Transform Your Lovable.dev Next.js App into Native Mobile Apps with Capacitor

Introduction

Lovable.dev is a powerful AI-powered development platform that generates beautiful Next.js applications in minutes. But what if you want to take your Lovable.dev creation to mobile devices? In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to export your Lovable.dev project and transform it into native mobile apps using Capacitor.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have your Lovable.dev web app running natively on both iOS and Android devices, with access to native device features like camera, storage, and push notifications.

Why Transform Your Lovable.dev App to Mobile?

• Expanded Reach: Access mobile users who prefer native apps over web browsers
• Native Features: Leverage device capabilities like camera, GPS, and offline storage
• App Store Distribution: Publish your app on Google Play Store and Apple App Store
• Better Performance: Native container provides improved performance and user experience
• Push Notifications: Engage users with native push notifications

Step 1: Export Your Lovable.dev Project

To export your project from Lovable.dev, you need to link it to GitHub first, as per Lovable’s export system.

Link Your Project to GitHub

1. Open your Lovable.dev project in the browser
2. Look for the GitHub or Connect to GitHub option in the Lovable interface

3. Authorize Lovable.dev to access your GitHub account

4. Create or select a repository for your project

Clone Your Repository

Once your project is linked to GitHub, clone it to your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/your-lovable-project.git
cd your-lovable-project

Step 2: Set Up Your Development Environment

Navigate to your extracted project directory and install dependencies:

cd your-lovable-project
npm install

Verify that your app runs correctly:

npm run dev

Your Lovable.dev app should now be running at http://localhost:3000.

Step 3: Prepare for Mobile Export

Lovable.dev projects are built with Next.js, so we need to configure static export for mobile deployment.

Update package.json

Add a static export script to your package.json:

{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "next dev",
    "build": "next build",
    "start": "next start",
    "lint": "next lint",
    "static": "NEXT_PUBLIC_IS_MOBILE=true next build"
  }
}

Configure next.config.js

Most Lovable.dev projects already have a next.config.js file. Update it to support static export:

/** @type {import('next').NextConfig} */
const isMobile = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_IS_MOBILE === 'true';
const nextConfig = {
  ...(isMobile ? {output: 'export'} : {}),
  reactStrictMode: true,
  images: {
    unoptimized: true,
  },
  // Keep any existing Lovable.dev specific configurations
  trailingSlash: true,
};

module.exports = nextConfig;

Test Static Export

Run the static export command:

npm run static

You should see a new out folder containing your static files.

Step 4: Add Capacitor to Your Lovable.dev Project

Now let’s transform your Lovable.dev app into a native mobile app.

Install Capacitor CLI

npm install -D @capacitor/cli

Initialize Capacitor

npx cap init

When prompted:

• App name: Use your Lovable.dev project name
• Bundle ID: Use a reverse domain format like com.yourcompany.yourapp

Install Core Capacitor Packages

npm install @capacitor/core @capacitor/ios @capacitor/android

Add Native Platforms

npx cap add ios
npx cap add android

Step 5: Configure Capacitor

Update the capacitor.config.ts file to point to your build output:

import { CapacitorConfig } from '@capacitor/cli';

const config: CapacitorConfig = {
  appId: 'com.yourcompany.yourapp',
  appName: 'Your Lovable App',
  webDir: 'out',
  bundledWebRuntime: false,
  server: {
    androidScheme: 'https'
  }
};

export default config;

Step 6: Build and Sync

Build your Lovable.dev app and sync with Capacitor:

npm run static
npx cap sync

Step 7: Open Native IDEs

For iOS Development

npx cap open ios

For Android Development

npx cap open android

Step 8: Build and Run Your Mobile App

Running on iOS

1. In Xcode, select your target device or simulator
2. Click the Play button to build and run

Running on Android

1. In Android Studio, select your target device or emulator
2. Click the Run button to build and deploy

Step 9: Enable Live Reload (Development)

For faster development, enable live reload:

1. Find your local IP address:

# macOS
ipconfig getifaddr en0

# Windows
ipconfig

2. Update capacitor.config.ts:

import { CapacitorConfig } from '@capacitor/cli';

const config: CapacitorConfig = {
  appId: 'com.yourcompany.yourapp',
  appName: 'Your Lovable App',
  webDir: 'out',
  bundledWebRuntime: false,
  server: {
    url: 'http://YOUR_IP_ADDRESS:3000',
    cleartext: true,
  },
};

export default config;

3. Apply changes:

npx cap copy

Step 10: Add Native Features

Enhance your Lovable.dev app with native capabilities:

Install Share Plugin

npm i @capacitor/share

Update Your Component

Add native sharing to any Lovable.dev component:

import { Share } from '@capacitor/share';

const shareContent = async () => {
  await Share.share({
    title: 'Check out my Lovable app!',
    text: 'Built with Lovable.dev and Capacitor',
    url: 'https://your-app-url.com',
    dialogTitle: 'Share with friends',
  });
};

// Add to your JSX
<button onClick={shareContent} className="btn-primary">
  Share App
</button>

Sync Changes

npx cap sync

Step 11: Optimize for Production

App Icons and Splash Screens

1. Generate app icons using the Capacitor Assets tool:

npm install -D @capacitor/assets

2. Add your app icon as assets/icon.png (1024x1024px)
3. Add splash screen as assets/splash.png (2732x2732px)

npx capacitor-assets generate

Build for Production

npm run static
npx cap sync
npx cap copy

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Build Errors

If you encounter build errors:

1. Check that all Lovable.dev dependencies are compatible
2. Ensure your next.config.js has the correct export settings
3. Verify that static export generates the out folder correctly

Missing Assets

If images or assets don’t load:

1. Ensure all asset paths are relative
2. Check that images are in the public folder
3. Verify that the images.unoptimized: true setting is in your config

Performance Issues

For better performance:

1. Optimize images using Next.js Image optimization
2. Implement lazy loading for heavy components
3. Remove unused dependencies from your Lovable.dev project

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully transformed your Lovable.dev Next.js app into native mobile applications. Your AI-generated web app can now:

• Run natively on iOS and Android devices
• Access device features like camera and storage
• Be distributed through app stores
• Provide a native user experience

Next Steps

• Live Updates: Consider implementing Capgo for over-the-air updates
• Push Notifications: Add the Capacitor Push Notifications plugin
• Analytics: Integrate mobile analytics to track user behavior
• Performance Monitoring: Monitor your app’s performance on mobile devices

Your Lovable.dev creation is now ready for the mobile world!

Resources

• Lovable.dev Documentation
• Capacitor Documentation
• Capgo - Live Updates for Capacitor Apps
• Next.js Static Export Guide

Learn how Capgo can help you deliver updates to your mobile app instantly, sign up for a free account today.