[🐛] EXPO 54 - Package "react-native-google-mobile-ads" does not contain a valid config plugin

[mg-83]

What happened?

I try to use the Expo-Plugin as described in the documentation. But it's getting underlined in the app.json with following message:

_Package "react-native-google-mobile-ads" does not contain a valid config plugin.
Learn more: https://docs.expo.dev/guides/config-plugins/#creating-a-plugin

Unexpected token 'typeof'(INVALID_PLUGIN_IMPORT)_

What to do to fix it?

Platforms

Android and iOS

React Native Info

I am using Expo 54

Are your using Typescript?

• My project is using Typescript

package.json

"dependencies": {
    "@expo/metro-runtime": "~6.1.2",
    "@expo/vector-icons": "^15.0.2",
    "@gorhom/bottom-sheet": "^5.2.6",
    "@noble/hashes": "^2.0.1",
    "@react-native-async-storage/async-storage": "2.2.0",
    "@react-native-community/datetimepicker": "8.4.4",
    "@react-navigation/native": "^7.1.6",
    "axios": "^1.10.0",
    "deepl-node": "^1.20.0",
    "drizzle-orm": "^0.44.5",
    "expo": "54.0.22",
    "expo-background-task": "~1.0.8",
    "expo-battery": "~10.0.1",
    "expo-build-properties": "~1.0.9",
    "expo-constants": "~18.0.9",
    "expo-crypto": "~15.0.7",
    "expo-dev-client": "~6.0.17",
    "expo-drizzle-studio-plugin": "^0.2.1",
    "expo-file-system": "~19.0.15",
    "expo-font": "~14.0.8",
    "expo-image-picker": "~17.0.8",
    "expo-linear-gradient": "~15.0.7",
    "expo-linking": "~8.0.8",
    "expo-localization": "~17.0.7",
    "expo-location": "~19.0.7",
    "expo-network": "^8.0.7",
    "expo-router": "~6.0.14",
    "expo-secure-store": "~15.0.7",
    "expo-sharing": "^14.0.7",
    "expo-splash-screen": "~31.0.10",
    "expo-sqlite": "~16.0.9",
    "expo-status-bar": "~3.0.8",
    "expo-system-ui": "~6.0.8",
    "expo-task-manager": "~14.0.8",
    "expo-web-browser": "~15.0.9",
    "i18n-iso-countries": "^7.14.0",
    "i18next": "^25.2.1",
    "iso-639-1": "^3.1.5",
    "lodash.debounce": "^4.0.8",
    "react": "19.1.0",
    "react-dom": "19.1.0",
    "react-i18next": "^15.5.3",
    "react-native": "0.81.5",
    "react-native-aes-gcm-crypto": "^0.2.2",
    "react-native-gesture-handler": "~2.28.0",
    "react-native-google-mobile-ads": "^16.0.0",
    "react-native-keyboard-controller": "1.18.5",
    "react-native-localize": "^3.5.1",
    "react-native-maps": "1.20.1",
    "react-native-markdown-display": "^7.0.2",
    "react-native-reanimated": "~4.1.1",
    "react-native-safe-area-context": "~5.6.0",
    "react-native-screens": "~4.16.0",
    "react-native-svg": "15.12.1",
    "react-native-view-shot": "^4.0.3",
    "react-native-web": "^0.21.0",
    "react-native-worklets": "0.5.1",
    "react-native-zip-archive": "^7.0.2",
    "ts-node": "^10.9.2",
    "tsx": "^4.20.3",
    "world-countries": "^5.1.0"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@babel/core": "^7.25.2",
    "@eslint/eslintrc": "^3.3.1",
    "@eslint/js": "^9.34.0",
    "@testing-library/jest-dom": "^6.8.0",
    "@testing-library/react": "^16.3.0",
    "@types/better-sqlite3": "^7.6.13",
    "@types/jest": "29.5.14",
    "@types/lodash.debounce": "^4.0.9",
    "@types/node-emoji": "^1.8.2",
    "@types/react": "~19.1.10",
    "babel-plugin-inline-import": "^3.0.0",
    "better-sqlite3": "12.2.0",
    "drizzle-kit": "^0.31.4",
    "duckdb": "^1.3.2",
    "expo-sqlite-mock": "^3.0.0",
    "jest": "^29.2.1",
    "jest-expo": "~54.0.13",
    "react-test-renderer": "19.0.0",
    "typescript": "~5.9.2"
  },

app.json

{
  "expo": {
    "name": "xxx",
    "slug": "xxx",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "orientation": "portrait",
    "icon": "./assets/images/icon.png",
    "scheme": "xxx",
    "userInterfaceStyle": "automatic",
    "newArchEnabled": true,
    "ios": {
      "supportsTablet": true,
      "bundleIdentifier": "xx.xxx.xxxx"
    },
    "android": {
      "edgeToEdgeEnabled": true,
      "permissions": [
        "android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.CAMERA",
        "android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE",
        "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE",
        "android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO"
      ],
      "package": "xx.xxx.xxxx"
    },
    "web": {
      "bundler": "metro",
      "output": "static",
      "favicon": "./assets/images/favicon.png"
    },
    "plugins": [
      "expo-router",
      [
        "react-native-google-mobile-ads",
        {
          "androidAppId": "ca-app-pub-....",
          "iosAppId": "ca-app-pub-...."
        }
      ],
      "expo-localization",
      [
        "expo-location",
        {
          "locationAlwaysAndWhenInUsePermission": "Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to use your location."
        }
      ],
      [
        "expo-image-picker",
        {
          "photosPermission": "Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your photos.",
          "cameraPermission": "Allow $(PRODUCT_NAME) to access your camera."
        }
      ],
      [
        "expo-sqlite",
        {
          "enableFTS": true,
          "useSQLCipher": true,
          "ios": {
            "customBuildFlags": ["-DSQLITE_ENABLE_DBSTAT_VTAB=1", "-DSQLITE_ENABLE_SNAPSHOT=1"]
          }
        }
      ],
      [
        "expo-splash-screen",
        {
          "image": "./assets/images/splash-icon.png",
          "backgroundColor": "#0B4C6F",
          "resizeMode": "contain",
          "imageWidth": 200
        }
      ],
      "expo-secure-store",
      "expo-background-task",
      "expo-web-browser",
      [
        "expo-build-properties",
        {
          "ios": {
            "useFrameworks": "static",
            "deploymentTarget": "15.1"
          },
          "android": {
            "minSdkVersion": 26
          }
        }
      ],
      "./plugins/withAesGcmCrypto"
    ],
    "assetBundlePatterns": ["assets/**/*", "db/*.db"],
    "experiments": {
      "typedRoutes": true
    },
    "extra": {
      "router": {},
      "eas": {
        "projectId": "77c86bda-5768-4d5c-80a4-ff365269a374"
      }
    },
    "owner": "mg83"
  }
}

ios/Podfile

android/build.gradle

android/app/build.gradle

android/settings.gradle

AndroidManifest.xml

[mg-83]

Problem disappeared after npx expo install --fix and a restart of VS-Code