[0.87.0] VirtualizedList triggers Metro package-exports warning

[wojtekmaj]

Description

Actual: A fresh React Native 0.87.0 app rendering the public FlatList API makes Metro emit the warning below. Metro falls back to file-based resolution and completes the bundle, but the app itself uses only public React Native APIs.

The import comes from the first-party @react-native/virtualized-lists@0.87.0 package, a direct dependency of react-native@0.87.0. It deep-imports react-native/src/private/featureflags/ReactNativeFeatureFlags in VirtualizedList.js:67 and VirtualizeUtils.js:16. React Native 0.86 exported ./src/*, so this import did not violate its package exports map. PR #57484 removed that mapping for 0.87.0, while both imports remain in 0.87.0 and on main as of 2026-08-13.

Expected: A fresh app using FlatList should bundle without a package-exports warning. The internal imports should use an exported entry point, or react-native should export the subpath they require.

Steps to reproduce

1. Clone the public reproducer made from the official React Native reproducer template and enter the app:
   git clone https://github.com/wojtekmaj/react-native-087-virtualized-lists-exports-repro.git && cd react-native-087-virtualized-lists-exports-repro/ReproducerApp
2. Install the locked dependencies:
   npx yarn@1.22.22 install --frozen-lockfile
3. Run a deterministic iOS Metro bundle (no simulator is required):
   npx react-native bundle --platform ios --dev true --entry-file index.js --bundle-output /tmp/ReproducerApp.jsbundle --assets-dest /tmp/ReproducerApp-assets
4. Metro prints the package-exports warning, then writes the bundle using file-based resolution.

React Native Version

0.87.0

Affected Platforms

Runtime - iOS, Build - MacOS

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

info Fetching system and libraries information...
System:
  OS: macOS 26.6.1
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M1 Max
  Memory: 144.61 MB / 64.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 24.17.0
    path: /usr/local/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 4.17.1
    path: /usr/local/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 11.13.0
    path: /usr/local/bin/npm
  Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.5
      - iOS 26.5
      - macOS 26.5
      - tvOS 26.5
      - visionOS 26.5
      - watchOS 26.5
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: Not Found
  Xcode:
    version: 26.6/17F113
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java: Not Found
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.2.0
    wanted: 20.2.0
  react:
    installed: 19.2.3
    wanted: 19.2.3
  react-native:
    installed: 0.87.0
    wanted: 0.87.0
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Stacktrace or Logs

WARN  Attempted to import the module "/path/to/ReproducerApp/node_modules/react-native/src/private/featureflags/ReactNativeFeatureFlags" which is not listed in the "exports" of "/path/to/ReproducerApp/node_modules/react-native" under the requested subpath "./src/private/featureflags/ReactNativeFeatureFlags". Falling back to file-based resolution. Consider updating the call site or asking the package maintainer(s) to expose this API.

MANDATORY Reproducer

https://github.com/wojtekmaj/react-native-087-virtualized-lists-exports-repro

Screenshots and Videos

Not applicable. The complete normalized warning is included above.