[iOS 26] tabBarInactiveTintColor does not apply to tab bar icons (only labels)

[beau-house]

Before submitting a new issue

• I tested using the latest version of the library, as the bug might be already fixed.
• I tested using a supported version of react native.
• I checked for possible duplicate issues, with possible answers.

Bug summary

The tabBarInactiveTintColor prop does not apply to inactive tab icons, while inactive labels correctly show the specified colour.

Expected behaviour

Both icons and labels should respect tabBarInactiveTintColor.

Suspected cause

SwiftUI's .tintColor() modifier in TabViewImpl.swift:76 applies the active color globally, overriding the inactive iconColor set in UITabBarItemAppearance (line 175). Labels use titleTextAttributes, which aren't affected by the SwiftUI tint modifier.

react-native-bottom-tabs-issue.mp4

Library version

0.11.2

Environment info

System:
  OS: macOS 26.0.1
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M1 Max
  Memory: 114.78 MB / 32.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.12.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 4.6.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 11.5.2
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.09.15.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/3.3.0/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.0
      - iOS 26.0
      - macOS 26.0
      - tvOS 26.0
      - visionOS 26.0
      - watchOS 26.0
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2022.3 AI-223.8836.35.2231.10406996
  Xcode:
    version: 26.0.1/17A400
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.16
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.4.6
    path: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
  react: Not Found
  react-native: Not Found
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: false
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

NOTE: Running in monorepo workspace - React Native 0.81.4

Steps to reproduce

1. Run the example app
2. Open "Native Bottom Tabs"

Reproducible sample code

Running the example app. See steps to reproduce.

[marianrick]

We experience the same issue and tried to fix it, but without success. While we did find the code applying the variables in swiftui, we did not find a parameter to change the inactive icon color (or the whole tabs color).

Happy if anybody can contribute to resolve this issue 🙌

[funfitdev]

Yes this is an issue on iOS. works fine on Android.

[okwasniewski]

Looks like people are also facing this when using the tab bar in native apps, https://www.reddit.com/r/SwiftUI/comments/1n3kslq/ios_26_tab_bar_foreground_color_not_tint/

[a33nazarenko]

Any updates ?

[Sulumov]

Are there any solutions?

[beau-house]

Worth noting here that native bottom tabs are coming to React Navigation https://reactnavigation.org/docs/native-bottom-tab-navigator/

Interestingly, apps using expo router's native bottom tabs (which uses react native screens for its implementation?) don't appear to have this issue.