Cannot Install React Native for macOS

[mssngr]

Environment

react-native -v: 0.81.6
npm ls react-native-macos: 0.81.7
node -v: 18.20.8
npm -v: 10.8.2
yarn --version: n/a
xcodebuild -version: Xcode 26.4.1, Build version 17E202

Steps to reproduce the bug

With react-native@0.81.2 per the Getting Started instructions:

1. Follow the directions at https://microsoft.github.io/react-native-macos/docs/getting-started
2. npx @react-native-community/cli init test --version 0.81.2
3. cd test
4. npx react-native-macos-init
5. See error Command failed: npm install --save --silent "react-native-macos@^0.81.0-0"
6. Manually input command npm install --save "react-native-macos@^0.81.0-0"
7. See error:

npm error Found: react@19.1.0
npm error node_modules/react
npm error   react@"19.1.0" from the root project
npm error
npm error Could not resolve dependency:
npm error peer react@"^19.1.4" from react-native-macos@0.81.7

So, I tried with the latest patch version of react-native, 0.81.6

1. npx @react-native-community/cli init test --version 0.81.6
2. cd test
3. npx react-native-macos-init
4. See error:

styleText is not a function TypeError: styleText is not a function
    at upgradeFileContentChangedCallback (/Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-common/index.js:354:20)
    at contentChangedCallback (/Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-common/index.js:298:5)
    at copyAndReplace (/Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-common/index.js:103:25)
    at copyAndReplaceWithChangedCallback (/Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-common/index.js:304:3)
    at /Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-common/index.js:323:5
    at Array.forEach (<anonymous>)
    at copyAndReplaceAll (/Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-common/index.js:320:17)
    at /Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-macos/index.js:55:26
    at Array.forEach (<anonymous>)
    at copyProjectTemplateAndReplace (/Users/gbriel/dev/trader/node_modules/react-native-macos/local-cli/generator-macos/index.js:55:5)

Cannot proceed forwards.

Expected Behavior

That I would be able to install react-native-macos and begin development

Actual Behavior

The process errors out and fails.

Reproducible Demo

No response

Additional context

No response

[Saadnajmi]

https://nodejs.org/en/blog/migrations/chalk-to-styletext

You need to use Node 20+

[mssngr]

@Saadnajmi, thanks for the help!

That resolved the 2nd error. However, the 1st error still occurs when following the "Getting Started" instructions: npx @react-native-community/cli init <project-name> --version 0.81.2. Should it be updated to npx @react-native-community/cli init <project-name> --version 0.81.6, since it doesn't work with earlier version?

[Saadnajmi]

Yeah probably. The expectation is to use the latest patch version