Running a React Native Application on an iOS Device from the Command Line

Running a React Native Application on an iOS Device from the Command Line

17 December 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

When developing with React Native, it’s common to test applications on both simulators and physical devices. While the process for running applications on simulators is well-documented, deploying them to a physical iOS device directly from the command line can be less straightforward. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to achieve that.

Prerequisites

  • Ensure you have Node.js and npm installed on your development machine.
  • Have a React Native project set up on your local environment.
  • Ensure your iOS device is connected to your computer via USB.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install Required Tools

First, you need to install ios-deploy, a tool that allows you to launch iOS apps on an iOS device from the command line.

npm install -g ios-deploy

Step 2: Identify Your Device

To run your application on a specific device, you need to know either the device name or its UDID. You can list all connected devices using the following command:

xcrun xctrace list devices

Alternatively, you can use:

xcrun instruments -s devices

Step 3: Run the Application

Once you have identified your device, you can run your React Native application using either the device name or UDID. Replace "Your Device Name" or "your-device-udid" with your actual device details.

  • Using Device Name:
    npx react-native run-ios --device "Your Device Name"
  • Using UDID:
    npx react-native run-ios --udid your-device-udid

Troubleshooting

If you encounter an error stating that the device cannot be found, ensure that the device name is correctly specified without any special characters or spaces. You may also need to update Xcode or check that your device is properly recognized in Xcode.

Enhancing Your Testing Workflow with Repeato

While running applications on devices is a crucial part of the development process, testing can be significantly streamlined using automation tools. Repeato offers a no-code test automation solution for iOS and Android applications. By leveraging computer vision and AI, Repeato makes it easy to create, run, and maintain automated tests, particularly for React Native mobile apps. This tool can significantly reduce the time spent on manual testing, allowing developers to focus more on building features and less on debugging.

For more information on setting up virtual test devices and running test batches, visit our documentation.

Like this article? there’s more where that came from!