Expo Docs MCP Server

--- title: Build APKs for Android Emulators and devices description: Learn how to configure and install a .apk for Android Emulators and devices when using EAS Build. --- The default file format used when building Android apps with EAS Build is an [Android App Bundle](https://developer.android.com/platform/technology/app-bundle) (AAB/**.aab**). This format is optimized for distribution to the Google Play Store. However, AABs can't be installed directly on your device. To install a build directly to your Android device or emulator, you need to build an [Android Package](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_application_package) (APK/**.apk**) instead. ## Configuring a profile to build APKs To generate an **.apk**, modify the [**eas.json**](/build/eas-json) by adding one of the following properties in a build profile: - `developmentClient` to `true` (**default**) - `distribution` to `internal` - `android.buildType` to `apk` - `android.gradleCommand` to `:app:assembleRelease`, `:app:assembleDebug` or any other gradle command that produces **.apk** ```json eas.json { "build": { "preview": { "android": { "buildType": "apk" } }, "preview2": { "android": { "gradleCommand": ":app:assembleRelease" } }, "preview3": { "developmentClient": true }, "preview4": { "distribution": "internal" }, "production": {} } } ``` Now you can run your build with the following command: Remember that you can name the profile whatever you like. We named the profile `preview`. However, you can call it `local`, `emulator`, or whatever makes the most sense for you. ## Installing your build ### Emulator (virtual device) > If you haven't installed or run an Android Emulator before, follow the [Android Studio emulator guide](/workflow/android-studio-emulator) before proceeding. Once your build is completed, the CLI will prompt you to automatically download and install it on the Android Emulator. When prompted, press <kbd>Y</kbd> to directly install it on the emulator. In case you have multiple builds, you can also run the `eas build:run` command at any time to download a specific build and automatically install it on the Android Emulator: The command also shows a list of available builds of your project. You can select the build to install on the emulator from this list. Each build in the list has a build ID, the time elapsed since the build creation, the build number, the version number, and the git commit information. The list also displays invalid builds if a project has any. For example, the image below lists the build of a project: When the build's installation is complete, it will appear on the home screen. If it's a development build, open a terminal window and start the development server by running the command `npx expo start`. #### Running the latest build Pass the `--latest` flag to the `eas build:run` command to download and install the latest build on the Android Emulator: ### Physical device #### Download directly to the device - Once your build is completed, copy the URL to the APK from the build details page or the link provided when `eas build` is done. - Send that URL to your device. Maybe by email? Up to you. - Open the URL on your device, install the APK and run it. #### Install with `adb` - [Install adb](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb) if you don't have it installed already. - Connect your device to your computer and [enable adb debugging on your device](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb#Enabling) if you haven't already. - Once your build is completed, download the APK from the build details page or the link provided when `eas build` is done. - Run `adb install path/to/the/file.apk`. - Run the app on your device.