How to Preview and Share a Proto.io Prototype

Updated

Proto.io lets you preview a finished prototype in a desktop web browser or a mobile browser, and it offers native iOS and Android apps for easier previewing or offline viewing. To share, you send a single screen or multiple screens to others. All of this works without code, and the prototype stays interactive, so reviewers can click through the flow rather than look at static images. The exact steps below assume you already have a prototype saved in your Proto.io account.

Previewing a Prototype

In a web or mobile browser

  1. Open your prototype in Proto.io and start the preview from the editor.
  2. Choose the browser option. The prototype runs in the browser, including on a phone's mobile browser.
  3. Expected result: you see the live, interactive prototype with screen transitions and animations playing as designed.

This is the fastest check for layout and flow. Use it when you want to confirm that interactions and transitions behave correctly before sending anything to others.

With the native iOS or Android apps

  1. Install the Proto.io app for iOS or Android.
  2. Sign in and open the prototype from your account.
  3. Expected result: the prototype runs inside the app, which the site describes as easier for previewing and also usable for viewing offline.

The offline capability is the main reason to use the app: it lets you show a prototype when you don't have a reliable connection, for example during an in-person review or a client meeting.

What to check while previewing

Because Proto.io supports over 80 events, over 40 actions, 18 screen transitions, and timeline-based animations, a preview is the point where you verify that these actually work together. Walk through each key path: tap or click the interactive elements, watch the transitions between screens, and confirm that animations (opacity, color, font, rotation, resize, scale, filters, shadows) play as intended. If something doesn't respond, the issue is usually in the interaction setup rather than the preview itself.

Sharing a Prototype

Proto.io's sharing feature sends a single screen or multiple screens to others. The practical workflow:

  1. Decide the scope: one screen for a focused question, or several screens for a full flow review.
  2. Use the share option to send the selected screens to your reviewers.
  3. Expected result: recipients can view the shared prototype and understand the intended functionality, since the shared version preserves the interactivity you built.

Sharing is most useful when the prototype communicates behavior, not just appearance. A wireframe-level share answers "is the flow right?" while a high-fidelity share with transitions and micro-animations answers "does this feel right?" Match the fidelity of what you share to the question you're asking.

Choosing the Right Preview or Share Method

Method Best for Key condition
Desktop web browser Quick checks while editing; detailed review on a large screen You're at a computer with the prototype open
Mobile browser Checking how the prototype feels on a phone The prototype is designed for mobile
Native iOS/Android app In-person demos and offline viewing You've installed the app and signed in
Sharing screens Getting feedback from stakeholders or clients You've selected the right screens to send

Common Snags

  • Prototype looks static when shared: interactivity depends on the interactions you set up; a screen with no events or actions will behave like a static image.
  • Animations look different on mobile: preview on the target device, since transitions and timeline animations are best judged on the screen they're designed for.
  • No connection during a demo: use the native app's offline viewing rather than a browser preview.

Proto.io also offers a free start and a 15-day free trial, so you can test previewing and sharing on a real project before committing.