Source: https://docs.expo.dev/router/advanced/router-settings

Hide navigation

Search

Ctrl K

Home Guides EAS Reference Learn

Archive Expo Snack Discord and Forums Newsletter

Router settings

Edit page

Copy page

Learn how to configure layouts with static properties in Expo Router.

Edit page

Copy page

---

Warning: unstable_settings currently do not work with async routes (development-only). This is why the feature is designated unstable.

initialRouteName

When deep linking to a route, you may want to provide a user with a "back" button. The initialRouteName sets the default screen of the stack and should match a valid filename (without the extension).

app

 _layout.tsx

 index.tsx

 other.tsx

app/_layout.tsx

Copy

import { Stack } from 'expo-router'; export const unstable_settings = { // Ensure any route can link back to `/` initialRouteName: 'index', }; export default function Layout() { return <Stack />; }

Now deep linking directly to /other or reloading the page will continue to show the back arrow.

When using array syntax (foo,bar) you can specify the name of a group in the unstable_settings object to target a particular segment.

other.tsx

Copy

export const unstable_settings = { // Used for `(foo)` initialRouteName: 'first', // Used for `(bar)` bar: { initialRouteName: 'second', }, };

The initialRouteName is only used when deep-linking to a route. During app navigation, the route you are navigating to will be the initial route. You can disable this behavior using the initial prop on the <Link /> component or by passing the option to the imperative APIs.

// If this navigates to a new _layout, don't override the initial route <Link href="/route" initial={false} />; router.push('/route', { overrideInitialScreen: false });