Image component network requests do not appear in Network DevTools on Android/iOS

[pFornagiel]

Description

Network requests initiated by the React Native Image component (i.e., image source fetches) never appear in Network DevTools, even though the documentation states that this behavior is expected and supported (see https://reactnative.dev/docs/react-native-devtools -> Network Event Coverage). Issue is present on both Android and iOS.

Simple reproduction code:

function AppContent() {
  const [showImage, setShowImage] = useState(false);

  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <Button
        onPress={() => setShowImage(true)}
        title="Show Image"
      />
      {showImage && (
        <Image
          source={{ uri: 'https://cataas.com/cat' }}
          style={styles.image}
        />
      )}
    </View>
  );
}

Steps to reproduce

1. Install React Native application via React Native Community CLI
2. Launch the app, then the DevTools, open Network tab
3. Create an Image component with source set as external url (for example https://cataas.com/cat)

React Native Version

0.84.0-rc.1 and earlier

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

System:
  OS: macOS 15.6.1
  CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
  Memory: 214.00 MB / 16.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 20.19.4
    path: /Users/pawel/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.4/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.8.2
    path: /Users/pawel/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.4/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.06.30.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /Users/pawel/.rbenv/shims/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.2
      - iOS 26.2
      - macOS 26.2
      - tvOS 26.2
      - visionOS 26.2
      - watchOS 26.2
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2025.2 AI-252.28238.7.2523.14608894
  Xcode:
    version: 26.2/17C52
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.15
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.1.0
    path: /Users/pawel/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.0.0
    wanted: latest
  react:
    installed: 19.2.3
    wanted: 19.2.3
  react-native:
    installed: 0.84.0-rc.1
    wanted: 0.84.0-rc.1
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Screenshots and Videos

Screen.Recording.2026-01-15.at.17.12.20.mov

[react-native-bot]

Warning

Missing reproducer: We could not detect a reproducible example in your issue report. Reproducers are mandatory and we can accept only one of those as a valid reproducer:

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

You can read more about about it on our website: How to report a bug.

[migueldaipre]

Hi @pFornagiel. Thank you for reporting this issue. It is a known issue and will be fixed in 0.84.0-rc.2

[huntie]

Yup (⬆️). In addition, what you're witnessing is a total failure of the Network (and Performance) panels to render 😅. Rest assured that this is a bug in the frontend already fixed on main, that will be fixed in RC2.

[pFornagiel]

Hi, thank you for replying.

I've tested the react native 84 RC2 and while the network panels now render properly, the issue with requests made by the Image components, when fetching its source, still persists.

[huntie]

@pFornagiel

• Have you tried 0.83.1? (or latest stable)
• Can you share a reproducer repo (following our template above)?
• And I'm curious exactly 1/ what fails? (e.g. is the image request missing alongside other working regular requests, or is it the image preview only), 2/ is the image URL/format special in any way?

Thanks