diff --git a/src/lib/hooks/useHandleRef.ts b/src/lib/hooks/useHandleRef.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 167ba270b6..0000000000
--- a/src/lib/hooks/useHandleRef.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-import {useState} from 'react'
-import {AnimatedRef, measure, MeasuredDimensions} from 'react-native-reanimated'
-
-export type HandleRef = {
-  (node: any): void
-  current: null | number
-}
-
-// This is a lighterweight alternative to `useAnimatedRef()` for imperative UI thread actions.
-// Render it like <View ref={ref} />, then pass `ref.current` to `measureHandle()` and such.
-export function useHandleRef(): HandleRef {
-  return useState(() => {
-    const ref = (node: any) => {
-      if (node) {
-        ref.current =
-          node._nativeTag ??
-          node.__nativeTag ??
-          node.canonical?.nativeTag ??
-          null
-      } else {
-        ref.current = null
-      }
-    }
-    ref.current = null
-    return ref
-  })[0] as HandleRef
-}
-
-// When using this version, you need to read ref.current on the JS thread, and pass it to UI.
-export function measureHandle(
-  current: number | null,
-): MeasuredDimensions | null {
-  'worklet'
-  if (current !== null) {
-    return measure((() => current) as AnimatedRef<any>)
-  } else {
-    return null
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/screens/Profile/Header/Shell.tsx b/src/screens/Profile/Header/Shell.tsx
index a3efdedf5e..21d33d84b0 100644
--- a/src/screens/Profile/Header/Shell.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Profile/Header/Shell.tsx
@@ -1,17 +1,22 @@
 import React, {memo} from 'react'
 import {StyleSheet, TouchableWithoutFeedback, View} from 'react-native'
-import {MeasuredDimensions, runOnJS, runOnUI} from 'react-native-reanimated'
+import Animated, {
+  measure,
+  type MeasuredDimensions,
+  runOnJS,
+  runOnUI,
+  useAnimatedRef,
+} from 'react-native-reanimated'
 import {useSafeAreaInsets} from 'react-native-safe-area-context'
-import {AppBskyActorDefs, ModerationDecision} from '@atproto/api'
+import {type AppBskyActorDefs, type ModerationDecision} from '@atproto/api'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {useNavigation} from '@react-navigation/native'
 
 import {BACK_HITSLOP} from '#/lib/constants'
-import {measureHandle, useHandleRef} from '#/lib/hooks/useHandleRef'
-import {NavigationProp} from '#/lib/routes/types'
+import {type NavigationProp} from '#/lib/routes/types'
 import {isIOS} from '#/platform/detection'
-import {Shadow} from '#/state/cache/types'
+import {type Shadow} from '#/state/cache/types'
 import {useLightboxControls} from '#/state/lightbox'
 import {useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {LoadingPlaceholder} from '#/view/com/util/LoadingPlaceholder'
@@ -46,7 +51,7 @@ let ProfileHeaderShell = ({
   const navigation = useNavigation<NavigationProp>()
   const {top: topInset} = useSafeAreaInsets()
 
-  const aviRef = useHandleRef()
+  const aviRef = useAnimatedRef()
 
   const onPressBack = React.useCallback(() => {
     if (navigation.canGoBack()) {
@@ -83,10 +88,9 @@ let ProfileHeaderShell = ({
     const modui = moderation.ui('avatar')
     const avatar = profile.avatar
     if (avatar && !(modui.blur && modui.noOverride)) {
-      const aviHandle = aviRef.current
       runOnUI(() => {
         'worklet'
-        const rect = measureHandle(aviHandle)
+        const rect = measure(aviRef)
         runOnJS(_openLightbox)(avatar, rect)
       })()
     }
@@ -174,14 +178,14 @@ let ProfileHeaderShell = ({
               styles.avi,
               profile.associated?.labeler && styles.aviLabeler,
             ]}>
-            <View ref={aviRef} collapsable={false}>
+            <Animated.View ref={aviRef} collapsable={false}>
               <UserAvatar
                 type={profile.associated?.labeler ? 'labeler' : 'user'}
                 size={90}
                 avatar={profile.avatar}
                 moderation={moderation.ui('avatar')}
               />
-            </View>
+            </Animated.View>
           </View>
         </TouchableWithoutFeedback>
       </GrowableAvatar>
diff --git a/src/view/com/profile/ProfileSubpageHeader.tsx b/src/view/com/profile/ProfileSubpageHeader.tsx
index b0cf4d10e4..02a6704bf9 100644
--- a/src/view/com/profile/ProfileSubpageHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/profile/ProfileSubpageHeader.tsx
@@ -1,23 +1,28 @@
 import React from 'react'
 import {Pressable, View} from 'react-native'
-import {MeasuredDimensions, runOnJS, runOnUI} from 'react-native-reanimated'
-import {AppBskyGraphDefs} from '@atproto/api'
+import Animated, {
+  measure,
+  type MeasuredDimensions,
+  runOnJS,
+  runOnUI,
+  useAnimatedRef,
+} from 'react-native-reanimated'
+import {type AppBskyGraphDefs} from '@atproto/api'
 import {msg, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {useNavigation} from '@react-navigation/native'
 
-import {measureHandle, useHandleRef} from '#/lib/hooks/useHandleRef'
 import {usePalette} from '#/lib/hooks/usePalette'
 import {useWebMediaQueries} from '#/lib/hooks/useWebMediaQueries'
 import {makeProfileLink} from '#/lib/routes/links'
-import {NavigationProp} from '#/lib/routes/types'
+import {type NavigationProp} from '#/lib/routes/types'
 import {sanitizeHandle} from '#/lib/strings/handles'
 import {emitSoftReset} from '#/state/events'
 import {useLightboxControls} from '#/state/lightbox'
 import {TextLink} from '#/view/com/util/Link'
 import {LoadingPlaceholder} from '#/view/com/util/LoadingPlaceholder'
 import {Text} from '#/view/com/util/text/Text'
-import {UserAvatar, UserAvatarType} from '#/view/com/util/UserAvatar'
+import {UserAvatar, type UserAvatarType} from '#/view/com/util/UserAvatar'
 import {StarterPack} from '#/components/icons/StarterPack'
 import * as Layout from '#/components/Layout'
 
@@ -52,7 +57,7 @@ export function ProfileSubpageHeader({
   const {openLightbox} = useLightboxControls()
   const pal = usePalette('default')
   const canGoBack = navigation.canGoBack()
-  const aviRef = useHandleRef()
+  const aviRef = useAnimatedRef()
 
   const _openLightbox = React.useCallback(
     (uri: string, thumbRect: MeasuredDimensions | null) => {
@@ -81,10 +86,9 @@ export function ProfileSubpageHeader({
     if (
       avatar // TODO && !(view.moderation.avatar.blur && view.moderation.avatar.noOverride)
     ) {
-      const aviHandle = aviRef.current
       runOnUI(() => {
         'worklet'
-        const rect = measureHandle(aviHandle)
+        const rect = measure(aviRef)
         runOnJS(_openLightbox)(avatar, rect)
       })()
     }
@@ -111,7 +115,7 @@ export function ProfileSubpageHeader({
           paddingBottom: 14,
           paddingHorizontal: isMobile ? 12 : 14,
         }}>
-        <View ref={aviRef} collapsable={false}>
+        <Animated.View ref={aviRef} collapsable={false}>
           <Pressable
             testID="headerAviButton"
             onPress={onPressAvi}
@@ -125,7 +129,7 @@ export function ProfileSubpageHeader({
               <UserAvatar type={avatarType} size={58} avatar={avatar} />
             )}
           </Pressable>
-        </View>
+        </Animated.View>
         <View style={{flex: 1, gap: 4}}>
           {isLoading ? (
             <LoadingPlaceholder
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/images/AutoSizedImage.tsx b/src/view/com/util/images/AutoSizedImage.tsx
index 883d3814f5..c46270e36f 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/images/AutoSizedImage.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/images/AutoSizedImage.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import React, {useRef} from 'react'
-import {DimensionValue, Pressable, View} from 'react-native'
+import {type DimensionValue, Pressable, View} from 'react-native'
+import Animated, {type AnimatedRef, useAnimatedRef} from 'react-native-reanimated'
 import {Image} from 'expo-image'
-import {AppBskyEmbedImages} from '@atproto/api'
+import {type AppBskyEmbedImages} from '@atproto/api'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 
-import {HandleRef, useHandleRef} from '#/lib/hooks/useHandleRef'
-import type {Dimensions} from '#/lib/media/types'
+import  {type Dimensions} from '#/lib/media/types'
 import {isNative} from '#/platform/detection'
 import {useLargeAltBadgeEnabled} from '#/state/preferences/large-alt-badge'
 import {atoms as a, useBreakpoints, useTheme} from '#/alf'
@@ -68,14 +68,17 @@ export function AutoSizedImage({
   image: AppBskyEmbedImages.ViewImage
   crop?: 'none' | 'square' | 'constrained'
   hideBadge?: boolean
-  onPress?: (containerRef: HandleRef, fetchedDims: Dimensions | null) => void
+  onPress?: (
+    containerRef: AnimatedRef<any>,
+    fetchedDims: Dimensions | null,
+  ) => void
   onLongPress?: () => void
   onPressIn?: () => void
 }) {
   const t = useTheme()
   const {_} = useLingui()
   const largeAlt = useLargeAltBadgeEnabled()
-  const containerRef = useHandleRef()
+  const containerRef = useAnimatedRef()
   const fetchedDimsRef = useRef<{width: number; height: number} | null>(null)
 
   let aspectRatio: number | undefined
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ export function AutoSizedImage({
   const hasAlt = !!image.alt
 
   const contents = (
-    <View ref={containerRef} collapsable={false} style={{flex: 1}}>
+    <Animated.View ref={containerRef} collapsable={false} style={{flex: 1}}>
       <Image
         contentFit={isContain ? 'contain' : 'cover'}
         style={[a.w_full, a.h_full]}
@@ -185,7 +188,7 @@ export function AutoSizedImage({
           )}
         </View>
       ) : null}
-    </View>
+    </Animated.View>
   )
 
   if (cropDisabled) {
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/images/Gallery.tsx b/src/view/com/util/images/Gallery.tsx
index cc3eda68d2..1d35c88c59 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/images/Gallery.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/images/Gallery.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-import React from 'react'
-import {Pressable, StyleProp, View, ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
-import {Image, ImageStyle} from 'expo-image'
-import {AppBskyEmbedImages} from '@atproto/api'
+import {Pressable, type StyleProp, View, type ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
+import {type AnimatedRef} from 'react-native-reanimated'
+import {Image, type ImageStyle} from 'expo-image'
+import {type AppBskyEmbedImages} from '@atproto/api'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
+import type React from 'react'
 
-import {HandleRef} from '#/lib/hooks/useHandleRef'
-import {Dimensions} from '#/lib/media/types'
+import {type Dimensions} from '#/lib/media/types'
 import {useLargeAltBadgeEnabled} from '#/state/preferences/large-alt-badge'
 import {PostEmbedViewContext} from '#/view/com/util/post-embeds/types'
 import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ interface Props {
   index: number
   onPress?: (
     index: number,
-    containerRefs: HandleRef[],
+    containerRefs: AnimatedRef<any>[],
     fetchedDims: (Dimensions | null)[],
   ) => void
   onLongPress?: EventFunction
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ interface Props {
   imageStyle?: StyleProp<ImageStyle>
   viewContext?: PostEmbedViewContext
   insetBorderStyle?: StyleProp<ViewStyle>
-  containerRefs: HandleRef[]
+  containerRefs: AnimatedRef<any>[]
   thumbDimsRef: React.MutableRefObject<(Dimensions | null)[]>
 }
 
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/images/ImageLayoutGrid.tsx b/src/view/com/util/images/ImageLayoutGrid.tsx
index 16ea9d453f..b91d7a7adb 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/images/ImageLayoutGrid.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/images/ImageLayoutGrid.tsx
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 import React from 'react'
-import {StyleProp, StyleSheet, View, ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
-import {AppBskyEmbedImages} from '@atproto/api'
+import {type StyleProp, StyleSheet, View, type ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
+import {type AnimatedRef, useAnimatedRef} from 'react-native-reanimated'
+import {type AppBskyEmbedImages} from '@atproto/api'
 
-import {HandleRef, useHandleRef} from '#/lib/hooks/useHandleRef'
 import {PostEmbedViewContext} from '#/view/com/util/post-embeds/types'
 import {atoms as a, useBreakpoints} from '#/alf'
-import {Dimensions} from '../../lightbox/ImageViewing/@types'
+import {type Dimensions} from '../../lightbox/ImageViewing/@types'
 import {GalleryItem} from './Gallery'
 
 interface ImageLayoutGridProps {
   images: AppBskyEmbedImages.ViewImage[]
   onPress?: (
     index: number,
-    containerRefs: HandleRef[],
+    containerRefs: AnimatedRef<any>[],
     fetchedDims: (Dimensions | null)[],
   ) => void
   onLongPress?: (index: number) => void
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ interface ImageLayoutGridInnerProps {
   images: AppBskyEmbedImages.ViewImage[]
   onPress?: (
     index: number,
-    containerRefs: HandleRef[],
+    containerRefs: AnimatedRef<any>[],
     fetchedDims: (Dimensions | null)[],
   ) => void
   onLongPress?: (index: number) => void
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ function ImageLayoutGridInner(props: ImageLayoutGridInnerProps) {
   const gap = props.gap
   const count = props.images.length
 
-  const containerRef1 = useHandleRef()
-  const containerRef2 = useHandleRef()
-  const containerRef3 = useHandleRef()
-  const containerRef4 = useHandleRef()
+  const containerRef1 = useAnimatedRef()
+  const containerRef2 = useAnimatedRef()
+  const containerRef3 = useAnimatedRef()
+  const containerRef4 = useAnimatedRef()
   const thumbDimsRef = React.useRef<(Dimensions | null)[]>([])
 
   switch (count) {
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/index.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/index.tsx
index 6f5f9d3ab9..4cf71f9486 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/index.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/index.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
 import React from 'react'
 import {
   InteractionManager,
-  StyleProp,
+  type StyleProp,
   StyleSheet,
   View,
-  ViewStyle,
+  type ViewStyle,
 } from 'react-native'
-import {MeasuredDimensions, runOnJS, runOnUI} from 'react-native-reanimated'
+import {
+  type AnimatedRef,
+  measure,
+  type MeasuredDimensions,
+  runOnJS,
+  runOnUI,
+} from 'react-native-reanimated'
 import {Image} from 'expo-image'
 import {
   AppBskyEmbedExternal,
@@ -18,10 +24,9 @@ import {
   AppBskyGraphDefs,
   moderateFeedGenerator,
   moderateUserList,
-  ModerationDecision,
+  type ModerationDecision,
 } from '@atproto/api'
 
-import {HandleRef, measureHandle} from '#/lib/hooks/useHandleRef'
 import {usePalette} from '#/lib/hooks/usePalette'
 import {useLightboxControls} from '#/state/lightbox'
 import {useModerationOpts} from '#/state/preferences/moderation-opts'
@@ -30,7 +35,7 @@ import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import * as ListCard from '#/components/ListCard'
 import {Embed as StarterPackCard} from '#/components/StarterPack/StarterPackCard'
 import {ContentHider} from '../../../../components/moderation/ContentHider'
-import {Dimensions} from '../../lightbox/ImageViewing/@types'
+import {type Dimensions} from '../../lightbox/ImageViewing/@types'
 import {AutoSizedImage} from '../images/AutoSizedImage'
 import {ImageLayoutGrid} from '../images/ImageLayoutGrid'
 import {ExternalLinkEmbed} from './ExternalLinkEmbed'
@@ -158,13 +163,15 @@ export function PostEmbeds({
       }
       const onPress = (
         index: number,
-        refs: HandleRef[],
+        refs: AnimatedRef<any>[],
         fetchedDims: (Dimensions | null)[],
       ) => {
-        const handles = refs.map(r => r.current)
         runOnUI(() => {
           'worklet'
-          const rects = handles.map(measureHandle)
+          const rects: (MeasuredDimensions | null)[] = []
+          for (const r of refs) {
+            rects.push(measure(r))
+          }
           runOnJS(_openLightbox)(index, rects, fetchedDims)
         })()
       }