Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates

OTA updates let a cross-platform app download changes directly rather than going through app store review, so fixes reach users in minutes instead of days.

The scope is limited to the JavaScript layer — logic, interface, content. Anything touching native code still requires a store release. That covers most bug fixes and copy changes, which is where the value is.

Both stores permit this within rules that prohibit materially changing what the app does. Shipping fixes is fine; shipping a different product to bypass review is not.

Why it matters

It changes how a critical bug is handled — patched the same afternoon rather than after a review queue. Worth confirming it's set up before launch, not after the first emergency.

Related terms

React NativeReact Native is a framework for building iOS and Android apps from a single JavaScript or TypeScript codebase, rendering real native interface compone…Native vs Cross-PlatformNative apps are built separately for iOS and Android in each platform's own language. Cross-platform apps use one codebase — React Native or Flutter —…

More in Mobile Apps

Native vs Cross-PlatformReact NativeMVP (Minimum Viable Product)App Store Optimization (ASO)Push Notification

Need this built rather than explained?

We publish every price we charge, and you get a quote in writing before anything starts.

See every price
All terms