Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:- Expo CLI installed:
npm install -g @expo/cli
- EAS CLI installed:
npm install -g eas-cli
Setup
Navigate to your Expo project and initialize EAS Build:eas.json
configuration file in your project root.
iOS Simulator Build
Step 1: Configure iOS Build Profile
Update youreas.json
file to include an iOS simulator build profile:
Step 2: Build for iOS
Run the build command for iOS:Step 3: Download and Extract
- Download the
.tar.gz
file from the provided URL - Extract the archive (double-click on macOS or use terminal)
- Inside you’ll find your
.app
file ready for upload
Step 4: Verify iOS Build
Test your build before uploading:- Open iOS Simulator
- Drag the
.app
file onto the simulator - The app should install and launch successfully
- Right-click
.app
→ Get Info → verify “Kind” shows iOS App (Simulator)
Android Emulator Build
Step 1: Configure Android Build Profile
Add an Android build profile to youreas.json
:
Step 2: Build for Android
Run the build command for Android:Step 3: Download APK
Download the.apk
file directly from the provided link. No extraction needed - the APK is ready to use.
Step 4: Verify Android Build
Test your build before uploading:- Start your Android Emulator
- Install with:
adb install your-app.apk
- Launch the app to verify functionality
- Confirm
.apk
file extension and reasonable file size
Build Both Platforms Simultaneously
You can build for both platforms at once by creating a universal profile:Next Steps
- Check out Uploading your app for more detailed instructions on how to upload your new build!
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Build fails or times out
Build fails or times out
- Check your Expo account build credits and quotas
- Verify all dependencies are listed in
package.json
- Review error logs in the EAS Build dashboard
- Ensure your
eas.json
syntax is valid
Download links don't work
Download links don't work
- Build artifacts expire after a period of time
- Re-run the build command to generate fresh links
- Download builds promptly after completion
iOS app won't install on simulator
iOS app won't install on simulator
- Confirm you fully extracted the
.tar.gz
file - Drag the
.app
file itself, not its containing folder - Check simulator iOS version compatibility
- Restart iOS Simulator if needed
Android APK installation fails
Android APK installation fails
- Verify emulator is running:
adb devices
- Clear emulator storage if full
- Try force reinstall:
adb install -r your-app.apk
- Re-download APK if file appears corrupted