I recently ran into an error in my Storybook environment that read: useNavigate() may be used only in the context of a component. It took me a moment to understand why this was happening, and I want to share how I solved it.
Thank me by sharing on Twitter 🙏
Error: useNavigate() may be used only in the context of a component.
Why This Error Occurs
I discovered that Storybook doesn’t automatically provide a React Router context. When I used useNavigate(), React expected my component to be nested inside a <Router> component, but Storybook had no router set up by default. Consequently, it complained that I was calling useNavigate() outside a router.
How I Wrapped My Component in a Router
To fix the issue, I wrapped the story in a <MemoryRouter> decorator. This way, my component could use all the router hooks, including useNavigate(). Here’s a simplified example:
import type { Meta, StoryObj } from "@storybook/react";
import { fn } from "@storybook/test";
import { MemoryRouter } from "react-router-dom";
import MyComponent from './MyComponent';
const meta = {
title: "Examples/MyComponent",
component: MyComponent,
tags: ["autodocs"],
parameters: {
layout: "fullscreen",
},
args: {
onLogin: fn(),
onLogout: fn(),
onCreateAccount: fn(),
},
decorators: [
(Story) => (
<MemoryRouter>
<Story />
</MemoryRouter>
),
],
} satisfies Meta<typeof MyComponent>;
export default meta;
type Story = StoryObj<typeof meta>;
export const Basic: Story = {};
Once I added this decorator, Storybook provided the same router context I would normally have in a standard React application. I was then free to call useNavigate() without errors.
The ChatGPT Millionaire: Making Money Online has never been this EASY (How to make money with AI)
$12.50 (as of December 2, 2025 18:46 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Samsung P9 Express microSD Express Card, 512GB microSDXC Memory Card, Up to 800 MB/s, for Nintendo-Switch ™ 2, (MB MK512T/AM)
$74.99 (as of December 1, 2025 01:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Highwings 8K 10K 4K HDMI Cable 48Gbps 6.6FT/2M, Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable Braided Cord-4K@120Hz 8K@60Hz, DTS:X, HDCP 2.2 & 2.3, HDR 10 Compatible with Roku TV/PS5/HDTV/Blu-ray
$5.99 (as of December 1, 2025 01:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Verifying My Fix
After I refreshed Storybook, the error disappeared. The navigation logic within my component worked as expected, and I confirmed that my stories still rendered correctly.
Final Thoughts
By wrapping my stories with a <MemoryRouter>, I ensured that any calls to useNavigate() had the proper context. This small change saved me a lot of time and kept my Storybook environment aligned with my production setup. I hope my experience helps anyone else who faces the same challenge.
