Learn how to configure and install build for iOS simulators when using EAS Build.
Running a build of your app in an iOS Simulator is particularly useful in managed apps to get the standalone (independent of Expo Go) version of the app running easily without needing to deploy to TestFlight or even have an Apple Developer account.
To build your app for installation into an iOS Simulator, you can create a new profile in eas.json and set the ios.simulator
value to true
:
{
"build": {
"preview": {
"ios": {
"simulator": true
}
},
"production": {}
}
}
Now, to run your build run eas build -p ios --profile preview
. Remember that you can name the profile whatever you like; we named the profile "preview"
, however, you could call it "simulator", "local"
,"simulator"
, or whatever makes the most sense for you.
If you haven't installed or run the iOS Simulator before, follow the iOS Simulator guide before proceeding.
eas build
is done. This will be a .tar.gz
file.myapp.app
.myapp.app
into the simulator.