How To Upload An App To App Store

You're launching your starting time app, or maybe it's been a while since the terminal time. Submitting an app to the App Shop isn't as elementary as pushing a launch push button, but it'due south not as complicated as information technology may seem either.

This step-by-step post assumes that yous are already enrolled in the Apple tree Developer Program, your app follows Apple's App Review and Human Interface Guidelines, and you're set up to transport. It's an update of Gustavo Ambrozio and Tony Dahbura's awesome guide, with info from the latest version of Xcode that streamlines some of the steps and further context from Apple's ain documentation. Hither's what to do in order to distribute your app for beta testing or to get alive in the App Shop (tl;dr).

1. Code Signing: Create an iOS distribution provisioning profile and distribution certificate

The development provisioning profile and evolution certificate that you've been using are but for specific devices. In order to distribute your app to beta testers or to users through the App Store, you'll need a separate distribution provisioning profile and distribution certificate.

The easiest fashion to do this is through Xcode. If automated signing is enabled, Xcode volition create and manage certificates, signing identities, and handle device registration for you. If automatic signing is already enabled or if you don't need help with signing, you tin skip to step two.

(In some cases, you might prefer manual signing. Here's an in-depth tutorial for how to manually sign your app. Continue in mind that all targets in a bundle should use the same signing method.)

First, add together your Developer Program account to Xcode if yous haven't already. From the acme menu, select Xcode, then choose Preferences.
Click on Accounts. In the bottom left corner of the window, press the + sign, so Add Apple tree ID….
Enter the Apple ID and password you employ for the Apple Developer Program, then click Sign In.
Side by side, enable automatic signing. From the Project Editor, choose a target and select Full general.
Scroll downwardly to the "Signing" section and click on the triangle icon to expand the settings.
Click on the box to Automatically manage signing. Select your team.

how to submit app to app store

When you connect a new device to your Mac, Xcode will automatically detect and register information technology to your team provisioning profile. Note that in order to launch your app on a device, the device needs to exist registered on your team provisioning profile.

2. Create an App Shop Connect record for your app

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Go an App Shop Connect account by:

Creating your own App Store Connect organization and being the team agent. Sign in with the Apple ID y'all used to enroll in the Apple Developer Program
Or beingness invited by an existing organization as a user with an Admin, Technical, or App Managing director role. Read more details about App Store Connect user accounts here.

For paid apps

If you lot're submitting a paid app, you'll need to sign a contract that covers terms of payment. If your app is free, you can skip ahead.

Click on Agreements, Revenue enhancement, and Banking on the App Store Connect dashboard.

Click on Request under "Request Contracts".

Review the agreement that appears, check the box to agree to the terms, and click on "Submit".

Under "Contracts In Process" click Ready in the Contact Info column.

In the window that appears, click on Add together New Contact and enter your information.

Back under "Contracts In Process" in the "Bank Info" column, click Ready Up then Add Bank Account and follow the directions to save your account info.

In the "Tax Info" column, click Ready. A U.Due south. Tax Course is mandatory, so click Set and make full out the required information. Gear up up any other country tax forms necessary.

After you've completed the in a higher place, the contract's status volition at present say "Processing". Later on Apple has verified the info you provided, which will take about an hour, the contract will now appear under "Contracts In Effect".

Add a new app

In the App Store Connect dashboard, select My Apps.

Click on the + sign in the upper left-mitt corner, then New App.

To create a new App Store Connect record, you'll need these details: platform, app proper noun, default linguistic communication, parcel ID, and SKU. Y'all can't really change these details afterward, so be certain of what you enter.

Use keywords in your app name to optimize for discovery.
The bundle ID must exist an exact match of the package identifier in your Xcode projection Info.plist file (in the target's General > Identity section).
The SKU is not visible to users and is up to yous to gear up. It tin can exist an identifier yous utilise in your company or something else that is meaningful for you. Acceptable characters include letters, numbers, hyphens, periods, and underscores, and it must brainstorm with a letter or number.

If applicative, yous tin likewise set user access at this step.

3. Archive and upload your app using Xcode

Earlier y'all can submit your app for review through App Shop Connect, yous need to upload the build through Xcode.

In Xcode, select Generic iOS Device as the deployment target.
Choose Product from the acme menu and click on Archive.
The Xcode Organizer will launch, displaying any archives you lot've created in the past.
Make sure the current build is selected and click on Upload to App Shop in the correct-hand console.
Select your credentials and click Choose.
In the adjacent window that appears, click on Upload in the lesser right-paw corner.

A success message will appear when the upload has completed. Click Done.

4. Configure your app's metadata and further details in its App Store Connect record

Nether the "App Shop" tab in App Store Connect, in the "App Information" folio you can add together boosted languages, categories, and your app'due south Privacy Policy URL.

Gear up your app as costless or select its price tier on the "Pricing and Availability" folio.

Nether the "Features" tab, yous can add configurations to whatsoever App Store technologies in your app, like Game Center and in-app purchases.

At this stage, your app is marked with a yellow dot and the status "Fix for Submission" in the left-hand panel under "App Store". Select the build y'all want to configure. This is where you will add the information for your production page on the App Shop.

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Upload your app's screenshots (in JPEG or PNG format and without status bars). You can upload a set of screenshots for one device and utilize them for all the other sizes.

Click on Salve in the upper correct-mitt corner of the window later your screenshots have finished uploading.

Scroll down and enter your app's description, keywords, support URL, and marketing URL.

Your app's description and keywords are critical. Brand sure you optimize them for discovery.
The support URL can be as elementary as a landing page with a contact form.
The marketing URL can be your app'due south website and is optional.

In the "General App Information" department below, upload your app'south icon, enter its version number, and copyright and contact information.

Your app's icon should be 1024px x 1024px.
The version number should exactly match the one in Xcode.
The copyright info typically looks like this: "Copyright (c) 2017, Instabug, Inc."
The contact info hither is what will be displayed to users.

Click on Edit side by side to "Rating" and select the applicable options for your app. Be honest — your app tin be rejected during review if information technology doesn't match its rating.

Under the "App Review Information" section, enter your contact info, whatsoever notes you have for the reviewer, and set the version release date.

The contact information here is for the reviewer in case they need to achieve you directly.
Notes for the reviewer can include data most specific hardware they might need to use or user account information they might need for access.
For first releases, you should typically leave the version release date as automated.

In the peak right-mitt corner, click Save. Now y'all're most fix to "Submit for Review".

5. Submit your app for review

Roll to the "Build" department in your app's App Shop Connect record.

Click on "Select a build earlier you submit your app."

Cull the build that you uploaded through Xcode. Click Done in the bottom right-hand corner, then Salvage in the top-right hand corner, then Submit for Review.

Finally, answer the Consign Compliance, Content Rights, and Advertising Identifier questions and click Submit.

Your app's status is now "Waiting For Review".

6. Cheque on the status of your app

In App Store Connect, select Activity in the peak horizontal menu, then App Shop Versions in the left-mitt panel.

How long does information technology take to go App Store blessing?

In most cases, it takes about i to three days to receive approving, and it tin can take up to 24 hours for your app to appear in the App Store later approval. Check electric current average app store review times here.

Yous'll receive email notifications at each stage. Read more about each status here.

If you lot're on a tight timeline and demand to align your release with a specific issue or if you lot demand to release a new version with an urgent issues ready, you lot can request an expedited review.

If your app is rejected

You'll take to make the necessary fixes earlier y'all can submit your app again for review. Use the Resolution Eye in App Store Connect to communicate with Apple about any questions you may have. You can likewise escalate the issue and submit an appeal if you lot believe your app was wrongly rejected.

One of the about common reasons for rejections from the Apple App Store is performance. Brand certain that your app is complete and that you've tested it thoroughly and fixed all bugs. Using a problems reporting tool while beta testing will aid reduce your app's chances of being rejected due to functioning issues.

If your app is approved

Congratulations! You're at present on the App Store. Y'all tin can view downloads, sales, ratings, and reviews directly in App Store Connect.

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tl;dr

Here's how to submit your app to the Apple tree App Store:

Create an iOS distribution provisioning profile and distribution document
Create an App Store Connect record for your app
Archive and upload your app using Xcode
Configure your app'due south metadata and further details in its App Store Connect tape
Submit your app for review
Cheque on the status of your app

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