How to allow other people test my react native app on their iPhone and Android devices?

user_8127805 0
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I'm a web developer and just new to the mobile world, I wonder how I can allow another people to test my app on their device remotely? For example, on the web app, I will create a staging environment (stg.example.com) and then they can easily test it from everywhere. But I can't found the same way for mobile app (react native). I can install the app to my phone through a capable, but I can't do it on my customer phone :sad:

Do I must publish it to App Store/CH Play first and then they can install and test it? It seems a bad idea :sad:

I really appreciate any advice, Thanks!

react-native testing android ios
2 Answers

1-You can use Expo CLI where you can send the QR Code to your other team members and they can easily check your app with EXPO APP by using the QR Code.

2-If you are using react-native CLI then there is only one way to send your android app to your other team members or friends and that is to generate a signed apk. Read here how to generate signed apk : https://reactnative.dev/docs/signed-apk-android

Once you get the apk you can send it to anyone through google drive or any other free cloud storage or through Bluetooth.

For IOS it's quite difficult you need to have an Apple account to generate ipa (iOS App Store Package). See this it will help you How to share a compiled iOS app ipa with your users for testing

user_135384200

Upload it to playstore/ app store is not a bad idea, e.g. you can do a closed beta test there. Another option is when your customer activate unknown sources on there device they can install the apps directly.

user_137271750
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