Expo SDK 54 and the “Automatic Liquid Glass” Effect on iOS
After upgrading to Expo SDK 54, many developers noticed something unexpected: Navigation header elements became translucent
In some cases, the UI looked different enough to feel like a design change — even though no design code was modified.
Let’s break down what’s happening.
The Workaround
To restore more compatibility-style rendering, some developers added this to app.json.
Will Apple Remove This Workaround?
There is no official public documentation from Apple guaranteeing long-term support for UIDesignRequiresCompatibility.
It is not prominently documented in Apple’s developer documentation.
If your design depends heavily on suppressing modern materials, that could become a problem long-term.
The safer strategy is to adapt your UI to the modern rendering model.