> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/expo/expo/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Expo CLI Reference

> Complete command reference for the Expo CLI with all commands, options, and examples.

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.

## Installation

The CLI is automatically installed with the `expo` package:

```bash theme={null}
npm install expo
```

## Usage

Run Expo CLI commands using `npx`:

```bash theme={null}
npx expo <command> [options]
```

## Global Options

These options are available for all commands:

<ParamField path="--version" type="flag">
  Output the version number
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--help" type="flag">
  Display help for command
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--non-interactive" type="flag">
  Disable interactive prompts
</ParamField>

## Commands

### expo start

Start a development server for your project.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo start [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--clear, -c" type="flag">
    Clear the Metro bundler cache
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--dev" type="flag" default="true">
    Enable development mode
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--no-dev" type="flag">
    Disable development mode (production mode)
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--minify" type="flag">
    Minify JavaScript
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--https" type="flag">
    Start server with HTTPS
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--port, -p" type="number" default="8081">
    Port to run Metro bundler on
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--host" type="string">
    Hostname for the dev server
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--tunnel" type="flag">
    Start a tunnel for the dev server
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--lan" type="flag">
    Use LAN connection
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--localhost" type="flag">
    Use localhost connection
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--offline" type="flag">
    Skip network requests
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--dev-client" type="flag">
    Start for a development build (non-Expo Go)
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--go" type="flag">
    Start for Expo Go
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--scheme" type="string">
    Custom URL scheme to use when launching the app
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--android" type="flag">
    Open on connected Android device/emulator
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--ios" type="flag">
    Open on connected iOS simulator
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--web" type="flag">
    Open in web browser
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--private-key-path" type="string">
    Path to private key for code signing
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# 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
```

### expo run:ios

Build and run the iOS app locally.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo run:ios [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--device" type="string">
    Device name or UDID to build for
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--scheme" type="string">
    Xcode scheme to build
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--configuration" type="string" default="Debug">
    Xcode configuration (Debug or Release)
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--port, -p" type="number" default="8081">
    Port to run Metro bundler on
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--no-bundler" type="flag">
    Skip starting the Metro bundler
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# 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
```

### expo run:android

Build and run the Android app locally.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo run:android [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--device" type="string">
    Device name or ID to build for
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--variant" type="string" default="debug">
    Build variant to use (debug or release)
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--port, -p" type="number" default="8081">
    Port to run Metro bundler on
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--no-bundler" type="flag">
    Skip starting the Metro bundler
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# 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
```

### expo prebuild

Generate native iOS and Android directories for your project.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo prebuild [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--clean" type="flag">
    Delete native directories before generating
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--npm" type="flag">
    Use npm to install dependencies
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--yarn" type="flag">
    Use Yarn to install dependencies
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--no-install" type="flag">
    Skip installing npm packages
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--template" type="string">
    Template to use for native directories
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--platform" type="string">
    Platforms to generate (ios, android, or all)
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# Generate native projects
npx expo prebuild

# Clean and regenerate
npx expo prebuild --clean

# Generate only iOS
npx expo prebuild --platform ios
```

<Note>
  Running `prebuild` will create `ios/` and `android/` directories. These should be added to `.gitignore` if using continuous native generation.
</Note>

### expo install

Install a package and ensure compatible versions with your Expo SDK.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo install <packages...> [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--check" type="flag">
    Check which packages need to be updated
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--fix" type="flag">
    Automatically update packages to compatible versions
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--npm" type="flag">
    Use npm
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--yarn" type="flag">
    Use Yarn
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--pnpm" type="flag">
    Use pnpm
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--bun" type="flag">
    Use Bun
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# Install packages
npx expo install expo-camera expo-location

# Check for incompatible versions
npx expo install --check

# Fix incompatible versions
npx expo install --fix
```

### expo export

Export the app for deployment.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo export [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--platform" type="string" default="all">
    Platforms to export (ios, android, web, or all)
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--output-dir" type="string" default="dist">
    Output directory for exported files
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--clear" type="flag">
    Clear Metro bundler cache
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--dev" type="flag">
    Export in development mode
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--minify" type="flag">
    Minify JavaScript
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# Export all platforms
npx expo export

# Export only web
npx expo export --platform web

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

### expo build

Deprecated. Use EAS Build instead.

```bash theme={null}
eas build
```

See [EAS Build documentation](https://docs.expo.dev/build/introduction/).

### expo config

Show the project config.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo config [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--type" type="string">
    Type of config to show (public, prebuild, or introspect)
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--full" type="flag">
    Show full config including internal values
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# Show config
npx expo config

# Show public config
npx expo config --type public

# Show full config
npx expo config --full
```

### expo customize

Generate template files for customization.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo customize [files...]
```

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# Show available files
npx expo customize

# Generate tsconfig.json
npx expo customize tsconfig.json

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

### expo doctor

Check the project for potential issues.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo doctor [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--fix-dependencies" type="flag">
    Fix dependency version issues
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# Check for issues
npx expo doctor

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

### expo lint

Run ESLint on the project.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo lint [options] [path]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--fix" type="flag">
    Automatically fix problems
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

**Examples:**

```bash theme={null}
# Lint project
npx expo lint

# Lint and fix
npx expo lint --fix
```

### expo login

Login to your Expo account.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo login [options]
```

<Accordion title="Options">
  <ParamField path="--username" type="string">
    Username
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--password" type="string">
    Password
  </ParamField>

  <ParamField path="--sso" type="flag">
    Login with SSO
  </ParamField>
</Accordion>

### expo logout

Logout from your Expo account.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo logout
```

### expo whoami

Show the currently authenticated account.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo whoami
```

### expo register

Create a new Expo account.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo register
```

## Autolinking

### expo-modules-autolinking

Search for Expo modules installed in the project.

```bash theme={null}
npx expo-modules-autolinking [command]
```

**Commands:**

* `search` - Search for Expo modules
* `resolve` - Resolve module configuration
* `verify` - Verify autolinking setup

## Environment Variables

### EXPO\_DEBUG

Enable debug logging:

```bash theme={null}
EXPO_DEBUG=1 npx expo start
```

### EXPO\_NO\_TELEMETRY

Disable anonymous usage telemetry:

```bash theme={null}
EXPO_NO_TELEMETRY=1 npx expo start
```

### EXPO\_USE\_METRO\_WORKSPACE\_ROOT

Use the workspace root as the Metro project root:

```bash theme={null}
EXPO_USE_METRO_WORKSPACE_ROOT=1 npx expo start
```

## 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

## 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.

## 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

## Troubleshooting

### Clear Cache

If you encounter bundling issues:

```bash theme={null}
npx expo start --clear
```

### Reset Project

For persistent issues:

```bash theme={null}
# 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
```

### View Logs

Enable debug logging:

```bash theme={null}
EXPO_DEBUG=1 npx expo start
```

## Related Commands

### EAS CLI

For building and deploying with EAS:

```bash theme={null}
npm install -g eas-cli
eas build
eas submit
eas update
```

See [EAS CLI documentation](https://docs.expo.dev/eas/).

## Related Documentation

* [App Configuration](/reference/config-schema)
* [Metro Configuration](/reference/metro-config)
* [Development Builds](https://docs.expo.dev/develop/development-builds/introduction/)
* [EAS Build](https://docs.expo.dev/build/introduction/)