diff --git a/.changeset/npm-sandbox-compat.md b/.changeset/npm-sandbox-compat.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..142febe2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/npm-sandbox-compat.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+"start": patch
+---
+
+Make react-start example compatible with npm-based sandboxes
+
+Replace the 'workspace:*' dependency reference with a fixed version (^0.4.0) for @tanstack/devtools-event-client in the react/start example.
+
+The workspace:* reference was incompatible with npm-based sandboxes like StackBlitz and CodeSandbox, causing pnpm install failures with 'ERR_PNPM_OUTDATED_LOCKFILE' error.
+
+This change allows the example to be used in cloud-based development environments while maintaining version compatibility.
diff --git a/examples/react/start/package.json b/examples/react/start/package.json
index ddb0e94e..2649f4a7 100644
--- a/examples/react/start/package.json
+++ b/examples/react/start/package.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@tailwindcss/vite": "^4.0.6",
-    "@tanstack/devtools-event-client": "workspace:*",
+    "@tanstack/devtools-event-client": "^0.4.0",
     "@tanstack/react-devtools": "^0.9.3",
     "@tanstack/react-router": "^1.132.0",
     "@tanstack/react-router-devtools": "^1.132.0",