React Native NetInspect

Inspect React Native traffic across simulator, emulator, and real devices.

Dashboard on :19826. Optional proxy on :8899. Direct capture from fetch and XMLHttpRequest.

Preview

Why This Exists

• See request method, URL, headers, body, status, duration, and response payload in one place.
• Works across iOS Simulator, Android Emulator, USB-connected Android devices, and Wi-Fi-connected real devices.
• Supports direct client capture, Android emulator proxy flow, and Android real-device adb reverse flow.
• Keeps setup local: run one server on your machine and inspect requests from your app immediately.

Install

npm install -D @twinedo/rn-netinspect

Quick Start

This is the simplest setup for both iOS Simulator and Android Emulator.

1. Add it once at app startup

Use this in development mode:

if (__DEV__) {
  void import("@twinedo/rn-netinspect").then(({ installRNNetInspect }) => {
    installRNNetInspect({
      appName: "My RN App",
      // inspectorUrl: "http://10.0.2.2:19826", // Android emulator reaches the host machine through 10.0.2.2.
    });
  });
}

Why this setup:

• works in stricter ESLint setups without disabling rules
• keeps the library development-only
• usually works for both Simulator and Emulator without extra setup
• if Android Emulator does not connect automatically, uncomment inspectorUrl

2. Start the server

npx rn-netinspect-server

3. Open the dashboard

http://localhost:19826

4. Run your app

• iOS: npm run ios
• Android: npm run android

Then trigger requests in the app and watch them appear in the dashboard.

If You Need Extra Setup

Most developers should start with the quick start above first.

Android Emulator

If the Android Emulator does not connect, uncomment this line:

inspectorUrl: "http://10.0.2.2:19826", // Android emulator reaches the host machine through 10.0.2.2.

10.0.2.2 is how the Android Emulator reaches your computer.

Real Devices

Real devices may need a manual inspectorUrl.

• iPhone over Wi-Fi: http://<your-computer-lan-ip>:19826
• Android over Wi-Fi: http://<your-computer-lan-ip>:19826
• Android over USB: use adb reverse tcp:19826 tcp:19826

If you want the server to auto-manage adb reverse for physical Android devices, run:

npx rn-netinspect-server --auto-connect

Android Proxy Warning

Android proxy mode changes global device network settings. This can affect the whole emulator or phone, not just your app.

Use proxy mode only when you really need it.

To clear old Android proxy settings:

adb shell settings put global http_proxy :0
adb shell settings put global https_proxy :0
adb shell settings delete global http_proxy
adb shell settings delete global https_proxy
adb shell settings delete global global_http_proxy_host
adb shell settings delete global global_http_proxy_port
adb shell settings delete global global_http_proxy_exclusion_list

If It Still Does Not Connect

If the dashboard opens but no requests appear:

• start the server before launching or reloading the app
• reload the app after the server is already running
• on Android Emulator, uncomment inspectorUrl: "http://10.0.2.2:19826"
• on real devices, make sure the device can reach your computer

Options

installRNNetInspect({
  inspectorUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:19826",
  appName: "My RN App",
  captureBodies: true,
  patchFetch: true,
  patchXHR: true,
});

Server API

The client sends events to:

POST /api/ingest

The dashboard also uses:

GET  /api/health
POST /api/register

Troubleshooting

The dashboard opens, but no requests appear

• make sure the app points to the correct inspectorUrl
• reload the app after the server is already running
• on physical devices, verify the phone can open the same URL in its browser

Android app says it cannot connect to 127.0.0.1:8899

That is proxy configuration, not the direct client.

• On an emulator, prefer the direct client URL http://10.0.2.2:19826
• On a real device, prefer adb reverse or a LAN IP
• Clear any old Android global proxy settings if necessary

Android phone has Wi-Fi but no internet after testing

Clear Android proxy settings:

adb shell settings put global http_proxy :0
adb shell settings put global https_proxy :0
adb shell settings delete global http_proxy
adb shell settings delete global https_proxy

Then check the phone Wi-Fi settings and ensure proxy is disabled.

Log Colors

React Native NetInspect logs use a colored [RN NetInspect] prefix.

To disable colors:

• set NO_COLOR=1, or
• set global.__RN_INSPECTOR_NO_COLOR__ = true before calling installRNNetInspect()