How to prepare your App for distribution on the App Store

My first app is now live on the App Store. Download MyChronoPro, now available on the App Store at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mychronopro/id6746975883

Before this, I spent a significant amount of time learning how to upload my app to App Store Connect.If it's your first time uploading to App Store Connect, here are some important things to consider. When your app is ready for distribution, pay attention to the following steps.

To upload your app to App Store Connect, navigate to the Product menu and click on Archive. This will open the Archive Window. Then, click on Distribute App.

Xcode Archive Window

Select the Archive name and then choose Distribute App. In the following dialog, click on App Store Connect if you're prepared for distribution and wish to proceed to the review process. Alternatively, select TestFlight Internal Only to send it for testing with your internal team, or choose Release Testing if you plan to have external parties test your app.

Once you click on Distribute, the build will begin to prepare and send. Afterward, a confirmation screen will appear, indicating that you have successfully completed the distribution process.

Make sure to also update your Target Name

Your app must have a distinct Display Name and Target Name. A frequent issue during the upload process is that the Bundle Name and Bundle Display Name are already in use by someone else. The error message in the automated response email states:

"Please correct the following issues and upload a new binary to App Store Connect.

ITMS-90129: The bundle uses a bundle name or display name that is already taken."

I only changed the Display Name without altering the Target Name, and I continued to receive the same email.

Ensure you also modify the Target Name in your app's project settings by clicking on the Target, then clicking again to enter rename mode.

After your app is successfully distributed to App Store Connect, log in and select your app name under the Apps section. You will receive a confirmation email indicating that the build has completed processing, along with the name, build number, and version number. It will also state that you can now use this build for TestFlight testing or submit it for distribution.

Click on App Information in the sidebar and fill in the Name and Subtitle fields. Ensure that you complete all the other required fields below.

In the Distribution section, you can submit your App Previews and Screenshots by dragging your screen recordings and screenshots into the window under Previews and Screenshots.

For screenshots (JPEG or PNG), make sure their dimensions are for 6.9" display are:

2796 x 1290 pixels

2868 x 1320 pixels

(19.5:9 aspect ratio)

For app previews, the accept resolution for 6.9" display is:

886 x 1920 pixels (portrait)

1920 x 886 pixels (landscape)

Upload in .mov, .mp4, or .m4v formats in H.264 encoding. Frame rate up to 30 fps.

Ensure that the screenshots have a clean top status bar, such as showing the time as 9:41 and a 100% battery level. Avoid displaying your wireless carrier or the red screen recording bar, as this will lead to rejection. Use your photo editing app to adjust the pixel sizes if necessary.For screen recording, the simplest method is to connect your device to your Mac, open QuickTime Player, and choose New Movie Recording. This will show a clean status bar with the time at 9:41, full wireless signal strength, and a full battery bar.

When the recording window opens, click the dropdown arrow next to the Record button and select your device's name under Screen. Enter your app, and you're ready to record.

It's advisable to showcase only your best features, then use an app to edit the clips. The simplest option is to use Meta's latest Edit app. After editing, export it as HD, which will likely be 1080 x 1920.

This is obviously a problem now! Download the open source Handbrake from https://handbrake.fr

Save the app to Applications, then open the app. Click on Dimensions, and set the resolution to 886 x 1920 for portrait (or flipped for landscape). Select a location to save to, then click the Queue button to begin the conversion process.

When the output file is ready, you can drop it into the Preview and Screenshots window. For more on the specifications, look up App Preview Specifications at: https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-preview-specifications/