callstack / callstack/react-native-bottom-tabs

White flash when lazily loading a tab on iOS 27

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bug
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TypeScript
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Description

### Before submitting a new issue

- [x] I tested using the latest version of the library, as the bug might be already fixed.
- [x] I tested using a [supported version](https://github.com/reactwg/react-native-releases/blob/main/docs/support.md) of react native.
- [x] I checked for possible duplicate issues, with possible answers.

### Bug summary

Hey there! I recently upgraded to version 1.3.1 to resolve this issue. Here’s the link to the GitHub issue: https://github.com/callstack/react-native-bottom-tabs/issues/529. However, I noticed another issue that’s not present on iOS 26.

When a screen’s tab first loads (lazy loading), there’s a white flash before it appears. Once the screen is fully loaded, the flash stops.

This issue is similar to https://github.com/callstack/react-native-bottom-tabs/issues/327, but it’s specific to iOS. One comment suggested adding a background to the `contentStyle`, but that didn’t fix the problem.

As an alternative, you can disable lazy loading by setting `lazy: false` on the screen options. However, since the default setting is `true`, I thought it would be better to create a new issue because this workaround worked fine on iOS 26, which I found on this previous issue: https://github.com/callstack/react-native-bottom-tabs/issues/162#issuecomment-2499142816

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0a0e460c-f297-492e-8d34-f60670757dc8

_appears in the first 2 seconds_

### Library version

1.3.1

### Environment info

```shell
info Fetching system and libraries information...
System:
OS: macOS 26.5.1
CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M4
Memory: 163.59 MB / 16.00 GB
Shell:
version: "5.9"
path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
Node:
version: 22.14.0
path: /var/folders/hf/0x2szkt14s57yhk0v2m4pdrr0000gn/T/yarn--1782379628243-0.6785949810233385/node
Yarn:
version: 1.22.22
path: /var/folders/hf/0x2szkt14s57yhk0v2m4pdrr0000gn/T/yarn--1782379628243-0.6785949810233385/yarn
npm:
version: 11.4.2
path: ~/.local/state/fnm_multishells/98327_1782379622849/bin/npm
Watchman:
version: 2026.06.22.00
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
CocoaPods: Not Found
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-261.23567.138.2611.15646644
Xcode:
version: 26.5/17F42
path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java:
version: 17.0.19
path: /usr/bin/javac
Ruby: Not Found
npmPackages:
"@react-native-community/cli":
installed: 19.1.1
wanted: 19.1.1
react:
installed: 19.1.0
wanted: 19.1.0
react-native:
installed: 0.80.2
wanted: 0.80.2
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
"*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true

info React Native v0.86.0 is now available (your project is running on v0.80.2).
info Changelog: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/releases/tag/v0.86.0
info Diff: https://react-native-community.github.io/upgrade-helper/?from=0.80.2&to=0.86.0
info For more info, check out "https://reactnative.dev/docs/upgrading?os=macos".
```

### Steps to reproduce

1. Navigate to a new tab that is not yet loaded

### Reproducible sample code

```js
I provided a video
```

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the white flash when navigating to an unloaded tab with the default lazy loading, using the attached video and the reported React Native and library versions. Compare this with lazy: false and the contentStyle background workaround, then trace the tab-loading path; done means the first lazy-loaded tab appears without a white flash on iOS while lazy loading remains enabled.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
react-native, typescript
Domain
mobile
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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