The designing and development part of your application is completed and now looking to submit your app to the App Store. You must surely be feeling relaxed that you have overcome the major obstacles of the app development process.
But, let me introduce you to one more obstacle, which is launching your iOS application to the App Store. This process is not as simple as it sounds, as it requires you to review various guidelines. You can take help of the experienced iOS App Developers.
Before you submit your application, you will need a number of information, such as an App Store screenshot, the app’s privacy policy URL, and more. Your application can be rejected if it doesn’t follow all the required guidelines.
App developers can understand how challenging it can be for first-time users, as we have been working in the field of iOS mobile app development services for many years now. Do not worry, we have provided a complete guide to upload an app to the app store.
Things that You Must Consider Before Submitting an iOS Application to the App Store
To generate revenue from an application you must start preparing for it before it launches on the App Store. This section will explore a few basic things that you should plan before an app is published in the market.
Start Preparing Promotional Material in Advance
You must involve a dedicated team in marketing before an application is even launched in the App Store. Publishing an application requires some marketing materials to be included in the App Store. Therefore, you should consider creating an attractive marketing image, app name, and description that also serve as marketing materials. You should also specify if the app is available in multiple languages.
Ensure to Fulfill all Legal Requirements
Apple’s operating system is very strict when it comes to user data protection. Additionally, you should read the Apple Developer Program License Agreement to learn more about the rules regarding the protection, usage, and storage of health research data.
Read Apple Official Guidelines
An iOS application has specific requirements to maintain its quality before submission; otherwise, it may be rejected. Therefore, make sure to include detailed information about the application on the Product Page. Make sure to read the latest guidelines provided by Apple to save yourself from rejections. However, it is necessary to read the latest guidelines as they keep on updating.
Step-by-Step Process to Successfully Submit Your iOS App to the App Store
Brand marketing necessarily requires you to apply to the App Store. You must be thinking about how to do it. Here’s the complete process for submitting iOS applications to the App Store.
Enroll in the Apple Developer Program
Once you are done with submitting an app to the App Store, you must enroll in the Apple Developer Program. It is mandatory to be a member of this program to get access to advanced features like in-app purchases, beta testing, and push notifications.
Annual subscription of the program will be required to keep it current. Additionally, this program provides the necessary resources to distribute your app globally on the App Store.
To enroll in the program, you need basic company details and an Apple ID. Once you complete the enrollment process, you’ll gain access to Apple Analytics and development tools.
Prepare App Store Assets
It is important to gather various information and data before starting the app submission process, as it will save you from last-minute hassle.
- The logo of the company should be simple, attractive, and represent your brand clearly.
- Create or capture high-quality screenshots of the app that showcase the UI and highlight key features.
- Come up with a simple, engaging app name, and subtitle, and select appropriate app categories to help rank your app at the top of search engines.
- Ensure that you craft an engaging app description that highlights the uniqueness of your app.
- Create an appealing video to showcase the app’s functionalities.
- Finally, gather all required URLs, such as marketing and privacy policy URLs.
Configure the App in the App Store Connect
By now, you should have prepared a list of app assets. Now, create a new app listing where you will be asked to fill in basic information such as the bundle identifier, app name, and app version.
Set Up App Metadata
This step requires you to enter the app’s metadata, including information such as promotional videos, app ratings, and promotional content.
App ratings are important because they indicate whether an app is appropriate for all audiences or for a particular age group. Verify all metadata you submit to avoid rejection. Moreover, well-defined metadata can increase the number of downloads.
Upload Your App Using XCode
Now, it’s time to submit your app to the App Store using Xcode. With Xcode 14, you can effortlessly upload your app to the App Store. Follow these steps to upload using Xcode.
- First, add your developer account to Xcode. Then go to Preferences and click on Accounts.
- Now, select the “Signing & Capabilities” option and check “Automatically manage signing.”
- From the left menu bar, select “Product” and choose “Archive.”
- Click on the “Distribute App” button once you have completed the process.
- Lastly, select the distribution method and choose “Upload.”
App Review and Testing
Once you have successfully submitted an app, a team at Apple will thoroughly review and approve your app if everything is found to be correct.
Their team checks the functionality, performance, security, design, consistency, and whether the guidelines provided by the App Store are followed. This process sometimes takes days and even months; it completely depends on the complexity of the app.
The major factor that Apple considers is that an app must meet its high-quality standards and provide a good user experience. It is important to remain patient during the review process, as rushing may lead to issues.
Resolve any Issues
Once you get approval from Apple, you can decide whether you want to go with a manual release, scheduled release, or automatic release.
If you want to launch your app under your control, you can choose manual release. If you want it to be released automatically once approved, select the automatic release option. You can even schedule the time at which you want your app to go live with the scheduled release.
These options allow you to plan your app launch time according to your business goals.
App Approval and Release
Your app can even be rejected if any issues are encountered during the review process. An issue can be related to design, App Store guidelines, development, performance, security, or any other concerns.
Now, you will need to resubmit the app for review by addressing the changes mentioned in the feedback and also ensuring to make specific changes in Xcode. Make the changes with complete dedication to avoid rejections.
Final Words
One of the important steps after development is applying to the App Store. However, if you are going through this process for the first time, there is a high chance that you might make some mistakes, as it takes a lot of preparation to submit an app to the App Store.
With the successful submission of your application, you will be able to reach your prospects globally and offer unique solutions to their problems. Moreover, keep updating your application to ensure the best user experience.
The best way to minimize the risk of making mistakes is to hire a leading mobile app development company to develop and launch your application on the App Store.