The 4-Step Guide to Launching Your iOS App in the App Store

After months of hard work, your iOS app is finally ready to launch! Before you submit the app to the App Store, make sure to test and review it multiple times for any bugs, and know that you’ve built a masterpiece.

Launching the app to the App Store is not as complicated as you may think. The step by step guide below will help you in submitting your app:

Step 1 – Register for Apple Developer Program

Now that your app is developed according to Apple’s guidelines, the first thing you need to do is register for the Apple Developer Program. Register to the program using your Apple ID.

Registration is free, but to submit your iOS apps, you are required to pay a yearly subscription fee. There are two types of subscriptions:

• $99 per year – Private Individual / Legal Entity
• $299 per year – Developer Enterprises / Software Companies

If you’re registering as an Enterprise, you need to submit the following details for an Apple ID:

• A D-U-N-S Number
• Legal entity status
• Legal binding authority
• Official business website

To create your Apple Developer Account, go to the Apple Developer Site.
Also read: How to choose The Perfect Domain Name

Step 2 – Set Up an App Store Connect Account

Now that you’re a registered developer at Apple, the next step is to create your App Store Connect Account. Follow these steps to create the account:

• Go to iTunes Connect
• Enter the login credentials of the Apple ID you used to enroll in the Apple Developer Program
• Click ‘Sign in’

The iTunes Connect Account you just created will be used to submit the iOS app for reviewing and launching. Once you’ve logged into the iTunes account, click ‘My Apps’ and then click the ‘+’ to add the new app.

To add a new app, you’ll need the following details:

• Platform
• App Name
• Default Language
• Bundle ID – This is the unique identifier that you can get from your IDE.
• SKU – Not visible to users, but you can use it as an identifier.

Make sure to review these details once you’ve added them because they can’t be changed or altered later. Once done, click ‘Create.’
Also read: What Is Spotify Premium Duo? Explained (Pros & Cons)

Step 3 – Enter the App Details

Your app isn’t quite ready yet to be reviewed. After you click ‘Create,’ you’ll be directed to the ‘App Information’ page. Here you need to add all the relevant details of the app. Make sure to add these details:

• The app’s name
• Bundle ID (extracted from the IDE)
• SKU (present in the IDE)
• Apple ID – Automatically-generated
• Privacy Policy URL
• Primary Language (Used in the IDE)
• Category – Maximum 2 categories (Primary and Secondary)
• Rating – If minors have access to it (Apple will ask you to fill a form and rate the app based on your answers)
• Additional information

Also read: – How to upload an App on Google Play store

Pricing Details

Once you’ve added all the core details related to your app, the next step is to set a price. There are two types of apps: Paid Apps and Freemium Apps.

Users will need to buy your ‘Paid App’ to download it. However, Freemium apps are free to download and make profits with in-app purchases.

From the ‘Price’ dropdown menu, select your price, and then edit the availability of the app.
Also read: Best 10 Semrush Alternative For 2024 (Free & Paid)

Screenshots

It’s highly recommended to add screenshots that best represent your app. When you choose screenshots, make sure to add the ones that will encourage the user to download the app.

Additionally, adding screenshots will also speed up your review process. Apple will use those screenshots to review how the app looks on different iOS devices.

To boost engagement, you can also upload a video showing the details of your app. Additionally, the video will also be a guide that will help users understand how the app works.

App Icon

Now in the ‘General App Information’ tab, you will be uploading your app’s icon. The icon should be in PNG and 1024px x 1024px. After the icon is set, you will enter the copyright and contact information.

Step 4 – Upload and Get the App Reviewed

You’ve finally reached the last step for launching your iOS app on the App Store!

Follow these steps to complete the final phase of uploading your iOS app:

• Scroll and click the ‘Build’ section in the app’s iTunes Connect.
• Next, click ‘Select a build before you submit your app.’
• Choose the build you uploaded earlier.
• Click ‘Done’
• Click ‘Submit for Review.’

Finally, answer the Export Compliance, Content Rights, and Advertising Identifier and click submit. Your app’s status is now ‘Waiting for Review.’ So, you can sit back and think about your marketing strategies.

Plan the Release

Apple has three types of indicators that let you know the current status of your app while it’s still in review.

• The Red Indicator – It means your app needs some modification before it can be available on the App Store
• The Yellow Indicator – It lets you know there is an ongoing process.
• The Green Indicator – Great news! Your app is ready to go to the App Store.

To view details of the indicators, visit the App Store Connect.

Once Apple gives you the ‘green’ signal that indicates your app is ready, you have two options. You can schedule a specific date to launch your app. With a preset date, the release will be automatic. However, you can also release it manually from the dashboard of your App Store Connect account.

To ensure that your iOS app is unique and built to perfection, we recommend looking into companies that provide ios application development services. Various enterprises can make you great apps. Big companies have a team of well-trained developers that can build you an iOS app according to the guidelines by Apple.

We hope this four-step guide will help you in launching your iOS app to the App Store. The guide might seem like a handful now, but once you start the process, it will go by in a breeze.

Good luck with your app launch in the App Store!

Olivia

Olivia Marie is a digital marketing expert at Cubix, who loves to write content on several latest topics, including Blockchain, B2B business models, application development and much more. She is a keen writer and an active tech enthusiast.

Follow us :