diff --git a/template/ios/Podfile b/template/ios/Podfile
index 6701249e83ac20..1b0f64d347bad6 100644
--- a/template/ios/Podfile
+++ b/template/ios/Podfile
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ platform :ios, '10.0'
 target 'HelloWorld' do
   config = use_native_modules!
 
-  use_react_native!(:path => config[:reactNativePath])
+  use_react_native(
+    :path => config[:reactNativePath],
+    # to enable hermes on iOS, change `false` to `true` and then install pods
+    :hermes_enabled => false
+  )
 
   target 'HelloWorldTests' do
     inherit! :complete