How to save Detox result bundles

Saving a Detox result bundle keeps device logs, screenshots, videos, and startup output from a mobile end-to-end run in one directory that a CI job can upload after the simulator or emulator shuts down. The saved directory lets developers inspect failed flows without rerunning the same device session.

The Detox artifacts system writes run evidence under a configurable root directory. The project config controls default plugins, while detox test can override the bundle path for a single run with --artifacts-location.

Use a clean bundle path for each CI job. A path ending with a slash tells Detox to write directly into that directory; a path without the trailing slash lets Detox add a configuration-and-timestamp subdirectory to reduce accidental overwrites.

1. Set the artifact plugins in .detoxrc.js.

   .detoxrc.js

   /** @type {Detox.DetoxConfig} */
   module.exports = {
     artifacts: {
       rootDir: 'artifacts/detox/',
       plugins: {
         log: 'all',
         screenshot: 'all',
         video: 'all'
       }
     },
     // devices, apps, and configurations stay in the same file
   };

   Recording video for every test can make CI artifacts large. Use the failing preset for screenshot or video after confirming failure-only evidence is enough for your team.

2. Run Detox with a deterministic bundle directory.

   $ npx detox test --configuration ios.sim.release --artifacts-location artifacts/detox/
   PASS e2e/login.test.js
   PASS e2e/settings.test.js
   
   Test Suites: 2 passed, 2 total
   Tests:       7 passed, 7 total

   The trailing slash keeps the files directly under artifacts/detox/ so a CI upload step can target one stable directory.

3. List the saved bundle root.

   $ ls artifacts/detox
   startup.log
   Login flow should open dashboard
   Settings flow should save profile

4. Inspect one test folder for the saved files.

   $ ls "artifacts/detox/Login flow should open dashboard"
   afterEach.png
   beforeEach.png
   test.log
   test.mp4

   Folder names come from the test summary, so long suite names can produce long paths in the bundle.

5. Create a single archive when the CI system expects one uploaded file.

   $ tar --create --gzip --file detox-result-bundle.tgz artifacts/detox

   Skip the archive when the CI service can upload artifacts/detox/ as a directory.

6. Verify the archive contains the Detox files.

   $ tar --list --file detox-result-bundle.tgz
   artifacts/detox/
   artifacts/detox/startup.log
   artifacts/detox/Login flow should open dashboard/
   artifacts/detox/Login flow should open dashboard/test.log
   artifacts/detox/Login flow should open dashboard/test.mp4
   ##### snipped #####