Lovable.dev
We’re so excited to announce support for Lovable.dev! Now you can take the app you’ve built on Lovable.dev and turn it into a professional mobile app for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
This guide is designed for beginners. Even if you’ve never published an app before, we’ll walk you through every step.
1. What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before diving in, here are the things you’ll need:
A Lovable.dev app (already created and live on the web).
A BuildNatively account (sign up at buildnatively.com).
A Google Play Developer account
An Apple Developer account
Don’t worry — you don’t need an Apple computer or technical setup. BuildNatively handles the heavy lifting.
2. Step 1: Prepare Your Lovable.dev App
Log in to your Lovable.dev dashboard.
Make sure your app is published and accessible through a link (e.g.,
https://myapp.lovable.dev).This link is important because BuildNatively uses it to display your app inside the mobile app.
Double-check that your app works well on mobile browsers (Safari, Chrome).
If it looks good in a mobile browser, it will look good inside your mobile app.
👉 Tip: If your app requires users to log in, test the login flow to make sure it’s smooth.
3. Step 2: Create Your Mobile App in BuildNatively
Log in to your BuildNatively dashboard.
Click “Create New App”.
Enter your App Name (this is what users will see under your app icon).
Paste your Lovable.dev app URL into the “App URL” field.
Choose your platforms: iOS, Android, or both.
Save your app — you now have a mobile app draft!
👉 What’s happening here? BuildNatively is wrapping your Lovable.dev app inside a native shell. This allows it to run on iOS and Android, while also unlocking native features like push notifications, geolocation, and in-app purchases.
4. Step 3: Customize Your Mobile App
Now that your app is created, it’s time to make it yours.
App Icon
Upload a 1024x1024 PNG image (no transparent background).
This will appear on your users’ phones.
Splash Screen (Launch Screen)
Upload a 2048x2048 PNG image.
This is the screen that shows while your app loads.
Style & Colors
Choose your background color and accent colors.
Customize your navigation (Bottom Bar, Top Bar, or no bar).
Native Features
From your dashboard, you can turn on features like:
Push Notifications (stay in touch with users).
Geolocation (for maps or location-based services).
Social Login (Google, Apple, or Facebook login).
In-App Purchases (sell digital goods or subscriptions).
Camera & File Uploads (users can take pictures or upload files).
👉 Tip: You can enable features now or later. Start simple if you’re new.
5. Step 4: Preview Your App on Your Phone
Before publishing, you’ll want to see how it looks.
Download the BuildNatively Preview App from the App Store or Google Play.
Log in with your BuildNatively account.
Select your app, and preview it live on your phone.
👉 Important Note: Some advanced features (like push notifications or in-app purchases) won’t work in the preview app. They will only work once your app is fully built.
6. Step 5: Build & Publish Your App
When you’re happy with your app, it’s time to get it into the app stores.
iOS (Apple App Store)
Connect your Apple Developer Account inside BuildNatively.
BuildNatively will create your iOS app build.
Your app will be delivered to TestFlight for testing.
Once approved, you can submit to the App Store.
Android (Google Play Store)
Connect your Google Play Developer Account.
BuildNatively will generate an APK/AAB file.
Upload this file to your Google Play Console.
Publish your app to the Play Store.
👉 Good News: You do not need a Mac or Xcode. BuildNatively handles all the technical parts for you.
7. Step 6: Keep Improving Your App
Once your app is live, you can:
Send push notifications to keep users engaged.
Update your app’s design or settings in BuildNatively.
Rebuild and publish updates anytime (takes about 10 minutes).
👉 Pro Tip: You don’t need to rebuild for every small change on Lovable.dev. Any update you make to your Lovable.dev app will instantly reflect in your mobile app. You only need a rebuild if you change native features.
8. Example Scenarios
Here are some ways Lovable.dev + BuildNatively can work together:
Education App: Create a learning portal in Lovable.dev and send students push notifications for new lessons.
E-commerce App: Showcase products and enable purchases with native payment flows.
Community App: Allow members to log in with Google or Apple, and send updates with notifications.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to know how to code? A: Not at all! Both Lovable.dev and BuildNatively are designed for non-technical users.
Q: How long does it take to publish? A: The build process takes about 10 minutes. Apple and Google’s review times vary — usually 1-3 days.
Q: Will my app work the same as my Lovable.dev site? A: Yes — it’s the same app, just in a mobile wrapper with extra features.
Q: Can I update my app after publishing? A: Yes! Update your Lovable.dev app anytime. If you change native features, just rebuild in BuildNatively and resubmit.
10. You’re All Set! 🎉
That’s it — you’ve taken your Lovable.dev app and turned it into a real mobile app using BuildNatively. Now your users can find and install your app on the App Store and Google Play Store.
If you run into any issues, don’t worry — our support team is always here to help at [email protected]
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