React native: Installing app-debug.apk

Question

How do I create an APK installer for mobile without the react native simulator? This is what happened when I tried to install the APK on Android.

Answer 1

You will have to create a key to sign the apk. Use below to create your key.

keytool -genkey -v -keystore my-app-key.keystore -alias my-app-alias -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000

then run following command one by ome

react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.android.js \
  --bundle-output android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle \
  --assets-dest android/app/src/main/res/

cd android && ./gradlew assembleRelease


adb install -r ./app/build/outputs/apk/app-release-unsigned.apk

Answer 2

While your packager is runnning, run this to create offline bundle

curl "http://localhost:8081/index.android.bundle?platform=android" -o "android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle"

(You may need to create assets folder manually) This will create an offline bundle file and if you then run:

react-native run-android 

It should deploy it your device.

Answer 3

Instead of development version You should build and install production version of app.

For this you should Generating a signing key.

How to Generating Signed APK: https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/signed-apk-android.html

Then every time you want to generate a production version of app run this commands at project root directory.

RN < 0.40

react-native run-android --variant=release

RN >= 0.40

react-native run-android --configuration=release

then just run adb install -r ./app/build/outputs/apk/app-release.apk or copy and past app/build/outputs/apk/app-release.apk file on you android and install it directly.