Here's a complete beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to installing and running a React Native project in Visual Studio Code on Windows (2025) using the latest version (React Native CLI, not Expo):

✅ Step 1: Install Prerequisites

1. Install Chocolatey (Windows Package Manager)

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; `
[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; `
iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

Restart your terminal after installation.

2. Install Node.js, Python, JDK & Android Studio

Run this in PowerShell as Administrator:

choco install -y nodejs-lts python openjdk11

React Native uses Python 3 and JDK 11 internally.

✅ Step 2: Install Android Studio

1. Download from: https://developer.android.com/studio

2. During installation:

  • Check "Android Virtual Device" (AVD).

  • After install, open Android Studio and go to:

More Actions → SDK Manager → SDK Tools

  • Check these:

    • Android SDK Build-Tools
    • Android Emulator
    • Android SDK Platform-Tools
    • Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM)

Make sure the ANDROID_HOME environment variable is set later.

✅ Step 3: Set Environment Variables

  1. Press Win + S, search for “Environment Variables”, and open it.

  2. Under System Variables, click New:

  • Name: ANDROID_HOME
  • Value: C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk
  1. Find and edit the Path variable → Click Edit → Add: 
%ANDROID_HOME%\platform-tools
%ANDROID_HOME%\emulator

✅ Step 4: Install React Native CLI

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell:

npm install -g react-native-cli

Check if installed:

react-native --version

✅ Step 5: Create Your First React Native Project 

npx react-native init MyFirstApp
cd MyFirstApp

✅ Step 6: Run Your App

1. Start Android Emulator

Open Android Studio → Click Device Manager → Start an emulator.

2. Start Metro Bundler: 

npx react-native start

Open another terminal, and in your project folder, run:

npx react-native run-android

It may take a few minutes on first run.

✅ Step 7: Open in Visual Studio Code

  1. Open VS Code.
  2. Click File → Open Folder → Select your React Native project.
  3. (Optional) Install extensions:
  • React Native Tools
  • ESLint
  • Prettier

✅ You're Done!

You now have a working React Native development setup with Visual Studio Code on Windows.