You’ve been working on creating your own application for a long time, and now it’s time to show it to the world. But publishing an app in the App Store may not be as easy as you expect. There are plenty of requirements, some of which may be logical but still pretty surprising.
For example, shortly after the release of the iPhone X, Apple stated that all programs on their platform should be iPhone X Super Retina display compatible. Of course, it’s not an out of the blue request. But it may take some extra work, especially if your app is developed for older iPhone models or the software is ported from another platform.
What may also surprise you, is the fact that publishing an application isn’t free. You need to pay a yearly subscription of 99$ to have access to the Apple Developer Program. And it’s absolutely worth it, as you gain access to many useful tools, like TestFlight and numerous data analytic systems.
So, how exactly do you submit an app to AppStore? We consulted with professional iOS development services, including market leaders Develux, to provide you with the most reliable and relevant information. Because there probably aren’t more reliable sources on the subject of iOS app development than these coding experts.
1. Check the release version
Making sure that your program is ready for the market may sound like an obvious step. But in reality, it’s far more complicated than that, as many developers simply focus on how to make an iPhone app working. Don’t forget about the very important part of the process – testing. In most cases, hiring professional software testers is the best solution.
But if you’re a single person in the “team”, try to look at your software from different perspectives. Check every tiny detail and try to break the program. Ask your friends or visit specialized forums on the Internet and find volunteers for the testing. You can’t even imagine how many apps don’t make it to the AppStore due to numerous bugs and security holes.
2. Access AppStore Connect
If the stability and security sides of the product are polished, the next step is to fill all the blanks. Go to the AppStore Connect, it’s the program you get after getting into Apple Developer Program. It’s a must-have for every iOS app development service out there. Plus, it’s where all the useful tools and analytical data can be found.
3. Guidelines
Just like in any other service out there, AppStore has its own guidelines. Read them carefully to ensure that no silly mistakes will lead you to failure. Even a seemingly unnoticeable detail can lead to rejection by the AppStore staff.
4. Start filling the blanks
The first page requires you to fill in the following fields:
- Platform (iOS, tvOS)
- Name
- Primary Language
- Bundle ID
- SKU
There are question marks next to each empty blank. Press them if you don’t know what you need to do. But considering that you programmed an application, this shouldn’t be an issue at all. The name must be absolutely unique.
Next, choose the main language of the program and provide a link to the Privacy Policy. if the application is based on online services with registration, provide a test account for the Apple staff. Make sure it’s uploaded on the public service and isn’t just a PDF file opened by your computer’s browser. It’s a silly mistake that can end up in a big failure. If the company has its own website, it’s best to upload it there.
5. Pricing
The following step requires devs to provide pricing for the application. Just choose a currency and the price. You’re able to even create a plan of the price changes in the future so that the AppStore will change it automatically. The Availability category lets publishers decide whether all regions and/or countries will have access to the application. The reasons for this can vary, but the most common one is the differences in the laws and copyright regulations across different countries.
6. Release Options
It’s a pretty simple but nonetheless useful and important step for every developer. It’s a question of whether you want the platform to publish the application automatically, or if you’ll do it yourself. Assuming it corresponds to the guidelines mentioned in the beginning and passes a testing stage. But we’ll get to that later.
7. Screenshots
All the requirements for the screenshots will be presented after getting to this blank. There are many options available. However, as noted by Apple, the required standard is the 5.5 inch Super Retina display screenshots. All other variants are optional in case the app has different interface placement or other features suited for other displays.
You can just use an iOS simulator or a dedicated program for this step. Mockup templates can be found in AppStore Connect too, so it’s really convenient. After that – upload all the pictures and state their formats.
8. Description
As mentioned earlier, it is highly recommended for iOS app development services to hire experts in copywriting to do this task. This ensures the most precise and relevant text that will describe your product in the best way is displayed. You can’t expect to be interested in a product or a service if the description is written badly, right?
Don’t forget about keywords. Basic research of the market and search engine specifics will show you what tags are the most relevant. Or you can consult professionals for this task too.
Also, it is recommended to provide system requirements information and roll out bug fixes regularly. Of course, the program itself must be flawless, but sometimes you just can’t foresee certain complications. In this case, it’s never wrong to mention that in the description. Providing a link to the support service of your company is even a better idea.
9. Uploading the program
Once again, the most important point in the launch of an application is the technical side of it. Namely, the code itself. More than 25% of all app rejections are due to incompleteness and numerous issues with the programming. Test it as much as you can, or be ready to go over the whole process of reworking the code and reapplying it to AppStore again.
If you’re confident about the quality, open XCode. First, fill in the Signing and Team information. The version of the application should always be set to 1.0.0. Unless it’s a reworked or an updated version of old software, of course. Provide the AppleID data in case you haven’t done it yet.
Proceed to the simulation. Choose Generic iOS device and then go to Product > Archive. It will prepare the program for publication. You’ll be presented with the Archives tab when finished. Just click the “Distribute app” button and then go back to App Store Connect. Don’t worry if it’s not there yet, processing may take some time. Find the application and click “Submit for Review”. Congratulations, you went the whole way from learning how to make an iPhone app to submitting it to the market!
Final Words
From now on, it’s up for the Apple staff to review your software and approve it. Assuming you followed each step carefully, ensured the technical reliability and relevance to guidelines – there isn’t anything to worry about. Good luck!
