Installing Development Builds

Once you’ve created a development build, you need to install it on your test devices. Installation methods vary by platform and distribution strategy.

iOS Installation

iOS Simulator

Simulator builds are the easiest to install for local development.

Build for simulator

# Local build
npx expo run:ios --simulator

# Or EAS Build
eas build --profile development --platform ios

In eas.json, ensure simulator is enabled:

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "ios": {
        "simulator": true
      }
    }
  }
}

Download the build

If using EAS Build:

eas build:list --profile development --platform ios

Download the .tar.gz file from the build URL.

Install on simulator

# Extract and install
tar -xvf app.tar.gz
xcrun simctl install booted path/to/Your-App.app

# Or drag and drop the .app file onto the simulator

iOS Physical Devices

For testing on actual iPhones and iPads, you have several options.

Option 1: TestFlight (Recommended for Teams)

Configure for TestFlight

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "ios": {
        "simulator": false,
        "buildConfiguration": "Release",
        "distribution": "internal"
      }
    }
  },
  "submit": {
    "development": {
      "ios": {
        "appleId": "your-apple-id@example.com",
        "ascAppId": "1234567890",
        "appleTeamId": "YOUR_TEAM_ID"
      }
    }
  }
}

Build and submit

# Build for TestFlight
eas build --profile development --platform ios

# Submit to TestFlight
eas submit --platform ios --profile development

Invite testers

Go to App Store Connect
Select your app
Go to TestFlight tab
Add internal testers (up to 100)
Testers receive an email invitation

Install via TestFlight app

Testers:

Install TestFlight from App Store
Accept invitation email
Install the development build

Option 2: Ad-Hoc Distribution

For direct installation without TestFlight:

# Register a device with EAS
eas device:create

Provide your device UDID. Find it:

Connect device to Mac
Open Finder > Device > Click serial number
Copy UDID

Build with registered devices

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "ios": {
        "simulator": false,
        "distribution": "internal"
      }
    }
  }
}

eas build --profile development --platform ios

Download and install

Download the .ipa file and:Using Xcode:

# Connect device via USB
open -a Finder
# Drag .ipa to device in Finder sidebar

Using iOS App Installer:

Download iOS App Installer
Open the .ipa file
Select connected device
Click Install

Option 3: Xcode Direct Install

For local development:

# Build and install in one command
npx expo run:ios --device

# Select your connected device from the list

Xcode handles code signing automatically for development.

iOS Development Certificates

For physical device installation, you need:

Apple Developer Account ($99/year for teams, free for personal)
Development Certificate (automatic with Xcode)
Provisioning Profile (automatic with EAS or Xcode)

# Check signing status
eas credentials --platform ios

# Configure new credentials
eas credentials:configure-build --platform ios

Android Installation

Android Emulator

Emulator installation is straightforward.

Start an emulator

# List available emulators
emulator -list-avds

# Start an emulator
emulator @Pixel_7_Pro_API_36 &

Or start from Android Studio > Device Manager.

Build and install

# Local build - installs automatically
npx expo run:android

# Or install APK manually
adb install path/to/app.apk

Android Physical Devices

Android allows direct APK installation without app store distribution.

Option 1: Direct APK Installation (Recommended)

Enable developer options

On your Android device:

Go to Settings > About Phone
Tap “Build Number” 7 times
Go back to Settings > System > Developer Options
Enable “USB Debugging”

Build APK

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "android": {
        "buildType": "apk",
        "gradleCommand": ":app:assembleDebug"
      }
    }
  }
}

# EAS Build
eas build --profile development --platform android

# Local build
npx expo run:android --variant debug

Install via USB

# Connect device via USB
adb devices  # Verify device is connected

# Install APK
adb install path/to/app.apk

# Or install to specific device
adb -s DEVICE_ID install path/to/app.apk

Option 2: Download from URL

Share APKs via URL:

Get build URL

eas build:list --profile development --platform android

Copy the APK download URL.

Install on device

On the Android device:

Open the URL in a browser
Download the APK
Tap the downloaded file
Allow installation from unknown sources if prompted
Tap “Install”

Option 3: Internal Distribution

For team distribution:

Build AAB for Play Console

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "android": {
        "buildType": "aab",
        "gradleCommand": ":app:bundleDebug"
      }
    }
  }
}

Upload to Play Console

Go to Google Play Console
Select your app
Go to Testing > Internal Testing
Upload the AAB file
Add testers via email

Android Signing

Debug builds use automatic debug keystore:

# View debug keystore info
keytool -list -v -keystore ~/.android/debug.keystore \
  -alias androiddebugkey -storepass android -keypass android

For custom signing:

# Generate keystore
keytool -genkey -v -keystore my-release-key.keystore \
  -alias my-key-alias -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000

# Configure in EAS
eas credentials --platform android

Installation via Development Server

Once installed, load JavaScript from the dev server.

QR Code Method

Start dev server

npx expo start --dev-client

A QR code appears in the terminal.

Scan QR code

Open your development build and:

iOS: Use camera app or dev client scanner
Android: Use dev client scanner

Manual URL Entry

# Start with explicit URL
npx expo start --dev-client --host tunnel

In the dev client:

Tap “Enter URL manually”
Enter: exp://YOUR-IP:8081
Tap “Connect”

LAN Connection

For local network development:

# Start on LAN
npx expo start --dev-client --host lan

Requires:

Device and computer on same network
Firewall allows port 8081
No VPN interfering with local network

Troubleshooting

iOS: App Won’t Install

“Unable to Install App”

# Check device UDID is registered
eas device:list

# Re-register device
eas device:create

# Rebuild with updated devices
eas build --profile development --platform ios

iOS: Untrusted Developer

On device:

Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
Select your developer certificate
Tap “Trust”

Android: Installation Blocked

“Install blocked for security”

Go to Settings > Apps > Special Access
Select “Install unknown apps”
Enable for your browser or file manager

Android: ADB Not Found

# Add to PATH (macOS/Linux)
export ANDROID_HOME=$HOME/Library/Android/sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools

# Or use Android Studio's adb
~/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools/adb devices

Can’t Connect to Dev Server

Check firewall: Allow port 8081
Try tunnel mode: npx expo start --tunnel
Verify same network: Device and computer on same WiFi
Check URL: Should be exp://IP:8081 not http://

# Test connectivity
ping YOUR-COMPUTER-IP

# Check port is open
nc -zv YOUR-COMPUTER-IP 8081

Build Expires (iOS TestFlight)

TestFlight builds expire after 90 days:

# Upload new build
eas build --profile development --platform ios
eas submit --platform ios

Managing Multiple Builds

Build Channels

Test different versions simultaneously:

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "channel": "development"
    },
    "staging": {
      "channel": "staging",
      "developmentClient": true
    }
  }
}

# Build for different channels
eas build --profile development
eas build --profile staging

# Load specific channel in app
# Dev client shows available channels

Build Versions

Track builds with version numbers:

app.json

{
  "expo": {
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "ios": {
      "buildNumber": "1"
    },
    "android": {
      "versionCode": 1
    }
  }
}

Auto-increment with EAS:

eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "ios": {
        "autoIncrement": "buildNumber"
      },
      "android": {
        "autoIncrement": "versionCode"
      }
    }
  }
}

Next Steps

Start Debugging

Learn how to debug your development build

Dev Tools

Explore the dev tools and inspector

Testing

Set up automated testing

Error Handling

Handle errors in development

​iOS Installation

​iOS Simulator

​iOS Physical Devices

​Option 1: TestFlight (Recommended for Teams)

​Option 2: Ad-Hoc Distribution

​Option 3: Xcode Direct Install

​iOS Development Certificates

​Android Installation

​Android Emulator

​Android Physical Devices

​Option 1: Direct APK Installation (Recommended)

​Option 2: Download from URL

​Option 3: Internal Distribution

​Android Signing

​Installation via Development Server

​QR Code Method

​Manual URL Entry

​LAN Connection

​Troubleshooting

​iOS: App Won’t Install

​iOS: Untrusted Developer

​Android: Installation Blocked

​Android: ADB Not Found

​Can’t Connect to Dev Server

​Build Expires (iOS TestFlight)

​Managing Multiple Builds

​Build Channels

​Build Versions

​Next Steps

Start Debugging

Dev Tools

Testing

Error Handling

iOS Installation

iOS Simulator

iOS Physical Devices

Option 1: TestFlight (Recommended for Teams)

Option 2: Ad-Hoc Distribution

Option 3: Xcode Direct Install

iOS Development Certificates

Android Installation

Android Emulator

Android Physical Devices

Option 1: Direct APK Installation (Recommended)

Option 2: Download from URL

Option 3: Internal Distribution

Android Signing

Installation via Development Server

QR Code Method

Manual URL Entry

LAN Connection

Troubleshooting

iOS: App Won’t Install

iOS: Untrusted Developer

Android: Installation Blocked

Android: ADB Not Found

Can’t Connect to Dev Server

Build Expires (iOS TestFlight)

Managing Multiple Builds

Build Channels

Build Versions

Next Steps