Expo Docs MCP Server

--- title: Create a development build on EAS description: Learn how to create development builds for a project. sidebar_title: Create a build on EAS searchRank: 97 searchPosition: 2 hasVideoLink: true --- When you create a new Expo app with `npx create-expo-app`, you start off with a project where you update the JavaScript code on your local machine and view the changes in the Expo Go app. A **development build** is essentially **your own version of Expo Go** where you are free to use any native libraries and change any native config. In this guide, you will learn how to convert your project that runs on Expo Go into a development build, which will make the native side of your app fully customizable. ## Prerequisites The instructions assume you already have an existing Expo project that runs on Expo Go. The requirements for building the native app depend on which platform you are using, which platform you are building for, and whether you want to build on EAS or on your local machine. This is the easiest way to build your native app, as it requires no native build tools on your side. The builds happen on the EAS servers, which makes it possible to trigger iOS builds from non-macOS platforms. | | Android | iOS Simulator | iPhone device | | ----------- | ---------- | ------------- | --------------- | | **macOS** | | | (\*) | | **Windows** | | | (\*) | | **Linux** | | | (\*) | (\*) All builds that run on an iPhone device require a paid [Apple Developer](https://developer.apple.com) account for build signing. Any EAS CLI command can be built on your local machine with the `--local` flag. This requires your local [development environment](https://reactnative.dev/docs/set-up-your-environment?os=macos&platform=ios) to be set up with native build tools. Read more about [local app development](/build-reference/local-builds/). | | Android | iOS Simulator | iPhone device | | ----------- | ----------------- | ------------- | --------------- | | **macOS** | | | (\*) | | **Windows** | (\*\*) | | | | **Linux** | | | | (\*) All builds that run on an iPhone device require a paid [Apple Developer](https://developer.apple.com) account for build signing. (\*\*) No first-class support, but possible with [WSL](http://expo.fyi/wsl.md). To build locally without EAS requires your local [development environment](https://reactnative.dev/docs/set-up-your-environment?os=macos&platform=ios) to be set up with native build tools. This is the only way to test your iOS build on an iPhone device without a paid Apple Developer Account (only possible on macOS). Read more about [local app compilation](/guides/local-app-development/#local-app-compilation) and see the [Expo Go to Development Build](/develop/development-builds/expo-go-to-dev-build/) guide. | | Android | iOS Simulator | iPhone device | | ----------- | ---------- | ------------- | ------------- | | **macOS** | | | | | **Windows** | | | | | **Linux** | | | | ## Get started For detailed, step-by-step instructions, see our [EAS Tutorial](/tutorial/eas/introduction). Available also as a [tutorial series](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsXDmrmFV_AS14tZCBin6m9NIS_VCUKe2) on YouTube. ### Install expo-dev-client <Collapsible summary="Are you using this library in a existing (bare) React Native apps?"> Apps that don't use [Continuous Native Generation](/workflow/continuous-native-generation/) or are created with `npx react-native`, require further configuration after installing this library. See steps 1 and 2 from [Install `expo-dev-client` in an existing React Native app](/bare/install-dev-builds-in-bare/). </Collapsible> ### Build the native app (Android) <Prerequisites numberOfRequirements={3}> <Requirement number={1} title="Expo account"> Sign up for an [Expo](https://expo.dev/signup) account, if you haven't already. </Requirement> <Requirement number={2} title="EAS CLI"> The [EAS CLI](/build/setup/#install-the-latest-eas-cli) installed and logged in. </Requirement> <Requirement number={3} title="An Android Emulator (optional)"> An [Android Emulator](/workflow/android-studio-emulator/) is optional if you want to test your app on an emulator. </Requirement> </Prerequisites> Read more about [Android builds on EAS](/tutorial/eas/android-development-build). ### Build the native app (iOS Simulator) <Prerequisites numberOfRequirements={3}> <Requirement number={1} title="Expo account"> Sign up for an [Expo](https://expo.dev/signup) account, if you haven't already. </Requirement> <Requirement number={2} title="EAS CLI"> The [EAS CLI](/build/setup/#install-the-latest-eas-cli) installed and logged in. </Requirement> <Requirement number={3} title="macOS with iOS Simulator installed"> iOS Simulators are available only on macOS. Make sure you have the [iOS Simulator](/workflow/ios-simulator/) installed. </Requirement> </Prerequisites> Edit `development` profile in **eas.json** and set the [`simulator`](/eas/json/#simulator) option to `true` (you have to create a separate profile for simulator builds if you also want to create iOS device builds for this project). ```json eas.json { "build": { "development": { "ios": { "simulator": true } } } } ``` iOS Simulator builds can only be installed on simulators and not on real devices. Read more about [iOS Simulator builds on EAS](/tutorial/eas/ios-development-build-for-simulators/). ### Build the native app (iOS device) <Prerequisites numberOfRequirements={3}> <Requirement number={1} title="Expo account"> Sign up for an [Expo](https://expo.dev/signup) account, if you haven't already. </Requirement> <Requirement number={2} title="EAS CLI"> The [EAS CLI](/build/setup/#install-the-latest-eas-cli) installed and logged in. </Requirement> <Requirement number={3} title="Apple Developer account"> A paid [Apple Developer](https://developer.apple.com/) account for creating [signing credentials](/app-signing/managed-credentials/#generating-app-signing-credentials) so the app could be installed on an iOS device. </Requirement> </Prerequisites> iOS device builds can only be installed on iPhone devices and not on iOS Simulators. Read more about [iOS device builds on EAS](/tutorial/eas/ios-development-build-for-devices/). ### Install the app You'll need to install the native app on your device, emulator, or simulator. #### When building on EAS If you create your development build on EAS, the CLI will prompt you to install the app after the build is finished. You can also install previous builds from the [expo.dev](https://expo.dev/) dashboard or using [Expo Orbit](https://expo.dev/orbit). #### When building locally using EAS CLI When building locally the output of the build will be an archive. You may drag and drop this on your Android Emulator/iOS Simulator to install it, or use [Expo Orbit](https://expo.dev/orbit) to install a build from your local machine. ### Start the bundler The development client built in **step 2** is the native side of your app (basically your own version of Expo Go). To continue developing, you'll also want to start the JavaScript bundler. Depending on how you built the app, this may already be running, but if you close the process for any reason, there is no need to rebuild your development client. Simply restart the JavaScript bundler with: This is the same command you would have used with Expo Go. It detects whether your project has `expo-dev-client` installed, in which case it will default to targeting your development build instead of Expo Go. ## Video walkthroughs