How can you run a ReactJS web app on iOS and Android?

ReactJS is great for building web apps, but you might want to run your app on mobile devices like iPhones and Android phones in a more native way. You don’t have to rebuild everything from scratch to get your ReactJS app running on mobile. There are a few solid options that let you package your app like a native app and even publish it to the App Store or Play Store.

This article will walk you through simple and practical methods to turn your ReactJS web app into a mobile app that behaves and feels native.

Use Progressive Web App (PWA) to Add to Home Screen

One way to give your ReactJS app a native-like feel is to turn it into a Progressive Web App (PWA). A PWA can be added to the home screen and launched in full-screen mode, just like a regular app. It works offline and loads fast.

Steps to Turn ReactJS App into a PWA:

1. Make sure your project was created with create-react-app or supports PWA.
2. Open the public/manifest.json file and update it:

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3. Add a reference to the manifest file and theme color in public/index.html:

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4. Register the service worker to make the app load offline: In src/index.js or src/main.js:

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5. Run the build command:

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6. Deploy the app to a web host. Once live, users can open the app in Safari (on iOS) or Chrome (on Android) and use the “Add to Home Screen” option. It will launch full screen, with no browser bar.

This option gives your users a more app-like experience without going through app stores.

Wrap React App Using Capacitor

Capacitor is a tool that lets you run your ReactJS web app inside a real native mobile app shell. It gives you access to native features like camera, GPS, and push notifications. You can also publish your app to the App Store and Play Store.

Steps to Use Capacitor:

1. Install Capacitor and initialize it:

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   It will ask for app name and ID. Use something like com.example.myapp.

2. Build your React app:

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3. Copy the build files to the native project:

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4. Add the platforms:

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5. Open the native project in your IDE:

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6. From here, you can run the app on a simulator or a real device. You can also configure permissions, splash screens, icons, and more.

Capacitor lets you keep your web-based code while still getting a native build. It’s a good choice if your app doesn’t need heavy native animations or complex native UI components.

Use React Native for Full Native App

React Native is a separate library from ReactJS, but it uses the same concepts. It lets you build real native apps using JavaScript and React. If you want full access to mobile hardware and need top performance, this is the best path.

You’ll need to rebuild your app using React Native components like View, Text, and TouchableOpacity, instead of HTML and CSS.

Steps to Build with React Native:

1. Install React Native CLI:

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2. Create a new project:

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3. Run the app:

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4. Copy over the logic from your ReactJS app. You can reuse most of your state management, API calls, and business logic.

React Native takes more time to set up, but it gives you complete control over how the app looks and performs on each platform.

What’s the Best Option?

• Use PWA if you want to skip app stores but still give users a native-like feel.
• Use Capacitor if you want to publish your web app as a native app without rebuilding it.
• Use React Native if you want the best performance and access to native device features.

Each method has trade-offs, but all of them help you move from web to mobile without starting from scratch. Choose what fits your goals and project timeline.