How do I build a new version of the app without publishing to the users?

[wodin]

I assume the old and new versions are both using the same SDK version?

If they are using different SDKs the old apps will not download the OTA update from the new app.

But I think what you’re looking for are release channels.

The following posts might help:

Publishing and SDK versions

Hey @elon-gs, OTA updates will only rollout to a user who is running an instance of your app with a compatible SDK version and is on the same release channel. See this flow chart for a better understanding: https://docs.expo.io/versions/latest/distribution/advanced-release-channels/#what-version-of-the-app-will-my Cheers, Adam

Building standalone app update without publishing it

You have to publish before you build with Expo. To avoid publishing over your prod bundle while in a testing phase, you will likely want to use release channels (https://docs.expo.io/versions/latest/distribution/release-channels/). This may or may not be helpful for your situation, but my team uses a system of including the minimum build number that the JS is compatible with in the release channel in order to prevent production builds from getting the JS update too early. I describe it here: Ho…