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Expo CLI is the official command-line interface for Expo projects. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for developing, building, and deploying React Native applications with Expo.

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What is Expo CLI?

Expo CLI is distributed as the @expo/cli npm package and serves as the primary interface for:
  • Starting development servers with Metro bundler
  • Building and running native applications locally
  • Generating native iOS and Android projects
  • Managing dependencies compatible with your Expo SDK version
  • Exporting production-ready bundles
  • Authenticating with your Expo account
The CLI is designed with a lean, intentional public interface where all commands and arguments are carefully considered.

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Main Features

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Development Server

The CLI provides a powerful development server with Metro bundler integration that supports:
  • Multi-platform bundling (iOS, Android, and Web)
  • Hot Module Replacement (HMR)
  • Fast Refresh for instant updates
  • Chrome DevTools Protocol for debugging
  • TypeScript support with automatic type generation
  • Server-side rendering and API routes

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Native Development

Build and run your app on iOS simulators, Android emulators, and physical devices:
  • Automatic device detection and selection
  • Xcode and Gradle build integration
  • Code signing management for iOS
  • Variant and configuration support

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Project Management

  • Generate native projects with expo prebuild
  • Install compatible dependencies with expo install
  • View resolved configuration with expo config
  • Customize Metro bundler and native projects

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Common Workflows

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Starting Development

npx expo start
Opens an interactive terminal UI where you can:
  • Press i to open iOS simulator
  • Press a to open Android emulator
  • Press w to open in web browser
  • Scan QR code with Expo Go or development build

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Building Locally

# Build and run on iOS
npx expo run:ios

# Build and run on Android
npx expo run:android
These commands compile your native code and launch the app on a simulator/emulator or physical device.

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Generating Native Projects

npx expo prebuild
Creates ios/ and android/ directories with native code that you can open in Xcode or Android Studio.

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Installing Dependencies

npx expo install react-native-maps
Installs packages with versions compatible with your Expo SDK version.

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Exporting for Production

npx expo export
Creates optimized production bundles for deployment, including:
  • Minified JavaScript
  • Compressed assets
  • Platform-specific bundles
  • Static HTML for web

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Requirements

  • Node.js 20.19.4 or newer (LTS version recommended)
  • npm, yarn, pnpm, or bun package manager
  • For iOS development: macOS with Xcode (not supported on Windows)
  • For Android development: Android Studio or Android SDK

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Getting Help

Run any command with the --help flag to see detailed usage information: 
npx expo start --help
npx expo run:ios --help
npx expo prebuild --help

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Environment Variables

Expo CLI supports various environment variables for customization:
  • EXPO_DEBUG=1 - Enable debug logging
  • EXPO_OFFLINE=1 - Skip network requests
  • CI=1 - Run in non-interactive CI mode
  • EXPO_NO_TELEMETRY=1 - Disable analytics
See the Environment Variables page for a complete list.