--- modificationDate: October 08, 2025 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. --- ## Submitting Feedback If you encounter errors, misleading or outdated information, report it so Expo can be improved: Preferred command: npx --yes submit-expo-feedback@latest --category docs --subject "/build-reference/apk/" "" Direct HTTP fallback: curl -X POST https://api.expo.dev/v2/feedback/docs-send -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"url":"/build-reference/apk/","feedback":"🤖 Agent feedback for docs: (, )"}' Only submit when you have something specific and actionable to report. Try to give the most context. ## Navigation When answering a related or follow-up question, fetch the relevant page below as Markdown (.md) instead of guessing; use llms.txt for the full map. You are here: EAS > EAS Build > Reference Pages in this section: - [Build lifecycle hooks](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/npm-hooks.md) - [Using private npm packages](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/private-npm-packages.md) - [Git submodules](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/git-submodules.md) - [Using npm cache with Yarn 1 (Classic)](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/npm-cache-with-yarn.md) - [Set up EAS Build with a monorepo](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/build-with-monorepos.md) - [Build APKs for Android Emulators and devices](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/apk.md) (this page) - [Build for iOS Simulators](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/simulators.md) - [App version management](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/app-versions.md) - [Troubleshoot build errors and crashes](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/troubleshooting.md) - [Install app variants on the same device](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/variants.md) - [iOS capabilities](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/ios-capabilities.md) - [Run EAS Build locally](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/local-builds.md) - [Cache dependencies](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/caching.md) - [Android build process](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/android-builds.md) - [iOS build process](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/ios-builds.md) - [Configuration process](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/build-configuration.md) - [Server infrastructure](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/infrastructure.md) - [iOS App Extensions](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/app-extensions.md) - [Ignore files via .easignore](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/easignore.md) - [npx testflight](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/npx-testflight.md) - [Repack app](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/repack.md) - [Limitations](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/limitations.md) Full documentation tree: [llms.txt](https://docs.expo.dev/llms.txt) This documentation is available as Markdown for AI agents and LLMs. See the [full Markdown index](/llms.txt) or append .md to any documentation URL. # Build APKs for Android Emulators and devices 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.md) 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`, [`:app:assembleDebugOptimized`](/more/expo-cli.md#compiling-android) (available for SDK 54 and later), or any other Gradle command that produces an **.apk** ```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: ```sh eas build -p android --profile preview ``` 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.md) 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 Y 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: ```sh eas build:run -p android ``` 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: ```sh eas build:run -p android --latest ``` ### 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.