You can build standalone apps for iOS with two different types, an archive or simulator build. With the simulator build, you can test your standalone app on a simulator. If you want to publish your app to the store or distribute it with tools like TestFlight, you have to use the archive.
When building for iOS, you are given a choice of letting Expo create the necessary credentials for you, while still having a chance to provide your own overrides. Your Apple ID and password are needed to create an archive and those are only used locally and are never saved on Expo’s servers.
Step 1: Run command: eas build and select iOS or eas build -p ios
Step 3: Now It’ll ask for your apple user ID and Password. Provide this info.
Step 4: It’ll ask for credentials for your Apple Distribution Certificate, Apple Push Notifications service key, Apple Provisioning Profile etc.If you do have these things, upload them. If you do not know what are these, just select create new.
Unless you’re very familiar with iOS credentials already, it’s best to let Expo handle the creation & management of all your credentials for you. If you’d like to know more about iOS credentials, here’s a guide with everything you need to know here.
If you plan on providing your own certificates, we recommend creating them in the Apple Developer Portal.
After you provide everything correct, the build process will start.
Step 5: Wait for the build to finish. After finishing the build, you’ll get a direct download link in the terminal window. Besides, the file will be available for downloading for the next 30 days from the day of building in your expo account. You can simply log into your expo account and click on builds option, that will give you the latest builds to download.
If you wish to create a simulator build
Step 1: To create your simulator build run “eas build -p ios –profile test”. Wait for the build to finish. After finishing the build, you’ll get a direct download link in the terminal window. Besides, the file will be available for downloading for the next 30 days from the day of building in your expo account. You can simply log into your expo account and click on builds option, that will give you the latest builds to download.
eas build -p ios --profile test
Note: When you upload the app to app store, to avoid rejection due to in app purchase, you need to temporarily disable in app purchase for the app before submission for review. To do this, login to your admin dashboard and go to Classified Listing > Settings > App and check the box beside “Disable in app purchase” and click Save.
After the app gets approved, simply just uncheck the box and save the changes. (This is very important)