> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.anything.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started with Mobile Apps

> Your first app, on your phone

Anything lets you build native iOS and Android apps by describing what you want. No coding required.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/create/dPp8LRxEG75nRlMj/images/mobile/overview.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dPp8LRxEG75nRlMj&q=85&s=c1bfec6268b703c9da9f4675e16ca314" alt="Mobile app overview" width="3456" height="1986" data-path="images/mobile/overview.png" />
</Frame>

<Warning>
  Mobile app support is rapidly evolving. You might hit limitations with certain features or device capabilities. Try building different apps and tell us what works and what breaks.
</Warning>

## How to build

Prompt Anything to make a mobile app. It builds your app in mobile pages and adds more functionality as you go. You can add more pages by prompting or from the [logo menu](/builder/controls#logo-menu).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get a Pro account">
    You need a [Pro account](/account/credits) to build mobile apps.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new project">
    Create a fresh project from your dashboard. For a full overview of how to build with Anything, see the [Essentials guide](/essentials).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create your mobile app">
    Prompt Anything to make a mobile app. You can say things like "Make an iOS app that..." or "Make an Android app that..." or "Make a mobile app that..."

    Anything generates your first mobile screen. You'll know it's working if you see the mobile preview.

    <Note>
      This is a web preview, so features that rely on a device (like location or camera) might not work. See [Preview on your device](#preview-on-your-device) to test on your phone.
    </Note>

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/create/dPp8LRxEG75nRlMj/images/mobile/overview.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dPp8LRxEG75nRlMj&q=85&s=c1bfec6268b703c9da9f4675e16ca314" alt="Mobile app preview" width="3456" height="1986" data-path="images/mobile/overview.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview on your device">
    Download [Expo Go](https://expo.dev/client) and preview your app on a physical device. If you're on iPhone, install it from the [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/expo-go/id982107779).

    See the [Preview on your device](#preview-on-your-device) section for detailed steps.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add mobile features">
    Request specific mobile capabilities:

    ```
    Add a barcode scanner to scan product nutrition labels
    ```

    ```
    Let users take photos of their workout progress
    ```

    Anything supports mobile-specific capabilities. For a deeper dive, read [Device capabilities](/apps/mobile/device-capabilities).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add backend and data">
    Use Anything's built-in [databases](/apps/databases), [functions](/apps/backend), [auth](/apps/auth), and [payments](/payments/revenuecat) to build complete apps. Describe what you want and Anything adds the right pieces.

    For example:

    ```
    Make a fitness tracking app where users can log workouts,
    track progress, and set goals. Include a calendar view.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test and refine">
    Preview on your device and make improvements through conversation.

    Be specific about issues so Anything can fix the underlying code:

    ```
    The workout screen is cluttered. Simplify it and make the "Add Workout" button more prominent.
    ```

    ```
    The app crashes when I try to take a photo. Can you fix this?
    ```

    For debugging techniques and strategies, see the [testing guide](/apps/mobile/testing).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your app icon">
    Head into **Project Settings** to upload an icon and loading screen for your app.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/create/dPp8LRxEG75nRlMj/images/mobile/mobile-project-setting.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dPp8LRxEG75nRlMj&q=85&s=664a874cea0121c5229861848a2e09fa" alt="Project settings for mobile app" width="2922" height="1364" data-path="images/mobile/mobile-project-setting.png" />
    </Frame>

    Both icons need a 1024 x 1024px PNG.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish to the app stores">
    When you're ready, follow the steps in [Publishing to app stores](/launch/app-store) to publish to Apple's App Store or Google's Play Store.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Preview on your device

The web builder shows a preview of your app as you chat. But to test the full experience, preview on your device. Some features that need device capabilities only work in preview.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new mobile project">
    Start a new mobile project with a prompt or go to an existing one.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for the QR code">
    Anything starts building your device preview right away. This might take a few moments. If it takes longer than a minute, let us know at [hello@anything.com](mailto:hello@anything.com).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Scan the QR code">
    Use your camera or a QR code scanner app on iOS or Android to grab the link.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/create/LnljBRC32DCyCdHh/images/mauiapp.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=LnljBRC32DCyCdHh&q=85&s=5b2ddb20b63476a3db09b1d8667d4ffc" alt="QR code for device preview" width="2040" height="1276" data-path="images/mauiapp.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test in Expo Go">
    Your app opens in Expo Go. Try it out.

    <div style={{position: 'relative', paddingBottom: '56.25%', height: 0}}>
      <iframe src="https://www.loom.com/embed/b7a63722f74049fa95976de8a96c9acc?sid=6ba703ca-10b7-4cd0-8de3-195dbe5363a3" frameBorder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen style={{position: 'absolute', top: 0, left: 0, width: '100%', height: '100%'}} />
    </div>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make updates in Anything">
    Continue building your app by chatting with Anything in the web interface.
  </Step>

  <Step title="See latest changes">
    Close and reopen Expo Go to see latest changes. It should auto-update with the latest version of your app. If you need to force it, scan the QR code again.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Testing on a physical device gives you the most accurate experience, especially for hardware features like camera or sensors.
</Tip>

***

## Related pages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Device capabilities" icon="mobile" href="/apps/mobile/device-capabilities">
    Camera, location, and more
  </Card>

  <Card title="Submit to App Store" icon="apple" href="/launch/app-store">
    Submit to the App Store
  </Card>

  <Card title="Submit to Play Store" icon="google-play" href="/apps/mobile/publishing-android">
    Submit to the Play Store
  </Card>

  <Card title="Testing guide" icon="vial" href="/apps/mobile/testing">
    Debug and test your app
  </Card>

  <Card title="Mobile overview" icon="arrow-left" href="/apps/mobile">
    Back to mobile docs
  </Card>
</CardGroup>