How to Submit an iPhone App to the App Store (Step by Step)
A clear, step-by-step guide to publishing your iOS app: create an Apple Developer account, generate your certificates, bundle ID and provisioning profile, build your App Store Connect listing, upload your build with Transporter, and submit for review.
You have built your iOS app, and now comes the part that trips up most first-time publishers: getting it live on Apple’s App Store. The process has a fixed set of moving parts, an Apple Developer account, a distribution certificate, a bundle ID, a provisioning profile, an App Store Connect listing, and a final upload and review. This guide walks through all of them in order, so the iPhone app you build with no code reaches the store cleanly the first time.
What This Guide Covers
- Create an Apple Developer account
- Generate your distribution certificate
- Create a bundle ID & provisioning profile
- Build your App Store Connect listing
- Upload your build with Transporter
- Submit your app for review
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Build an iPhone App FreeTL;DR Quick Summary
To submit an iPhone app to the App Store: (1) create an Apple Developer account and enrol in the Apple Developer Program ($99/year), (2) download your .CSR file and create a distribution certificate, (3) create a bundle ID, (4) configure push notifications (APNs), (5) create a distribution provisioning profile, (6) build your app listing in App Store Connect with screenshots and details, (7) upload your build with Transporter, and (8) submit for review. Apple’s review is usually quick, often one to two days.
Build an iPhone App Free →Table of Contents
Jump to any section: creating your Apple Developer account, setting up certificates and identifiers, building your App Store Connect listing and submitting for review, what happens after you submit, and an FAQ.
How to Create an Apple Developer Account
Before you can submit anything, you need an Apple Developer account. The process can be unfamiliar the first time, so here is the short version (for the full walkthrough, see how to create a free Apple Developer account). Apple periodically refreshes this flow, so screen names may shift slightly.
Create your unique Apple ID
- Go to the Apple Developer portal at developer.apple.com and open the Account area.
- If you do not already have an Apple ID, choose to create one and enter the required details.
- Click the verification link Apple emails you to confirm your address.
Enrol in the Apple Developer Program
- Sign in, review and accept the Apple Developer Agreement, then choose Join the Apple Developer Program and Enroll.
- Select your entity type (individual, company/organization, or government) and enter your contact details.
- Accept the Program License Agreement and complete the purchase, the membership is a paid annual fee shown at checkout.
Set Up Your Certificates & Identifiers
Once you are enrolled, set up the signing pieces Apple needs to trust your build. You will create these in Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles on the Apple Developer site.
Download your .CSR file
- From your Appy Pie AI account, download the Certificate Signing Request (.CSR) file.
- You will use it in the certificate steps below, and come back later to download your finished .ipa build.
Create a distribution certificate
- In Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles, click + next to Certificates.
- Choose the distribution certificate for App Store and Ad Hoc (labelled Apple Distribution or iOS Distribution, either works).
- Upload your .CSR file, continue, then download the certificate.
Create a bundle ID
- Open the Identifiers tab and click + next to Identifiers.
- Choose App IDs, fill in a description and the Bundle ID, continue, then register the identifier.
Configure push notifications (APNs)
- In Identifiers, select the App ID you plan to submit and configure Push Notifications.
- Create the SSL certificate, upload your .CSR file, continue, then download the certificate.
Create your distribution provisioning profile
- Open the Profiles tab, choose Distribution, then click + and select App Store.
- Pick the App ID and the distribution certificate you created, name the profile, generate and download it.
Create Your Listing & Submit in App Store Connect
With your signing set up, build your store listing, upload your binary, and submit. This all happens in App Store Connect plus Apple’s free Transporter app.
Create your app listing in App Store Connect
- At appstoreconnect.apple.com, open My Apps, click + and choose New App.
- Pick the platform (iOS), then enter the app name, primary language, your Bundle ID and an SKU.
- Set the category, pricing and availability, upload screenshots, and fill in the icon, age rating, copyright and App Review contact.
Upload your app build with Transporter
- On your Mac, open Transporter (Apple’s free uploader that replaced Application Loader; get it from the Mac App Store).
- Click + to add your build, choose it, and continue, Transporter validates and uploads it.
- When you see the delivered confirmation, click Done. (You can also upload from Xcode’s Organizer instead.)
Submit your app for review
- In App Store Connect, open your app’s version and add the build with the + or Select a build control.
- Choose the most recent build, confirm and save your changes.
- Click Add for Review / Submit for Review and answer the Advertising Identifier (IDFA) question, Yes if your app shows ads, otherwise No.
After You Submit Your App
That is the end of the submission process. If everything was done right, your app’s status changes to Waiting for Review. From there Apple’s review is usually quick, often within a day or two, though timing can fluctuate. If your app is rejected, Apple tells you why, fix the issue and resubmit the same way.
Watch your status
App Store Connect moves your app through Waiting for Review, In Review and Ready for Sale, you will be emailed at each stage.
Improve approval odds
Most rejections come from broken links, missing info or guideline issues, double-check yours before submitting. See our complete app creation and publishing guide.
Optimise your listing
Strong screenshots, keywords and a clear description drive installs after approval, this is App Store Optimization (ASO).
Build Your iPhone App, Then Submit It with Confidence
Create a native iOS app with no code, get your build files ready for upload, and follow this guide to publish it to the App Store.
Build an iPhone App Read: Create a Free Apple Developer AccountFrequently Asked Questions
How do I submit an iPhone app to the App Store?
Create an Apple Developer account and enrol in the Apple Developer Program, then create a distribution certificate, a bundle ID and a provisioning profile, build your listing in App Store Connect, upload your build with Apple’s Transporter app, and submit for review. Apple’s review is usually one to two days.
Do I need an Apple Developer account to publish an app?
Yes. You must enrol in the Apple Developer Program to submit an app to the App Store. It is a paid annual membership; the current fee is shown on Apple’s checkout screen ($99/year for most accounts).
How much does it cost to publish an app on the App Store?
The main cost is the Apple Developer Program membership, an annual fee (currently $99/year for individuals and organizations). There is no separate per-app submission fee; you can publish multiple apps under one membership.
What is a distribution certificate and a provisioning profile?
A distribution certificate proves your identity so Apple trusts your build, and a provisioning profile ties your certificate, your app’s bundle ID and the App Store distribution method together. You create both in Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles on the Apple Developer site before uploading.
How do I upload my app build to App Store Connect?
Use Apple’s free Transporter app on a Mac (it replaced Application Loader). Add your build, let Transporter validate and upload it, and wait for the delivered confirmation. You can also upload directly from Xcode’s Organizer window.
How long does App Store review take?
Once your status shows Waiting for Review, Apple’s review is usually quick, often within a day or two, though it can be faster or slower during busy periods. Submit a few days before any planned launch date to be safe.
Can I submit an app to the App Store without coding?
Yes. With a no-code builder like Appy Pie AI iPhone app builder you build the app visually and it generates your iOS build files. You still need an Apple Developer account and follow the same certificate, listing and submission steps in this guide.
Why was my app rejected from the App Store?
Common reasons include broken links, missing demo/login details, incomplete metadata, crashes, or guideline violations. Apple sends the specific reason in Resolution Center, fix it and resubmit. Our complete app creation and publishing guide covers how to avoid them.
From Build to Live on the App Store
Submitting an app feels daunting the first time, but it is just a fixed checklist: account, certificates, profile, listing, upload, submit. Work through it in order and your app reaches Waiting for Review cleanly. Still building? Appy Pie AI no-code iPhone app builder gets you a submission-ready iOS build without writing code.
Start Building Free →Build an iPhone App and Publish It to the App Store
No code, no Xcode wrangling. Build a native iOS app with Appy Pie AI, get your build files, and submit to the App Store with the steps in this guide.
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