Intro
react-native-video v7 is the biggest change in the library's history: we rebuilt it from the ground up to be modern, stable, and ready for React Native's future.
The most important foundation of v7 is the separation of player logic from the view component and support for Nitro Modules - unlocking preloading, real performance improvements, and full compatibility with React Native's new architecture.
What changed in v7 vs v6
Player ≠ View
Playback logic is separated from the UI component - the player can exist independently from the view.
Preloading
Prepare the player in advance before showing video to the user.
In our tests: 6x faster loadingBetter resource management
The new separation unlocks better resource management and enables feed/video list scenarios.
Performance
Fewer FPS drops during player creation - we focused on one of the biggest pain points.
Nitro Modules + New Architecture
Nitro is the foundation of v7: more performance and stability plus easier support for both New and Old Architecture.
New API model in practice
New model: you control the player, the view is optional
In v6, "player = view". In v7, the player is a separate entity: you can pass it as a prop to a view or prepare it in advance before rendering anything.
Video feeds / lists
Prepare upcoming players in advance for smoother scrolling and fewer glitches.
Faster playback start
Preload before the user clicks "play" / before the screen appears.
Why Nitro Modules?
Nitro Modules as the foundation of v7
v7 was built on Nitro Modules, which delivers a strong boost in performance and stability.
Thanks to Nitro, it's easier to support both New and Old Architecture simultaneously - and faster to deliver new features.
Nitro enables us to support both the New and Old Architecture with minimal effort
Status v7
- v7 was rewritten from scratch to deliver a stable, modern API.
- Public version (alpha → beta) is available for testing - your feedback really impacts the final release.
- Public roadmap includes new features and improvements planned for upcoming releases.
Open-source + optional Pro features and services
The library remains community-first - the core functionality will stay free and open source, just like today.
There is a set of paid plugins and services that enhance the functionality.
Pro plugins
Offline Video SDK
Download and play video content offline with full DRM support. Perfect for apps that need content available without an internet connection - streaming platforms, educational apps, or any app where users want to watch videos on the go.
Background Uploader
Upload files in the background with enterprise-grade reliability. Ideal for apps that handle user-generated content - social media, video sharing platforms, or any app where users upload large files.
Chapters
Add chapter markers to your video player for easy navigation between segments. Great for educational content, tutorials, podcasts, or any long-form video where users need to jump to specific sections.
Need something specific?
We can build any video-related plugin for your requirements. Our team maintainsreact-native-video and knows the codebase inside out.