---
title: Build your project for app stores
description: Learn how to create a production build for your app that is ready to be submitted to app stores from the command line using EAS Build.
sidebar_title: Build project for app stores
---

import { Collapsible } from '~/ui/components/Collapsible';
import { Terminal } from '~/ui/components/Snippet';
import { Tabs, Tab } from '~/ui/components/Tabs';
import { BoxLink } from '~/ui/components/BoxLink';
import { BuildIcon, EasSubmitIcon, EasMetadataIcon } from '@expo/styleguide-icons';

EAS Build allows you to build a native app binary that is signed for app store submission. These types of builds are called **production builds**.

## Production builds

Production builds are submitted to app stores for release to the general public or as part of a store-facilitated testing process such as TestFlight.

These builds must be installed through their respective app stores. They cannot be installed directly on your Android Emulator or device, or iOS Simulator or device. The only exception to this is if you explicitly set `"buildType": "apk"` for Android on your build profile. However, it is recommended to use **aab** when submitting to stores, and this is the default configuration.

### `eas.json` configuration

A minimal configuration for building a production build in **eas.json** that is already created when you create your first build:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```json eas.json
{
  "build": {
    /* @hide ... */ /* @end */
    "production": {}
    /* @hide ... */ /* @end */
  }
}
```

### Create a production build

To create a production build, run the following command for a platform:

<Tabs tabs={['Android', 'iOS']}>
  <Tab>
    <Terminal cmd={['$ eas build --platform android']} />
  </Tab>
  <Tab>
    <Terminal cmd={['$ eas build --platform ios']} />
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

> You can attach a message to the build by passing `--message` to the build command, for example, `eas build --platform ios --message "Some message"`. The message will appear on the website. It comes in handy when you want to leave a note with the purpose of the build for your team.

Alternatively, you can use `--platform all` option to build for Android and iOS at the same time:

<Terminal cmd={['$ eas build --platform all']} />

## Developer account

You will need to have a developer account for the app store you want to submit your app.

<Collapsible summary="Google Play Developer membership is required to distribute to the Google Play Store.">

You can build and sign your app using EAS Build, but you can't upload it to the Google Play Store unless you have a membership, a one-time $25 USD fee.

</Collapsible>

<Collapsible summary="Apple Developer Program membership is required to build for the Apple App Store.">

If you are going to use EAS Build to create release builds for the Apple App Store, you need access to an account with a $99 USD [Apple Developer Program](https://developer.apple.com/programs) membership.

</Collapsible>

## App signing credentials

Before the build process can start for app stores, you will need to have a store developer account and generate or provide app signing credentials.

Whether you have experience with generating app signing credentials or not, EAS CLI does the heavy lifting. You can opt-in for EAS CLI to handle the app signing credentials process.

### Android app signing credentials

- If you have not yet generated a keystore for your app, you can let EAS CLI take care of that for you by selecting `Generate new keystore`, and then you are done. The keystore is stored securely on EAS servers.
- If you want to manually generate your keystore, please see the [manual Android credentials guide](/app-signing/local-credentials#android-credentials) for more information.

### iOS app signing credentials

- If you have not generated a provisioning profile and/or distribution certificate yet, you can let EAS CLI take care of that for you by signing into your Apple Developer Program account and following the prompts.
- If you want to rather manually generate your credentials, refer to the [manual iOS credentials guide](/app-signing/local-credentials#ios-credentials) for more information.

## Wait for the build to complete

By default, the `eas build` command will wait for your build to complete, but you can interrupt it if you prefer not to wait. Monitor the progress and read the logs by following the link to the build details page that EAS CLI prompts once the build process gets started. You can also find this page by visiting [your build dashboard](https://expo.dev/builds) or running the following command:

<Terminal cmd={['$ eas build:list']} />

If you are a member of an organization and your build is on its behalf, you will find the build details on [the build dashboard for that account](https://expo.dev/accounts/[account]/builds).

## Next steps

<BoxLink
  title="App Store submissions"
  description="Learn how to submit your app to app stores using EAS Submit."
  Icon={EasSubmitIcon}
  href="/deploy/submit-to-app-stores/"
/>

<BoxLink
  title="App stores best practices"
  description="Learn about the best practices for submitting your app to app stores."
  href="/distribution/app-stores/"
/>
