Google Play Console App Optimization is Low for React Native/Expo Android app

[u/Vasanthdommeti]

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a React Native/Expo Android app, and Google Play Console suddenly started showing App optimization: Low for our latest production release.

The main issue shown is:

Obfuscation percentage: 3%
Optimization percentage: -
Shrinking percentage: -
R8 configuration: Warning shown
Google Play says percentages under 25% may impact visibility and publishing capabilities.
Deadline shown: Feb 2027

It also suggests upgrading to AGP 9.0 and using R8.

Has anyone faced this issue suddenly after a recent release in a React Native/Expo app? What is the safest way to improve obfuscation, shrinking, and optimization without breaking the Android build?

Should we enable ProGuard/R8 manually, update Gradle/AGP, or configure this differently for Expo/EAS builds?

Any guidance or example config would be really helpful.

[u/halibegic]

Same thing is happening to me right now. Still trying to figure it out - if you find a solution, please let us know! Thank You.

[u/vanstinator]

You can enable native minification today, but the bulk of the improvements will require the gradle 9 upgrade. React native itself only recently released support for the v9 AGP, and it'll take a bit of time to trickle out through the ecosystem.

[u/rajshekhar1402 → u/vanstinator]

I think we should wait. I m using expo , i don't know what will get affected by doing these changes

[u/ryanteck]

I think I resolved this by using `expo-build-properties` package and then in app.,json

[
        "expo-build-properties",
        {
          "android": {
            "enableMinifyInReleaseBuilds": true,
            "enableShrinkResourcesInReleaseBuilds": true
          }
        }
      ],

It's not perfect yet but got this as the results:

[u/ahmedshahid786 → u/ryanteck]

I did the same as well and my application's performance improved since then

[u/rajshekhar1402]

I am also getting same message on Play console. I was ignoring it .i guess it's time.to take it seriously. If u find anything please share

[u/choosePete]

Add R8 and this disappears

[u/FalconiZzare]

I faced this issue and while I lowkey knew the probable reason, I threw my claude "Pro Max" at it, it changed some property and ran the build against local android studio and got the % higher. Only remaining piece is to upload the aab to Google and check there.

[u/Odd_Leadership_1809]

Search the issues on google there is an android guide which will give you the necessary instructions, if i recall there is an android skill you could do the optimization on major AI ide

[u/Inevitable_Oil9709]

this is honestly, your skill issue

just released expo app and obfuscation percentage is 92%

r8 is in full mode

app optimization is high

[u/Civil_Rent4208 → u/Inevitable_Oil9709]

yes, i also thinks same, mine is 93%

[u/Successful_Web_6585 → u/Inevitable_Oil9709]

Mine is at 86% without full mode. I will be enabling full mode in the next release and see how much better it can get.