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The Expo CLI is a command-line tool for developing, building, and deploying Expo and React Native apps. It’s included when you install the expo package.

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Installation

The CLI is automatically installed with the expo package: 
npm install expo

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Usage

Run Expo CLI commands using npx: 
npx expo <command> [options]

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Global Options

These options are available for all commands:
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--version
flag
Output the version number
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--help
flag
Display help for command
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--non-interactive
flag
Disable interactive prompts

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Commands

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expo start

Start a development server for your project. 
npx expo start [options]
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--clear, -c
flag
Clear the Metro bundler cache
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--dev
flag
default:"true"
Enable development mode
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--no-dev
flag
Disable development mode (production mode)
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--minify
flag
Minify JavaScript
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--https
flag
Start server with HTTPS
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--port, -p
number
default:"8081"
Port to run Metro bundler on
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--host
string
Hostname for the dev server
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--tunnel
flag
Start a tunnel for the dev server
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--lan
flag
Use LAN connection
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--localhost
flag
Use localhost connection
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--offline
flag
Skip network requests
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--dev-client
flag
Start for a development build (non-Expo Go)
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--go
flag
Start for Expo Go
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--scheme
string
Custom URL scheme to use when launching the app
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--android
flag
Open on connected Android device/emulator
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--ios
flag
Open on connected iOS simulator
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--web
flag
Open in web browser
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--private-key-path
string
Path to private key for code signing
Examples: 
# Start development server
npx expo start

# Start with cache cleared
npx expo start --clear

# Start and open on iOS
npx expo start --ios

# Start for development build
npx expo start --dev-client

# Start with tunnel
npx expo start --tunnel

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expo run:ios

Build and run the iOS app locally. 
npx expo run:ios [options]
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--device
string
Device name or UDID to build for
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--scheme
string
Xcode scheme to build
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--configuration
string
default:"Debug"
Xcode configuration (Debug or Release)
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--port, -p
number
default:"8081"
Port to run Metro bundler on
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--no-bundler
flag
Skip starting the Metro bundler
Examples: 
# Run on default simulator
npx expo run:ios

# Run on specific device
npx expo run:ios --device "iPhone 15 Pro"

# Run release build
npx expo run:ios --configuration Release

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expo run:android

Build and run the Android app locally. 
npx expo run:android [options]
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--device
string
Device name or ID to build for
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--variant
string
default:"debug"
Build variant to use (debug or release)
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--port, -p
number
default:"8081"
Port to run Metro bundler on
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--no-bundler
flag
Skip starting the Metro bundler
Examples: 
# Run on default device/emulator
npx expo run:android

# Run release variant
npx expo run:android --variant release

# Run on specific device
npx expo run:android --device emulator-5554

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expo prebuild

Generate native iOS and Android directories for your project. 
npx expo prebuild [options]
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--clean
flag
Delete native directories before generating
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--npm
flag
Use npm to install dependencies
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--yarn
flag
Use Yarn to install dependencies
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--no-install
flag
Skip installing npm packages
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--template
string
Template to use for native directories
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--platform
string
Platforms to generate (ios, android, or all)
Examples: 
# Generate native projects
npx expo prebuild

# Clean and regenerate
npx expo prebuild --clean

# Generate only iOS
npx expo prebuild --platform ios
Running prebuild will create ios/ and android/ directories. These should be added to .gitignore if using continuous native generation.

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expo install

Install a package and ensure compatible versions with your Expo SDK. 
npx expo install <packages...> [options]
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--check
flag
Check which packages need to be updated
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--fix
flag
Automatically update packages to compatible versions
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--npm
flag
Use npm
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--yarn
flag
Use Yarn
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--pnpm
flag
Use pnpm
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--bun
flag
Use Bun
Examples: 
# Install packages
npx expo install expo-camera expo-location

# Check for incompatible versions
npx expo install --check

# Fix incompatible versions
npx expo install --fix

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expo export

Export the app for deployment. 
npx expo export [options]
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--platform
string
default:"all"
Platforms to export (ios, android, web, or all)
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--output-dir
string
default:"dist"
Output directory for exported files
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--clear
flag
Clear Metro bundler cache
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--dev
flag
Export in development mode
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--minify
flag
Minify JavaScript
Examples: 
# Export all platforms
npx expo export

# Export only web
npx expo export --platform web

# Export to custom directory
npx expo export --output-dir build

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expo build

Deprecated. Use EAS Build instead. 
eas build
See EAS Build documentation.

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expo config

Show the project config. 
npx expo config [options]
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--type
string
Type of config to show (public, prebuild, or introspect)
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--full
flag
Show full config including internal values
Examples: 
# Show config
npx expo config

# Show public config
npx expo config --type public

# Show full config
npx expo config --full

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expo customize

Generate template files for customization. 
npx expo customize [files...]
Examples: 
# Show available files
npx expo customize

# Generate tsconfig.json
npx expo customize tsconfig.json

# Generate metro.config.js
npx expo customize metro.config.js

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expo doctor

Check the project for potential issues. 
npx expo doctor [options]
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--fix-dependencies
flag
Fix dependency version issues
Examples: 
# Check for issues
npx expo doctor

# Fix dependency issues
npx expo doctor --fix-dependencies

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expo lint

Run ESLint on the project. 
npx expo lint [options] [path]
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--fix
flag
Automatically fix problems
Examples: 
# Lint project
npx expo lint

# Lint and fix
npx expo lint --fix

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expo login

Login to your Expo account. 
npx expo login [options]
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--username
string
Username
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--password
string
Password
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--sso
flag
Login with SSO

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expo logout

Logout from your Expo account. 
npx expo logout

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expo whoami

Show the currently authenticated account. 
npx expo whoami

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expo register

Create a new Expo account. 
npx expo register

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Autolinking

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expo-modules-autolinking

Search for Expo modules installed in the project. 
npx expo-modules-autolinking [command]
Commands:
  • search - Search for Expo modules
  • resolve - Resolve module configuration
  • verify - Verify autolinking setup

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Environment Variables

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EXPO_DEBUG

Enable debug logging: 
EXPO_DEBUG=1 npx expo start

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EXPO_NO_TELEMETRY

Disable anonymous usage telemetry: 
EXPO_NO_TELEMETRY=1 npx expo start

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EXPO_USE_METRO_WORKSPACE_ROOT

Use the workspace root as the Metro project root: 
EXPO_USE_METRO_WORKSPACE_ROOT=1 npx expo start

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Package Manager Detection

The CLI automatically detects your package manager:
  • Checks for lockfiles (package-lock.json, yarn.lock, pnpm-lock.yaml, bun.lockb)
  • Falls back to npm if no lockfile is found
  • Can be overridden with --npm, --yarn, --pnpm, or --bun flags

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Interactive Prompts

The CLI includes interactive prompts for better developer experience:
  • Device selection: Choose which device to run on
  • Package installation: Confirm installing missing packages
  • Config generation: Confirm creating config files
  • Platform selection: Choose which platforms to target
Disable prompts with --non-interactive for CI/CD environments.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

When the dev server is running, use these shortcuts:
  • a - Open on Android
  • i - Open on iOS
  • w - Open in web browser
  • r - Reload app
  • m - Toggle menu
  • j - Open debugger
  • c - Clear Metro cache
  • d - Show dev menu
  • ? - Show all commands

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Troubleshooting

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Clear Cache

If you encounter bundling issues: 
npx expo start --clear

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Reset Project

For persistent issues: 
# Delete native directories
rm -rf ios android

# Clear cache
rm -rf node_modules
npx expo start --clear

# Reinstall dependencies
npm install

# Regenerate native projects
npx expo prebuild

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View Logs

Enable debug logging: 
EXPO_DEBUG=1 npx expo start

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EAS CLI

For building and deploying with EAS: 
npm install -g eas-cli
eas build
eas submit
eas update
See EAS CLI documentation.