[ios] CocoaPods could not find compatible versions for pod "ViroKit" on v2.43.4 and Expo 53

[frogconn]

I found a problem on an EXPO project. If the minimum iOS version isn't specified, eas build --profile development --platform ios --local --clear-cache fails with the following error:

⚠️  Something went wrong running `pod install` in the `ios` directory.
Command `pod install` failed.
└─ Cause: CocoaPods could not find compatible versions for pod "ViroKit":
  In Podfile:
    ViroKit (from `../node_modules/@reactvision/react-viro/ios/dist/ViroRenderer/`)

Specs satisfying the `ViroKit (from `../node_modules/@reactvision/react-viro/ios/dist/ViroRenderer/`)` dependency were found, but they required a higher minimum deployment target.

pod install --repo-update --ansi exited with non-zero code: 1
$ eas build --profile development --platform ios --local --clear-cache

However, if I specify "deploymentTarget": "17.6", the eas build --profile development --platform ios --local --clear-cache command completes without any errors. The problem is that when I try to open the app after the build is finished, it crashes immediately.

Furthermore, when I try to run the project using the expo run:ios command, I get the following error:

› Copying   ios/ARDev/GoogleService-Info.plist ➜ ./GoogleService-Info.plist
› Copying   ./PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy ➜ ios/ARDev/PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy
› Compiling ARDev » SplashScreen.storyboard
› Copying   ios/ARDev/Supporting/Expo.plist ➜ ./Expo.plist

❌  (/Users/viro/mobile-app/ios/ARDev/AppDelegate.swift:1:8)

> 1 | import Expo
    |        ^ no such module 'Expo'
  2 | import React
  3 | import ReactAppDependencyProvider
  4 | 


› 1 error(s), and 1 warning(s)

[anxheloo]

Same here, the moment i try to build the app using xCode im getting : 0 __abort_with_payload dyId : dyld`__abort_with_payload:
0x1c47c55f8 <+0>: mov x16, #0x209 ; =521
0x1c47c55fc <+4>: svc #0x80
-> 0x1c47c5600 <+8>: b.lo 0x1c47c5620 ; <+40>
0x1c47c5604 <+12>: pacibsp
0x1c47c5608 <+16>: stp x29, x30, [sp, #-0x10]!
0x1c47c560c <+20>: mov x29, sp
0x1c47c5610 <+24>: bl 0x1c4764064 ; cerror_nocancel
0x1c47c5614 <+28>: mov sp, x29
0x1c47c5618 <+32>: ldp x29, x30, [sp], #0x10
0x1c47c561c <+36>: retab
0x1c47c5620 <+40>: ret . The app crashes immedietly the moment it opens or stay stuck to slash screen. when i remove viro package from pods , it works normally. @frogconn

[KrolPolski]

I have the exact same behavior described above. Here's my env info in case it is useful:

expo-env-info 1.3.4 environment info:
    System:
      OS: macOS 15.6.1
      Shell: 5.9 - /bin/zsh
    Binaries:
      Node: 24.5.0 - /opt/homebrew/bin/node
      npm: 11.5.1 - /opt/homebrew/bin/npm
      Watchman: 2025.08.04.00 - /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
    Managers:
      CocoaPods: 1.16.2 - /Users/rboudwin/.rbenv/shims/pod
    SDKs:
      iOS SDK:
        Platforms: DriverKit 24.5, iOS 18.5, macOS 15.5, tvOS 18.5, visionOS 2.5, watchOS 11.5
    IDEs:
      Android Studio: 2025.1 AI-251.26094.121.2512.13840223
      Xcode: 16.4/16F6 - /usr/bin/xcodebuild
    npmPackages:
      expo: ~53.0.20 => 53.0.22 
      expo-router: ~5.1.4 => 5.1.4 
      react: 19.0.0 => 19.0.0 
      react-dom: 19.0.0 => 19.0.0 
      react-native: 0.79.5 => 0.79.5 
      react-native-web: ~0.20.0 => 0.20.0 
    npmGlobalPackages:
      expo-cli: 6.3.12
    Expo Workflow: bare

[markymc]

Yup, I'm seeing this too.

[!] CocoaPods could not find compatible versions for pod "ViroKit":
  In Podfile:
    ViroKit (from `../node_modules/@reactvision/react-viro/ios/dist/ViroRenderer/`)
Specs satisfying the `ViroKit (from `../node_modules/@reactvision/react-viro/ios/dist/ViroRenderer/`)` dependency were found, but they required a higher minimum deployment target.
Error: Some pods require a higher minimum deployment target.
You can use the expo-build-properties config plugin (https://docs.expo.dev/versions/latest/sdk/build-properties/) to override the default native build properties and set a different minimum deployment target.

[markymc]

If I'm not mistaken, the requirement for iOS 17.6 is set in

viro/ios/dist/ViroRenderer/ViroKit.podspec

Line 11 in 7f82022

s.platform = :ios, '17.6'

.

I'm wondering what would happen if I were to patch-package that to a lower version (whatever iOS version Expo 53 supports, for example)?

[oliedis]

Please see version 2.43.5, which should resolve this issue: https://github.com/ReactVision/viro/releases/tag/v2.43.5

You may also find this issue helpful: #393