Expo Build & Deploy (iOS)

EAS Build Setup

Initial configuration

# Install EAS CLI
npm install -g eas-cli

# Login to Expo account
eas login

# Initialize EAS in project
eas build:configure

This creates eas.json:

{
  "cli": {
    "version": ">= 5.0.0"
  },
  "build": {
    "development": {
      "developmentClient": true,
      "distribution": "internal",
      "ios": {
        "simulator": true
      }
    },
    "preview": {
      "distribution": "internal"
    },
    "production": {}
  },
  "submit": {
    "production": {}
  }
}

app.json iOS configuration

{
  "expo": {
    "name": "MyApp",
    "slug": "myapp",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "scheme": "myapp",
    "ios": {
      "bundleIdentifier": "com.yourcompany.myapp",
      "buildNumber": "1",
      "supportsTablet": false,
      "infoPlist": {
        "NSCameraUsageDescription": "Take photos for your profile",
        "NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription": "Find locations near you"
      }
    }
  }
}

Build Types

Development build (for development)

# For simulator
eas build --profile development --platform ios

# For physical device
eas build --profile development --platform ios --local

Use with npx expo start --dev-client

Preview build (internal testing)

eas build --profile preview --platform ios

Distributes via ad-hoc provisioning. Testers install via link.

Production build (App Store)

eas build --profile production --platform ios

Credentials Management

EAS manages credentials automatically, but you can control them:

# View current credentials
eas credentials

# Let EAS manage everything (recommended)
# Just run build, it handles certificates

# Use existing credentials
eas credentials --platform ios
# Select "Use existing" and provide paths

Manual credential setup (if needed)

1. Create App ID in Apple Developer Portal
2. Create Distribution Certificate
3. Create Provisioning Profile
4. Configure in eas.json:

{
  "build": {
    "production": {
      "ios": {
        "credentialsSource": "local"
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

In eas.json

{
  "build": {
    "production": {
      "env": {
        "API_URL": "https://api.yourapp.com"
      }
    },
    "preview": {
      "env": {
        "API_URL": "https://staging-api.yourapp.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Secrets (sensitive values)

# Set secret
eas secret:create --name API_KEY --value "sk_live_xxx" --scope project

# List secrets
eas secret:list

# Use in app.json
{
  "extra": {
    "apiKey": process.env.API_KEY
  }
}

Access in code:

import Constants from 'expo-constants';

const apiKey = Constants.expoConfig?.extra?.apiKey;

TestFlight Deployment

Configure submit profile

{
  "submit": {
    "production": {
      "ios": {
        "appleId": "your@email.com",
        "ascAppId": "1234567890",
        "appleTeamId": "XXXXXXXXXX"
      }
    }
  }
}

Get ascAppId from App Store Connect URL: https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/apps/1234567890

Submit to TestFlight

# Build and submit in one command
eas build --profile production --platform ios --auto-submit

# Or submit existing build
eas submit --platform ios --latest

# Submit specific build
eas submit --platform ios --id <build-id>

App Store Connect setup (first time)

1. Create app in App Store Connect
2. Fill in app information
3. Set up TestFlight:
   • Add internal testers (immediate access)
   • Create external testing group (requires review)

App Store Submission

Pre-submission checklist

• [ ] App icons (1024x1024 for App Store)
• [ ] Screenshots for required device sizes
• [ ] Privacy policy URL
• [ ] App description and keywords
• [ ] Age rating questionnaire
• [ ] Export compliance (encryption)

Submit for review

1. Build with production profile
2. Submit to App Store Connect
3. In App Store Connect:
   • Select build for submission
   • Complete app information
   • Submit for review

# Automated submission
eas submit --platform ios --latest

Over-the-Air Updates

For JS/asset-only changes (no native code changes):

# Publish update
eas update --branch production --message "Bug fix for login"

# Preview before publishing
eas update --branch preview --message "Testing new feature"

Configure update channels

{
  "build": {
    "production": {
      "channel": "production"
    },
    "preview": {
      "channel": "preview"
    }
  }
}

Check for updates in app

import * as Updates from 'expo-updates';

async function checkForUpdates() {
  if (__DEV__) return; // Skip in development

  try {
    const update = await Updates.checkForUpdateAsync();
    if (update.isAvailable) {
      await Updates.fetchUpdateAsync();
      await Updates.reloadAsync();
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.log('Update check failed:', error);
  }
}

Version Management

Increment version for new features

{
  "expo": {
    "version": "1.1.0"  // Shown to users
  }
}

Increment buildNumber for each build

{
  "expo": {
    "ios": {
      "buildNumber": "2"  // Must increase for each upload
    }
  }
}

Automate with EAS

{
  "build": {
    "production": {
      "ios": {
        "autoIncrement": "buildNumber"
      }
    }
  }
}

Local Builds

Build on your machine instead of EAS servers:

# Requires Xcode installed
eas build --platform ios --local

Useful for:

• Faster iteration during debugging
• Inspecting build output
• Offline builds

Troubleshooting

Build fails with signing error

# Reset credentials and let EAS regenerate
eas credentials --platform ios
# Select "Remove" then rebuild

"Missing compliance" warning

Add to app.json:

{
  "expo": {
    "ios": {
      "infoPlist": {
        "ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption": false
      }
    }
  }
}

Build succeeds but app crashes

# Check native logs
eas build:view <build-id>

# Download and inspect build
eas build:download <build-id>

TestFlight build stuck in processing

• Usually takes 10-30 minutes
• Check App Store Connect for status
• Ensure buildNumber is unique

OTA update not applied

• Verify channel matches
• Check Updates.checkForUpdateAsync() is called
• Ensure not in development mode
• Updates only apply on next cold start

Common Commands Reference

# Build
eas build --platform ios --profile production
eas build --platform ios --profile preview
eas build --platform ios --local

# Submit
eas submit --platform ios --latest
eas submit --platform ios --id <build-id>

# Updates
eas update --branch production --message "Fix"
eas update:list

# Credentials
eas credentials --platform ios
eas credentials:configure

# View builds
eas build:list
eas build:view <build-id>
eas build:cancel <build-id>

# Secrets
eas secret:create --name KEY --value "xxx"
eas secret:list