[0.76.2] Cannot reset color scheme

[sangonz193]

Description

Calling Appearance.setColorScheme(null) or Appearance.setColorScheme(undefined) no longer resets the color scheme useColorScheme returns like on previous rn versions.

Steps to reproduce

1. Call Appearance.setColorScheme(null) or Appearance.setColorScheme(undefined)
2. Next call to useColorScheme() will return null or undefined, instead of "light" or "dark" based on the OS setting.

React Native Version

0.76.2

Affected Platforms

Runtime - Android, Runtime - iOS

Output of npx react-native info

System:
  OS: macOS 15.1
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
  Memory: 130.08 MB / 16.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.11.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.11.0/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.22
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.11.0/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.11.0/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2024.11.11.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.1
      - iOS 18.1
      - macOS 15.1
      - tvOS 18.1
      - visionOS 2.1
      - watchOS 11.1
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2024.2 AI-242.23339.11.2421.12550806
  Xcode:
    version: 16.1/16B40
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.13
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 15.1.2
    wanted: ^15.1.2
  react:
    installed: 18.3.1
    wanted: 18.3.1
  react-native:
    installed: 0.76.2
    wanted: 0.76.2
  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

No error message

Reproducer

https://snack.expo.dev/@sangonz193/frowning-green-donut

Screenshots and Videos

Expo 52 shows the bug, Expo 51 shows how it behaved before. Device used here was configured for dark mode.

Expo.52.mp4

Expo.51.mp4

[react-native-bot]

Warning

Could not parse version: We could not find or parse the version number of React Native in your issue report. Please use the template, and report your version including major, minor, and patch numbers - e.g. 0.76.2.

[react-native-bot]

Warning

Could not parse version: We could not find or parse the version number of React Native in your issue report. Please use the template, and report your version including major, minor, and patch numbers - e.g. 0.76.2.

[sangonz193]

Patching node_modules/react-native/Libraries/Utilities/Appearance.js seems to be working:

   const {NativeAppearance} = state;
   if (NativeAppearance != null) {
     NativeAppearance.setColorScheme(colorScheme ?? 'unspecified');
-    state.appearance = {colorScheme};
+    state.appearance = {colorScheme:getColorScheme()};
   }

Unsure whether this would be the desired fix.