Before apps can be deployed to Android simulators and devices, the native project must be configured.

  • Generate the native project, if it does not already exist.

    For Capacitor, run the following:

For Cordova, run the following:

Capacitor uses Android Studio to build and run apps to simulators and devices.

  • Develop the Ionic app and sync it to the native project.

    With each meaningful change, Ionic apps must be built into web assets before the change can appear on Android simulators and devices. The web assets then must be copied into the native project. Luckily, this process is made easy with a single Ionic CLI command.

  • In Android Studio, click the Run button and then select the target simulator or device.

The Ionic CLI can build, copy, and deploy Ionic apps to Android simulators and devices with a single command. It can also spin up a development server, like the one used in ionic serve, to provide live-reload functionality.


Now, when changes are made to the app's source files, web assets are rebuilt and the changes are reflected on the simulator or device without having to deploy again.

Chrome has web developer tool support for Android simulators and devices. Go to in Chrome while the simulator is running or a device is connected to the computer and Inspect the app that needs to be debugged.

Android Chrome DevTools

Native logs can be found in Android Studio in Logcat.