<p>Do I have to run <code>react-native run-android</code> and <code>react-native start</code> in my command prompt every time time I reopen my project and emulator?</p> <p>-- Thanks </p>

react-native run-android and react-native start

Do I have to run react-native run-android and react-native start in my command prompt every time time I reopen my project and emulator?

-- Thanks

You usually do. The react-native run-android command might be optional if you do not want to deploy the android native code again (for instance, if you have not made any changes). You will have to launch the application manually and it will try to connect to the packager that starts with react-native start. I am not sure if you can bundle the JS for offline use in debug mode. Maybe you can try the same procedure as in this answer, but with assembleDebug in order to avoid that one.