Click Out of OnFocus Text Input React Native: Easily

In React Native, clicking outside a focused TextInput does not always behave as expected. Instead of simply dismissing the keyboard, the outside tap can trigger press or click events on other components, leading to confusing UI behavior.

This issue is often misunderstood as a bug, but in most cases it is caused by how React Native handles focus changes, touch propagation, and keyboard-driven re-renders. The behavior can also vary between Android and iOS, making the problem harder to diagnose across platforms.

This guide breaks down why this happens, when it should be fixed, and which approaches actually work without introducing new focus or interaction issues.

Why Clicking Outside a Focused TextInput Triggers Events in React Native?

When a TextInput is focused in React Native, tapping outside it doesn’t always just dismiss the keyboard. In many cases, the touch event continues to propagate and triggers press or click handlers on parent components.

This happens because touch events are often registered before the keyboard dismissal fully completes. Focus transitions also play a role.

When the keyboard opens or closes, React Native may temporarily shift focus, causing the outside tap to be treated as a valid interaction instead of a dismiss-only gesture.

Additionally, keyboard related re-renders can make the UI process the tap after layout updates. This behavior is more common on Android, where touch handling is prioritized over keyboard state changes.

On iOS, background taps are usually suppressed during focus changes, which is why the same layout may behave differently across platforms.

Method 1: Click Out of OnFocus Text Input React Native Using TouchableWithoutFeedback

The simplest and most widely used method for dismissing the keyboard when clicking outside a TextInput is by using the TouchableWithoutFeedback component.

This approach wraps the entire screen or a container and listens for a tap outside the TextInput, calling Keyboard.dismiss() when a touch is detected.

Example:

Click out of onfocus text input react native

Key Benefits of Using TouchableWithoutFeedback:

• Simple Implementation: Wrapping the screen in TouchableWithoutFeedback is an easy and straightforward solution to dismiss the keyboard globally.
• Global Dismissal: This method works across the entire screen, ensuring that taps anywhere outside the TextInput field will trigger the keyboard dismissal.

Considerations:

• This approach might be too broad if you want to prevent certain areas from triggering the keyboard dismissal. It’s best suited for screens where tapping anywhere should dismiss the keyboard.

Method 2: Using Pressable Component

If you want more control over where the keyboard should be dismissed, using the Pressable component is a better option. The Pressable component allows you to define specific areas where taps can trigger Keyboard.dismiss(), offering more flexibility than TouchableWithoutFeedback.

Example:

Click out of onfocus text input react native

Advantages of Pressable

• Granular Control: Unlike TouchableWithoutFeedback, Pressable allows you to limit the dismiss functionality to certain areas of the screen. This is useful when you want specific regions to trigger the dismissal without affecting the rest of the layout.
• Interactive Feedback: Pressable also offers better handling of user feedback with onPressIn, onPressOut, and onLongPress events.

Drawbacks

• More setup is required to target only the areas you want to dismiss the keyboard, but it is more flexible than a global approach.

Handling Multiple TextInput Components

When dealing with forms or multiple TextInput components, you might need to manage the keyboard dismissal behavior more dynamically. For example, you may want one TextInput to dismiss the keyboard when the user focuses on another one.

React Native provides onFocus and onBlur props for TextInput, which allow you to monitor focus and control the keyboard behavior.

Example:

javascriptCopy codeimport React, { useState } from 'react';
import { TextInput, View, Keyboard } from 'react-native';

const MultiTextInputExample = () => {
  const [focus, setFocus] = useState(false);

  const handleFocus = () => {
    setFocus(true);
  };

  const handleBlur = () => {
    setFocus(false);
    Keyboard.dismiss();
  };

  return (
    <View style={{ flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' }}>
      <TextInput
        style={{
          height: 40,
          borderColor: 'gray',
          borderWidth: 1,
          width: '80%',
          paddingHorizontal: 10,
        }}
        placeholder="Focus here to show keyboard"
        onFocus={handleFocus}
        onBlur={handleBlur}
      />
      <TextInput
        style={{
          height: 40,
          borderColor: 'gray',
          borderWidth: 1,
          width: '80%',
          paddingHorizontal: 10,
          marginTop: 20,
        }}
        placeholder="Tap here to dismiss keyboard"
        onFocus={handleFocus}
        onBlur={handleBlur}
      />
    </View>
  );
};

export default MultiTextInputExample;

Best Practices for Dismissing the Keyboard

When implementing keyboard dismissal in React Native, consider the following best practices:

Best Practice	Description
Use TouchableWithoutFeedback for simplicity	Ideal for global dismissal across the entire screen.
Use Pressable for precision	Perfect when you need granular control over which areas dismiss the keyboard.
Manage Focus with onFocus and onBlur	To handle multiple TextInput fields, monitor focus and blur to dismiss the keyboard efficiently.
Consider user interaction patterns	Ensure the keyboard behavior matches expected user interactions to enhance usability.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

• Keyboard Not Dismissing: If the keyboard doesn’t dismiss, ensure that Keyboard.dismiss() is properly attached to the onPress event.
• Touch Events Not Firing: Double-check that TouchableWithoutFeedback or Pressable is wrapping the correct areas of the screen.
• Performance Considerations: Wrapping large sections of the UI with TouchableWithoutFeedback can affect performance. Use Pressable when you need more specific areas to trigger keyboard dismissal.

Conclusion

In React Native, the ability to dismiss the keyboard when clicking outside of a focused TextInput can significantly improve the user experience, especially in forms or when handling multiple input fields.

Whether you use TouchableWithoutFeedback for a global solution or Pressable for more control, both methods are simple to implement and offer flexibility.

By following best practices and understanding how to manage focus events, you can create a smooth and intuitive interaction model for your users.

Now, you’re equipped with all the necessary tools to click out of onfocus text input in React Native effectively and efficiently.

FAQS

Why does clicking outside a focused TextInput trigger click events in React Native?

Because touch events can propagate before the keyboard dismissal completes, especially when focus shifts or components re-render during keyboard transitions.

Why does this issue happen more on Android than iOS?

Android prioritizes touch handling before keyboard state changes, while iOS often suppresses background taps during focus transitions.

React Native TextInput onBlur not working: what causes it?

onBlur may fail when parent Pressable or touch handlers intercept the event, or when re-renders interrupt the focus lifecycle.

How do I unfocus a TextInput without dismissing the keyboard?

You can programmatically manage focus state without calling Keyboard.dismiss(), but this depends on layout structure and platform behavior.

What is the safest way to dismiss the keyboard when tapping outside a TextInput?

Using controlled press areas with Pressable or managing touch priority is safer than global wrappers in complex layouts.

Is this behavior a React Native bug?

Not always. In many cases, it’s expected behavior caused by focus handling, keyboard overlays, or platform-specific touch priorities.

Can Pressable or TouchableWithoutFeedback cause focus issues?

Yes. If not scoped correctly, they can steal focus or allow touch events to fire before the keyboard is dismissed.