AbortSignal/AbortController doesn't work

Description

AbortController / AbortSignal are used in javascript to cancel a request started with fetch, or any other async task that should be cancellable (docs here)
In react native, there are several issues with these APIs:
- DOMException, which is thrown when AbortController is used, doesn't actually exist as a type
- Calling abortController.abort() doesn't actually have any effect, and abortSignal.reason is undefined.
- abortSignal.throwIfAborted() doesn't exist as a function
- I haven't fully verified this, but it looks like AbortController doesn't actually fully abort fetch requests.

Steps to reproduce

Use javascript AbortController the way it's documented here

React Native Version

0.76.1

Affected Platforms

Runtime - Android, Runtime - iOS

Output of `npx @react-native-community/cli info`

System:
  OS: macOS 15.3.1
  CPU: (14) arm64 Apple M4 Max
  Memory: 175.34 MB / 36.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.14.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.2
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/npm
  Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /Users/luisfinke/.rvm/gems/ruby-3.2.0/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.2
      - iOS 18.2
      - macOS 15.2
      - tvOS 18.2
      - visionOS 2.2
      - watchOS 11.2
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2024.2 AI-242.23726.103.2422.13103373
  Xcode:
    version: 16.2/16C5032a
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 23.0.1
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.2.0
    path: /Users/luisfinke/.rvm/rubies/ruby-3.2.0/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
  react:
    installed: 18.3.1
    wanted: 18.3.1
  react-native:
    installed: 0.76.1
    wanted: 0.76.1
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found

Stacktrace or Logs

N/A

Reproducer

N/A

Screenshots and Videos

No response

Tip

Newer version available: You are on a supported minor version, but it looks like there's a newer patch available - 0.76.7. Please upgrade to the highest patch for your minor or latest and verify if the issue persists (alternatively, create a new project and repro the issue in it). If it does not repro, please let us know so we can close out this issue. This helps us ensure we are looking at issues that still exist in the most recent releases.

Tip

Newer version available: You are on a supported minor version, but it looks like there's a newer patch available - undefined. Please upgrade to the highest patch for your minor or latest and verify if the issue persists (alternatively, create a new project and repro the issue in it). If it does not repro, please let us know so we can close out this issue. This helps us ensure we are looking at issues that still exist in the most recent releases.

Warning

Missing reproducer: We could not detect a reproducible example in your issue report. Please provide either:

If your bug is UI related: a Snack
If your bug is build/upgrade related: a project using our Reproducer Template
Otherwise send us a Pull Request with the RNTesterPlayground.js edited to reproduce your bug.

@lufinkey

Hey @lufinkey, Can you add the minimum reproducer using our Reproducer Template?

@lufinkey

Hey @lufinkey, I checked with the Reproducer Template mentioned above Thanks to @migueldaipre . Abort controller worked in my case. You can use the same template to create a reproducible so that it would be easier to target the issue first.

Gotcha, I'll try to put together a reproduction later today if I have time

…

On Mon, Mar 17, 2025, 1:01 AM Sandeep Singh ***@***.***> wrote: Hey @lufinkey <https://github.com/lufinkey>, I checked with the Reproducer Template mentioned above Thanks to @migueldaipre <https://github.com/migueldaipre> . Abort controller worked in my case <https://github.com/sandeepeven/react-native-issue-abort-controller>. You can use the same template to create a reproducible so that it would be easier to target the issue first. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#50015 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB3VGUIB22OWEQAO2WMIIAT2UZJKXAVCNFSM6AAAAABY6TQ77KVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDOMRYGE2TONBYG4> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***> [image: sandeepeven]*sandeepeven* left a comment (react/react-native#50015) <#50015 (comment)> Hey @lufinkey <https://github.com/lufinkey>, I checked with the Reproducer Template mentioned above Thanks to @migueldaipre <https://github.com/migueldaipre> . Abort controller worked in my case <https://github.com/sandeepeven/react-native-issue-abort-controller>. You can use the same template to create a reproducible so that it would be easier to target the issue first. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#50015 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB3VGUIB22OWEQAO2WMIIAT2UZJKXAVCNFSM6AAAAABY6TQ77KVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDOMRYGE2TONBYG4> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Having the same issue when trying to cancel long polling requests.

Sorry I've been lagging on this, I'll set up a replication project soon

…

On Thu, Apr 3, 2025, 11:41 PM L. Bensaadi ***@***.***> wrote: Having the same issue when trying to cancel long polling requests. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#50015 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB3VGUI72CQD6A6NVALO3PT2XX5NPAVCNFSM6AAAAABY6TQ77KVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDONZXGQ4DKMRWHE> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***> [image: bensaadi]*bensaadi* left a comment (react/react-native#50015) <#50015 (comment)> Having the same issue when trying to cancel long polling requests. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#50015 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB3VGUI72CQD6A6NVALO3PT2XX5NPAVCNFSM6AAAAABY6TQ77KVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDONZXGQ4DKMRWHE> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Partial temporary solution (for throwIfAborted error) sindresorhus/ky#588 (comment)

Repro https://github.com/ammar-madni/abort-signal-abort-controller-react-native-not-implemented-completely

Any updates on this? Would be good to know if there are any plans to implement this.

AbortSignal.any not implemented

not working in rn 0.79.5 with expo

Update AbortController to more recent polyfill

This issue is stale because it has been open for 180 days with no activity. It will be closed in 7 days unless you comment on it or remove the "Stale" label.

This issue is stale because it has been open 180 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.

Production impact data for this issue, from a React Native 0.86 app with a realtime sync engine (Rocicorp Zero) whose reconnect loop calls controller.abort(reason) and then throws signal.reason:

Because the bundled abort-controller@3.0.0 (Libraries/Core/setUpXHR.js) predates signal.reason, that throw is throw undefined, which the sync engine classifies as a fatal internal error instead of a retryable one. The result in production: every transient connect failure became a permanent sync outage — plain airplane mode parked sync in ~200ms, our fleet's time-to-connect p90 was 247 seconds with multi-minute permanent stalls, and the engine's entire retry/backoff path was dead code on React Native.

We verified the diagnosis by intervention: a local patch adding spec-compliant abort(reason) / signal.reason to the bundled polyfill (via pnpm patchedDependencies, covering both dist/.js and dist/.mjs since Metro resolves .mjs first) restored retry end to end on-device with zero permanent stalls across the patched sessions.

Minimal repro of the underlying gap, no app required:

// npm i abort-controller@3.0.0    (the exact package RN bundles)
const { AbortController } = require("abort-controller");
const controller = new AbortController();
controller.abort(new Error("ConnectTimeout")); // reason silently dropped
console.log(controller.signal.aborted); // true
console.log(controller.signal.reason);  // undefined  <- what Zero throws
// Node's native AbortController prints `Error: ConnectTimeout` instead.

Proposed fix: replace or vendor a reason-capable AbortController in RN core, or ship it from Hermes. Waiting on the bundled dependency doesn't seem viable — abort-controller's last release was 2019 and the project appears unmaintained. A compliant implementation in core would fix this class for every library that follows the spec'd abort-reason contract.

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AbortSignal/AbortController doesn't work #50015

Description

Steps to reproduce

React Native Version

Affected Platforms

Output of `npx @react-native-community/cli info`

Stacktrace or Logs

Reproducer

Screenshots and Videos

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AbortSignal/AbortController doesn't work #50015

Description

Description

Steps to reproduce

React Native Version

Affected Platforms

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

Stacktrace or Logs

Reproducer

Screenshots and Videos

Activity

react-native-bot commented on Mar 13, 2025

react-native-bot commented on Mar 13, 2025

react-native-bot commented on Mar 13, 2025

migueldaipre commented on Mar 13, 2025

sandeepeven commented on Mar 17, 2025

lufinkey commented on Mar 17, 2025

bensaadi commented on Apr 4, 2025

lufinkey commented on Apr 4, 2025

vladcos commented on Apr 16, 2025

ammar-madni commented on Apr 23, 2025

ammar-madni commented on May 14, 2025

rafinhaa commented on Aug 13, 2025

react-native-bot commented on Mar 7, 2026

react-native-bot commented on Mar 7, 2026

pawarren commented on Sep 2, 2026

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Output of `npx @react-native-community/cli info`