[Android, Accessibility] Modals break when pressing ESC on physical keyboard
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Description
Description
When closing a Modal with ESC key from a Bluetooth keyboard on Android,
the modal closes natively but onRequestClose callback is not invoked.
This leaves React state out of sync.
Steps to reproduce
- Run the reproducer on Android device with Bluetooth keyboard connected
- Press "Open Modal" button
- Press hardware BACK button or use the BACK gesture -> "onRequestClose called!" alert appears ✅
- Press "Open Modal" again
- Press ESC key -> Modal closes but NO alert appears ❌
- Modal state is still 'true' in React but Modal is closed
- Press "Open Modal" again -> Nothing happens (state is already true)
BEWARE: after the state gets stuck you cannot tap on the screen anymore, you have to reach and activate the reset state button via keyboard.
EXPECTED: ESC should call onRequestClose (like back button does)
ACTUAL: Modal closes silently without calling any callbacks
React Native Version
0.84.1
Affected Platforms
Runtime - Android
Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info
System:
OS: macOS 26.4
CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M2
Memory: 116.42 MB / 16.00 GB
Shell:
version: "5.9"
path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
Node:
version: 24.14.1
path: /Users/XXX/.nvm/versions/node/v24.14.1/bin/node
Yarn:
version: 1.22.22
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/yarn
npm:
version: 11.11.0
path: /Users/XXX/.nvm/versions/node/v24.14.1/bin/npm
Watchman:
version: 2022.11.28.00
path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
CocoaPods:
version: 1.15.2
path: /Users/XXX/.rbenv/shims/pod
SDKs:
iOS SDK:
Platforms:
- DriverKit 25.2
- iOS 26.2
- macOS 26.2
- tvOS 26.2
- visionOS 26.2
- watchOS 26.2
Android SDK:
API Levels:
- "34"
- "35"
- "36"
Build Tools:
- 33.0.1
- 34.0.0
- 35.0.0
- 36.0.0
Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
Android Studio: 2025.2 AI-252.25557.131.2521.14344949
Xcode:
version: 26.2/17C52
path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
Java:
version: 17.0.16
path: /usr/bin/javac
Ruby:
version: 2.7.5
path: /Users/XXX/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
"@react-native-community/cli":
installed: 20.1.3
wanted: ^20.1.3
react:
installed: 19.2.3
wanted: 19.2.3
react-native:
installed: 0.84.1
wanted: 0.84.1
react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
"*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
hermesEnabled: true
newArchEnabled: true
Stacktrace or Logs
-
MANDATORY Reproducer
https://snack.expo.dev/@andreamartinez/react-native-modal-esc-key-bug
Screenshots and Videos
In the video the first modal closing is operated via Back gesture. When you see the blue outline on the buttons I am using the keyboard.
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/aff72723-bc86-4f40-8c6e-cdcd86bd125d
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the linked Snack reproducer and the Android Modal handling, comparing the hardware back path with ESC key handling. Confirm that pressing ESC invokes onRequestClose and leaves React modal state synchronized, then verify the same behavior on an Android device with a Bluetooth keyboard.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- android, react-native
- Domain
- accessibility, mobile
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100