CommandError: ngrok tunnel took too long to connect

When developing React Native applications using Expo, you might encounter a frustrating error, especially if you’re using ngrok to create a tunnel for testing on real devices. One such common error is the “CommandError: ngrok tunnel took too long to connect.”

Understanding the Issue

Expo provides multiple ways to serve your React Native project—either through LAN, local network, or via a tunnel using ngrok. When you choose the tunnel option, Expo uses ngrok to create an external URL so that you can run your app on devices outside of your local network.

However, ngrok sometimes encounters connection issues, leading to the error:

CommandError: ngrok tunnel took too long to connect

This error often arises due to network issues, timeouts, or ngrok server congestion. Fortunately, there is a straightforward way to fix this.

Step-by-Step Solution

Here’s a quick method to resolve this error:

1. Stop the Expo server if it’s currently running by using Ctrl + C in the terminal.
2. Clear the cache to ensure no stale cache files are causing the issue:

   npx expo start --tunnel --reset-cache

3. If the problem persists after clearing the cache, you can try restarting the Expo server with the tunnel again:

   npx expo start --tunnel

4. Try multiple times if necessary. In some cases, it may take a couple of attempts to establish a stable connection with ngrok.

Why This Works

Running Expo with the --reset-cache flag helps to remove old cache files, which can sometimes cause connectivity issues. Restarting with the --tunnel flag again forces Expo to create a new ngrok tunnel. Ngrok servers can occasionally be overloaded, so retrying can give you a different server with better performance.

Final Thoughts

The ngrok tunnel took too long to connect error is a common issue React Native developers face, especially when working with Expo in a remote or restricted network environment. Using the steps mentioned above should help you get back on track quickly.

Always make sure you have a stable internet connection and, if possible, switch between different network modes (LAN, tunnel) to see which one works best for your setup.

Happy coding!

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By following this guide, you should be able to resolve your ngrok tunnel issues when using Expo for React Native development.