar Back button.

Expected: hardwareBackPress reaches the listener, Back count increments, and the app remains visible.

Actual: Back count remains 0; no hardwareBackPress received log is emitted; Android returns to the home screen.

React Native Version

0.87.1

Affected Platforms

Runtime - Android, Build - MacOS

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

info Fetching system and libraries information...
System:
  OS: macOS 26.6.2
  CPU: (14) arm64 Apple M4 Pro
  Memory: 192.94 MB / 24.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 24.14.0
    path: $HOME/.local/share/mise/installs/node/lts/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: $HOME/.local/share/mise/installs/node/lts/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 11.9.0
    path: $HOME/.local/share/mise/installs/node/lts/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2026.06.08.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.1
    path: $HOME/.local/share/mise/installs/ruby/3.2/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.5
      - iOS 26.5
      - macOS 26.5
      - tvOS 26.5
      - visionOS 26.5
      - watchOS 26.5
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2026.1 AI-261.26222.65.2613.16025427
  Xcode:
    version: 26.6/17F113
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.18
    path: $HOME/.local/share/mise/installs/java/temurin-17/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.2.11
    path: $HOME/.local/share/mise/installs/ruby/3.2/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.2.0
    wanted: 20.2.0
  react:
    installed: 19.2.3
    wanted: 19.2.3
  react-native:
    installed: 0.87.1
    wanted: 0.87.1
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: false

Stacktrace or Logs

No stack trace exists. This is not reported as a crash or process termination.

  The app registers this listener:

  BackHandler.addEventListener('hardwareBackPress', () => {
    console.log('hardwareBackPress received');
    setBackCount(count => count + 1);
    return true;
  });

  Observed on a Pixel 8 Pro emulator / Android API 35:
  - React Native: 0.87.1
  - target SDK: 36
  - android:enableOnBackInvokedCallback: true
  - Input: system navigation-bar Back button

  Expected JS log:
  hardwareBackPress received

  Actual:
  No `hardwareBackPress received` log is emitted because the
  `hardwareBackPress` listener is not invoked.
  `Back count` remains 0 and Android returns to the home screen.

MANDATORY Reproducer

https://github.com/DanyKrk/android-backhandler-api35-repro

Screenshots and Videos

Screen_recording_20260908_163856.webm