/app-store

How-to Guide for Apple App Store Submittal

How-to Guide for Apple App Store Submittal

Overview of Process

  1. Prerequisites
  • We need to create developer accounts and sign up for the Apple Developer Program for app submission to the store.
  • Screenshots are required for app submission so users can preview what the app looks like.
  • Mutiple app icons are required for app submission to use on different devices.
  1. Apple Developer Account
  • We need to create an App ID to reference our app.
  • We need to create a provisioning profile to install apps on iOS devices. It's used by Apple for security/identity purposes.
  1. iTunes Connect
  • We provide important information for our app using iTunes Connect such as Name and Description.
  1. Xcode
  • We need to archive our app to submit it as part of Apple's reviewing process.
  • Once our archive is validated, we upload it to the App Store.
  1. iTunes Connect
  • We need to connect the app we uploaded from Xcode with the app we configured in iTunes Connect.
  1. Submit for Review.

Prerequisites

  • Apple Developer Account
  • Sign up for Apple Developer Program
  • Screenshots. You can generate these using the Simulator and Command+S to take a screenshot. You must use Window > Scale > 100% (Command+1)
    • REQUIRED one iPad Pro screenshot.
    • REQUIRED one iPhone 7 Plus screenshot.
    • These are the highest resolutions for iPad and iPhone.
  • 1024px X 1024px Image (your App Icon as JPG).
  • Add App Icons to your project.
    • Go to Project - General - App Icons and Launch Images - App Icons Scource. app icons
    • Use Asset Catalog or create a new one.
    • Open assets folder in your project.
    • Use a Mac App Prepo or make your own icons (Gimp or Pixlr).
    • WARNING, do not have duplicate icons (exact same size, but different name). DOUBLE CHECK ACTUAL SIZE OF ICONS AND DELETE DUPLICATES
    • Bare minimum 19 sizes for App Icons (in pixels):
      • 20x20
      • 29x29
      • 40x40
      • 57x57
      • 50x50
      • 58x58
      • 60x60
      • 72x72
      • 76x76
      • 80x80
      • 83.5x83.5
      • 87x87
      • 100x100
      • 114x114
      • 120x120
      • 144x144
      • 152x152
      • 167x167
      • 180x180
    • Drag and drop your icons from the Finder into the assets folder in Xcode. if your icons are in "CarPlay", move them to iPhone App 60pt.
    • Your AppIcon layout should look like the screenshot below: appicon page
  • Have your project open in Xcode.

Instructions

  • Log into Apple Developer Account
  • Go to Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles
  • Click Identifiers - App IDs - Create new App ID (plus button top right) new app id
  • App ID Description can be anything. Under "Explicit App ID", you must match your "Bundle ID" in Xcode.
  • Continue. Register.
  • Click Provisioning Profiles - Distribution - Create new Provisioning Profile Provisioning Profile
  • Select Distribution - App Store. Continue.
  • Select your App ID from the list. Continue.
  • Select Certificate. Continue.
  • Create Profile Name. Continue.
  • Download Provisioning Profile and remember where it is.

iTunes Connect

  • Go to iTunes Connect.
  • Go to My Apps.
  • Click the plus button to create a "New iOS App".
  • Select iOS Checkbox.
  • Name field for your New App is permanent after submission. Pick what you want carefully.
  • Select English for "Primary Language".
  • Select your Bundle ID.
  • SKU is a unique ID (you pick it). e.g. NameOfApp0.1
  • Click Create

iTunes Connect App Information

  • Category is required.
  • Click Save (top right corner)
  • Click Yellow "1.0 Prepare for Submission" on the left sidebar. Prepare for Submission

iOS App 1.0 Prepare for Submission

  • Choose File > Your iPhone screenshot from the prerequisite section.
  • Click iPad button above screenshot preview.
  • Choose File > Your iPad screenshot from the prerequisite section.
  • Click Save (top right)
  • Description is required.
  • Keywords are required.
  • Support URL is required (your website or github).
  • Ignore "Build" for now and scroll down to "General App Information".

General App Information

  • App Icon > Choose File > Your 1024x1024px icon from prerequisite section.
  • Click edit next to "Rating". Fill out questionnaire. Be careful, it's easier to get approved if you don't select "Made For Kids". Click Done.
  • Copyright (your business name) required.
  • Address information is required.

App Review Information

  • Fill out contact information for "App Review Information"
  • You do not need a "Demo Account". Uncheck the box.
  • Select "Automatically release this version".
  • Click the Save button in the top right.
  • Click Pricing and Availability in the top left corner.

Pricing and Availability

  • Select Price Tier "Free".
  • Save.
  • Click Yellow "1.0 Prepare for Submission" on the left sidebar.
  • Switch to Xcode.

Xcode

  • Select your build target as "Generic iOS Device" build target
  • From the Top Menu Bar, Select Product > Archive archive
  • After Archiving successfully, a window will open with your archive.
  • Find your Provisioning Profile file (most likely in your Downloads Folder) and double-click it from your Finder.
  • Xcode will open the file.
  • Click Validate. Choose Development Team. Loading Screen. Click Validate again.
  • Wait for "Validation Successful". (long wait) Click Done.
    • Most errors will occur at this stage. Read the error messages and check Stack Overflow for solutions if they are not obvious.
  • Click "Upload to App Store...". Select your Development Team. Click Choose.
  • Click Upload. (long wait)
  • Switch back to iTunes Connect.

iTunes Connect

  • Reload the iTunes Connect page showing your app.
  • Your build may take several minutes to process before it will be available on the page.
  • Scroll down to "Build" and the plus icon will show up next to "Build". Wait and refresh the page if it is not there yet.
  • Click the plus button. Add Build. Click Done.
  • Save. Submit for Review. Follow instructions if you're missing information.

Export Compliance, Content Rights, and Advertising Identifier

  • Select "No" for Export Compliance
  • Select "No" for Content Rights
  • Select "No" for Advertising Identifier.
  • Click Submit.

Congratulations! You have submitted your app for review.

  • App is now "Waiting For Review".
    • The next stages are:
    • "Preparing for Review"
    • "Going in Review"
    • "Accepted" or "Rejected"
  • You will receive an email for your app's approval, but it is good to check it yourself in iTunes Connect.

Live Demo of Apple App Store Deployment

Coming Soon

Alternate Video

Slightly Outdated - Jared Davidson - Submitting an App to the iOS App Store