Fullscreen Video Rotation and Native Controls: Troubleshooting Expo on Android
Problem: You're working with Expo to build an Android app that includes a fullscreen video player. You want to leverage native controls for the video playback and maintain the correct orientation when the video enters fullscreen mode. However, you're running into issues where the native controls are not appearing, or the video doesn't rotate correctly when you enter fullscreen.
Simplified Explanation: You're trying to create a good video viewing experience on Android using Expo, but the fullscreen aspect isn't working as expected. You want to have both native controls (like play/pause, volume) and the ability for the video to fill the entire screen.
Let's Dive In:
Here's a typical scenario:
import React, { useState, useRef } from 'react';
import { View, StyleSheet, TouchableOpacity, Text } from 'react-native';
import VideoPlayer from 'expo-video-player';
const App = () => {
const [isFullscreen, setIsFullscreen] = useState(false);
const videoRef = useRef(null);
const handleFullscreenPress = () => {
setIsFullscreen(!isFullscreen);
if (videoRef.current) {
videoRef.current.presentFullscreenPlayer();
}
};
return (
<View style={styles.container}>
<VideoPlayer
ref={videoRef}
source={{ uri: 'https://your-video-source.com/video.mp4' }}
style={styles.video}
resizeMode="cover"
controls={true}
fullscreen={isFullscreen}
onFullscreenPlayerWillPresent={() => {
// Ideally, handle orientation changes here
}}
/>
<TouchableOpacity onPress={handleFullscreenPress} style={styles.fullscreenButton}>
<Text>Fullscreen</Text>
</TouchableOpacity>
</View>
);
};
const styles = StyleSheet.create({
container: {
flex: 1,
},
video: {
width: '100%',
height: 300,
},
fullscreenButton: {
position: 'absolute',
bottom: 20,
right: 20,
padding: 10,
backgroundColor: 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)',
},
});
export default App;
Common Issues and Solutions:
- Missing Native Controls: Expo's
VideoPlayercomponent relies on native controls provided by the Android platform. On certain Android versions or devices, these controls may not appear as expected.- Workaround: You can use custom UI elements to create your own controls. This requires more development but gives you full customization.
- Orientation Issues: Fullscreen mode can sometimes trigger unexpected orientation behaviors, particularly on older Android devices.
- Solution: Utilize the
onFullscreenPlayerWillPresentevent to lock the orientation usingExpo.ScreenOrientationAPI. This will prevent the device from rotating when the video enters fullscreen.
- Solution: Utilize the
- Android Platform Issues: The native video player implementation can vary across different Android versions. This can lead to inconsistencies in how controls are displayed.
- Potential Solutions:
- Specific Versions: If you target a specific Android version, research and implement known workarounds or customizations for that version.
- Fallback Controls: Provide fallback controls for cases where native controls don't work as expected.
- Potential Solutions:
- Expo Version: Keep your Expo version updated. Older versions may contain bugs or limitations related to video playback and fullscreen.
Key Considerations:
- Debugging: Use the Expo development tools and logs to identify the root cause of the issue. This can involve inspecting errors, checking network activity, and analyzing component states.
- Android Emulator vs. Real Devices: Test your app on both emulators and actual Android devices to ensure consistent behavior across different devices and configurations.
- User Experience: Prioritize a seamless and intuitive fullscreen experience. This includes clear control elements, proper orientation handling, and responsiveness to user interaction.
Additional Resources:
- Expo VideoPlayer Documentation: https://docs.expo.dev/versions/latest/sdk/video-player/
- Expo Screen Orientation API: https://docs.expo.dev/versions/latest/sdk/screen-orientation/
- Android Developer Docs: https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/media/media-players
By addressing these points and thoroughly testing on different devices, you can achieve a robust fullscreen video player with native controls in your Expo Android app.
