react-native-ios-free-provisioning

Free provisioning for a React Native iOS application

Preamble

React Native is an amazing way to build once and deploy to both iOS and Android.

To test out the iOS version, you'd normally run the iOS Simulator on your Mac. But it would be really useful to see the app running on your iPhone – without having to pay to join the Apple Developer Program.

So this repo describes how to set up free iOS provisioning on your iPhone for a React Native application.

Prerequisites

macOS High Sierra (10.13.x) or later
Xcode 9.x
react-native-cli globally installed:
- npm install -g react-native-cli
yarn via Homebrew:
- if not installed: brew install yarn
- if already installed: brew update yarn

These instructions have been been tested with yarn version 1.9.4, but should work with earlier versions.

Setup

If you don't already have a React Native project to work from, create one with your own ProjectName:

$ react-native init ProjectName
This will walk you through creating a new React Native project in ~/ProjectName
Using yarn v1.9.4
Installing react-native...

Then open the project in Xcode:

$ cd ProjectName
$ open ios/ProjectName.xcodeproj

Add your iPhone to the device list

Plug your iPhone into your Mac with a USB cable.

In Xcode, navigate to Window > Devices and Simulators.

Click the + icon at bottom left of the dialog. Unlock your iPhone, and choose to trust your computer when prompted. On your iPhone, you will have to enter the iPhone's passcode.

It's also useful to check the Connect via network checkbox.

Set the Destination to your iPhone

Navigate to Product > Destination.

Under Device, select your iPhone.

Select the project

Change the Bundle Identifier

Go to the General tab.

Under Identity, change the Bundle Identifier from org.reactjs.native.example.ProjectName to something unique, like your domain name.

So if your domain name is example.com, change the value to com.example.ProjectName.

Manage signing for `ProjectName`

The Signing section will look like this:

Next to Team, click the Add Account... button, and sign in with your Apple ID when prompted.

Once you have signed in, go back to Team in the Signing section, and select Your Name (Personal Team). If you have correctly set the Bundle Identifier in the previous step, the Signing section will now look like this: