Client Component Not Rendering in App Router
Your client component doesn't render in the Next.js 13+ App Router, or renders blank with no errors. The component markup doesn't appear in the browser or page layout.
This occurs when server/client boundaries aren't properly configured, 'use client' directives are missing or misplaced, or component imports cross server-client boundaries incorrectly.
Error Messages You Might See
Common Causes
- Missing 'use client' directive at top of interactive component file
- 'use client' directive not at very first line before imports
- Client component importing server-only packages (fs, database, etc)
- Server component trying to use hooks (useState, useEffect) without 'use client'
- Parent component is server component, but trying to pass client component children with hooks
How to Fix It
Add 'use client' directive: At the very top of any component using hooks: 'use client' as first line, before imports.
Check component structure: If parent is server, ensure client children are properly wrapped and exported separately.
Debug imports: Verify component doesn't import server-only modules (fs, path, database drivers).
React DevTools: Use React DevTools browser extension to check if component mounts in component tree.
Real developers can help you.
Matthew Jordan
I've been working at a large software company named Kainos for 2 years, and mainly specialise in Platform Engineering. I regularly enjoy working on software products outside of work, and I'm a huge fan of game development using Unity. I personally enjoy Python & C# in my spare time, but I also specialise in multiple different platform-related technologies from my day job.
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I'm fronted developer with 10+ years of experience with big projects. I have small backend background too
Dor Yaloz
SW engineer with 6+ years of experience,
I worked with React/Node/Python
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Richard McSorley
Full-Stack Software Engineer with 8+ years building high-performance applications for enterprise clients. Shipped production systems at Walmart (4,000+ stores), Cigna (20M+ users), and Arkansas Blue Cross. 5 patents in retail/supply chain tech. Currently focused on AI integrations, automation tools, and TypeScript-first architectures.
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Milan Surelia
Milan Surelia is a Mobile App Developer with 5+ years of experience crafting scalable, cross-platform apps at 7Span and Meticha. At 7Span, he engineers feature-rich Flutter apps with smooth performance and modern UI. As the Co-Founder of Meticha, he builds open-source tools and developer-focused products that solve real-world problems.
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I got a lot of experience in building Long-horizon AI Agents in production, Backend apps that scale to millions of users and frontend knowledge as well.
David Olverson
Solo dev shipping production apps with AI-assisted development. I specialize in rescuing broken Lovable/Bolt/Cursor builds and taking them to production. 10+ apps shipped including SaaS CRMs, gaming platforms, real estate tools, and Discord bots. Stack: Next.js 16, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Prisma. I use Claude Code with 50+ custom skills for rapid delivery. Average turnaround: 2-4 weeks from broken prototype to production.
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Developer with 8 years of experience building softwares fro startups
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Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Where does 'use client' go in my file?
Must be the first line of code, before any imports: 'use client'; import React from 'react';
Do I need use client on every component?
Only components using hooks (useState, useEffect, etc). Server components are default and don't need a directive.
Can a server component use a client component?
Yes, as long as client component is passed as children or props to server component. Wrap appropriately.