Simulator only gets you so far. A prototype that lives in your hand feels different than one on your trackpad — real iOS 26 Liquid Glass, system haptics, real gestures, real one-handed reach. Test it the way your users will actually use it.
You won’t find Prototo on the App Store. It’s a space for your ideas to live before they’re ready for the world — half-formed, in-progress, just for you. That kind of thing doesn’t belong on a public shelf. So we’ll get it onto your iPhone a different way: a quick two-step install, no account needed.
Step 1 — Register your device (one time)
Open this page on your iPhone if you’re reading on desktop, then tap the button below.
Tap Register this device and follow the iOS prompt — Settings will open automatically, tap Allow, then Install. You’ll land on a “device is ready” screen. That’s expected — it only confirms your device is registered.
Don’t tap builds page on that screen. That’s the project dashboard and it asks you to sign in — you don’t need an Expo account. Just come back here and continue to Step 2.
Takes about 30 seconds. You only do this once.
Step 2 — Install the Prototo app
Open the install link on your iPhone and tap Install on the build page — no sign-in. The app downloads and appears on your home screen.
Step 3 — Preview your prototype
In your Prototo project on Mac, run:
npx proto startOpen Camera on your iPhone, point it at the QR in your terminal, tap the notification — your prototype loads in Prototo.
A few notes
- Same Wi-Fi. iPhone and Mac on the same network when previewing.
- iOS 26+. Required for Liquid Glass and other system materials.
- No sign-in needed. The install link is public. If a page asks you to log in, you tapped builds page by mistake — back out and use the install link.
- Just registered a new device? It may need a fresh build before the app will install. Give it a few minutes, then open the install link again.