Checklist for publishing iOS apps: Publish an app on the Apple App Store

The Apple App Store is a worldwide known app store with over 2 million iOS apps published. The number steadily increases due to the ubiquity and growing demand for mobile apps.

Since the advent of a no-code platform like Twinr, converting mobile-friendly websites into iOS apps without coding has become much smoother. The market dominance of bespoke app development services has been disrupted.

Considering the magnificence, not everything in the Apple world is a simple task. Assembling necessary documentation, certificates, and other materials for app submission and releasing the app to app stores.

We’re not here to scare you; instead, we’re here to assist you. Today, we’ll show you how to obtain and list all necessary certificates and meet the conditions for quickly and seamlessly releasing an iOS app.

Checklist and step-by-step instructions for submitting an iOS app:

1- Make an Apple ID account

Create an Apple ID by going to the Apple Developer website. You will require to enter in some basic information, such as:

• Name (first and last)
• Country
• Birthday
• Email Address (This will be your new Apple ID)
• Password
• At this stage, you’ll also have to answer some security questions. Proceed when you’ve entered all of the information accurately.

Note:(If you already have an Apple ID, you may skip this step)

2- Enable two-factor authentication

Go ahead and enable two-factor authentication now that you have an Apple ID. It is a required feature for all Apple IDs.

With an iPhone, iPad, or Apple PC, you can easily set up two-factor authentication as explained below:

Set up with an iPhone or iPad: To set up two-factor authentication on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

At the top of the page, click on Settings and your name. Security & Password

Then, to turn it on, tap on Two-Factor Authentication.

A few security questions may be asked, which can be answered. Answer the questions by following the instructions on the screen.

Using an Apple laptop: To set up two-factor authentication on an Apple laptop, follow these steps:

• Select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
• To access iCloud Account Details, go here. Security
• Toggle on Two-Factor Authentication by clicking on it.

Note: (If you don’t have an Apple product and want to set up two-factor authentication on a non-Apple device, contact Apple’s support team for assistance.)

3- Enroll in the Apple developer program

Sign in to your account using your Apple ID on the developer home page. After that, it’ll take you to the Apple Developer Agreement, which you can read and accept.

You will be routed to Apple’s program page after clicking Join the Apple Developer Program, where you can click Enroll and join the program. You have the option of enrolling as an individual or as an organization.

Individual Registration: If you sign up as a person, you’ll be limited to one primary login and one account. The Apple App Store will show the developer’s name. If the app is solely branded for you, select this option.

Organizational Registration: When compared to an individual account, we strongly advise enrolling as an organization because it unlocks additional perks and services. Able to register as an organization also allows for numerous user logins, and the app store displays the company name rather than the name of a single developer.

It is best suited for businesses, corporations, and non-profits.

However, if you want to register as an organization, you’ll need a D-U-N-S number. Dun & Bradstreet assigns it as a unique combination of nine-digit digits commonly used as a standard business identity. Apple requires this information to validate your company’s identification and legal business status.

Get a D-U-N-S Number for your company here if you don’t already have one. You can enter the number and begin the enrolling procedure once you have it. Enrolling for a D-U-N-S Number and receiving one may take a few weeks.

You will need to validate your Apple ID details and input your email, name, and country details throughout this procedure.

After that, you must choose the proper organization.

Then, you can proceed by filling out your account’s contact details.

Pay the registration cost and sign the license agreement: After filling out all of the required fields, review Apple’s license agreement. You can agree to the Apple Developer Program License Agreement by checking the box and clicking Continue after reading it.

Pay the registration fee through the payment gateway. After that, you’ll have to wait for Apple to send you a payment approval email. It could also take up to 24 hours.

You’re now ready to submit the IPA files for release on the Apple App Store.

4- Make a listing in the App Store.

This step almost completes the criteria for submitting an app. The next step is to make a listing for your app on your App Store Connect account.

Go to iTunes Connect, enter the My Apps area, and scroll down to the app overview. By clicking the Plus icon and entering the appropriate information, you can add a new app to your account.

Before you can list your app, you’ll need to fill in the following information:

• Name of the app’s & primary language
• SKU (This is the app’s unique code identifier.) For simplicity, keep the SKU and Bundle ID the same.)

After you’ve completed everything, click the Create button to finish the first stage of establishing an app listing.

5- Submit App Details

Visit the App Information area of your App Store Connect account once the app listing has been created and the test flight has been published. You’ll need to include some crucial design, creative copies, and other essential details in this section. It could consist of App Icon, App Name, Description, Keywords, copyright, contact information, etc.

Availability and Pricing: By selecting the Pricing and Availability button on the left menu, you may determine your mobile application’s pricing and demographic availability in this part. You’ll need to put in the following details here:

• Price Schedule
• Pre-Orders
• Availability
• Distribution of Business and Education

At last, save the settings by clicking the Save button in the top right corner.

Getting ready to submit: Then, select the Prepare for Submission option on the left menu. All of the prerequisites mentioned above are required for this.

It is broken down into the sections below.

• Version Information
• iMessage App
• Apple Watch
• App Build
• General App Information
• Game Center
• App Review Information
• Version-Release

These steps may branch out into a few more where you’ll need to fill in some more details. For example, as explained above, you’ll need to define the language, add previews and pictures, promotional text, description, keywords, support URL, marketing URL, and so on for the app.

Now, click Submit for Review. You will return to the app listing, where the status should now be Waiting for Review. The clearance procedure may take two to three weeks (if the app does not get rejected).

That is all there is to it. The app’s submission procedure should be finished by now. To submit a new version, you will need to go through some of the processes listed above in the final section. As soon as you receive approval, you can publish your app on the app stores. When your app goes live, remember to celebrate by endorsing it and attracting many downloads.