Overview

The react-native-background-downloader is a library for React-Native that assists in downloading large files on both iOS and Android platforms, specifically in the background. Although no longer actively maintained by its creator, eko, a fork exists to provide continued support and functionality for developers seeking a seamless large file downloading experience on mobile devices.

Features

• Background Downloads: Enables downloading large files even when the app is running in the background or terminated.
• Cross-Platform Support: Works seamlessly on both iOS and Android platforms.
• Re-Attachment to Downloads: Provides functionality to re-attach to background downloads upon app relaunch.
• Easy API: Offers a straightforward API for large file downloading operations.

Installation

1. Install the package using Yarn:

$ yarn add react-native-background-downloader

2. For React Native versions below 0.57.0, use:

$ yarn add react-native-background-downloader@1.1.0

3. Automatic installation for React Native versions >= 0.60, no manual linking required. For versions below 0.60, use the following link command:

$ react-native link react-native-background-downloader

4. For manual installation on iOS:
   • Add RNBackgroundDownloader.xcodeproj to XCode under Libraries.
   • Add libRNBackgroundDownloader.a to your project’s Build Phases ➜ Link Binary With Libraries.
   • In AppDelegate.m, add specific code as outlined in the documentation to ensure proper functionality.
5. For Android:
   • Add necessary package imports and configurations to MainActivity.java and settings.gradle as specified in the documentation.

Summary

The react-native-background-downloader library is a valuable tool for React-Native developers looking to facilitate large file downloads, especially in scenarios where downloads need to continue seamlessly in the background. By following the installation guide and utilizing the provided easy API, developers can ensure a smoother user experience when handling significant file downloads on both iOS and Android platforms.