App Store Submission Checklist for First-Time Developers

Mar 18, 2026

Submitting your first iOS app to the App Store feels like preparing for a bureaucratic exam. I spent hours gathering materials, only to realize I was missing critical items. Here’s the complete checklist I wish I had before starting.

The Submission Reality

When I submitted my first app, I expected technical challenges. Instead, I hit a wall of paperwork: screenshots in exact dimensions, privacy policies, age ratings, and metadata requirements I hadn’t prepared for.

The App Store submission process is 80% preparation, 20% execution. Apple rejects about 40% of first submissions - not because the apps don’t work, but because developers skip required items or provide incomplete information.

This checklist covers everything you need to get approved on your first attempt.

Pre-Submission Checklist

Before you even log into App Store Connect, gather these items:

1. Screenshots (Required)

You must provide screenshots for every device family you support. Apple is strict about dimensions - even one pixel off causes rejection.

Required Dimensions:

Device	Resolution (px)	Notes
iPhone 6.7”	1290 x 2796	iPhone 14 Pro Max and later
iPhone 6.5”	1242 x 2688	iPhone 11 Pro Max, XS Max
iPhone 5.5”	1242 x 2208	iPhone 8 Plus, 7 Plus, 6s Plus
iPad Pro 12.9”	2048 x 2732	3rd gen and later
iPad Pro 11”	1668 x 2388	All generations

Screenshot Tips:

You need at least 1 screenshot per device family
Maximum 10 screenshots per device
Use PNG or JPEG format
Portrait orientation required for iPhone
Show actual app screens, not mockups
Include your best screens first - they appear in search results

2. App Metadata

Prepare these text assets before starting:

App Name (30 characters max):

Must match your app’s display name
Avoid trademarked terms
No price information or “free”

Subtitle (30 characters max):

Briefly explain what your app does
Don’t repeat the app name

Keywords (100 characters max):

Comma-separated, no spaces after commas
Don’t repeat words from title/subtitle
Think about what users search for

App Description (4000 characters max):

First sentence is crucial - it appears in search
Include key features and use cases
Mention any subscription requirements upfront

3. Age Rating Questionnaire

Apple requires a content rating assessment. Answer honestly:

Content Categories to Assess:
- Violence (Realistic, Fantasy, Cartoon)
- Sexual Content (Nudity, Sexual Situations)
- Profanity
- Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco
- Gambling
- User-Generated Content

Most utility apps receive a 4+ rating. Apps with social features often get 12+ or 17+.

4. Privacy Policy (Mandatory)

Every app must have a privacy policy URL. This isn’t optional.

Your privacy policy must cover:

What data you collect
How you use the data
Whether you share data with third parties
How users can request data deletion
Contact information for privacy questions

Where to host it:

Your own website
GitHub Pages (free)
Dedicated privacy policy services

5. Privacy Nutrition Labels

Apple requires you to disclose all data collection in App Store Connect. This appears as “App Privacy” on your product page.

Data Types to Declare:

Category	Examples
Contact Info	Email, name, phone number
Health & Fitness	Health data, fitness records
Financial Info	Payment info, credit history
Location	Precise location, coarse location
Sensitive Info	Race, religion, sexual orientation
Contacts	User’s contacts list
User Content	Emails, photos, videos
Browsing History	Websites visited
Search History	Search queries
Identifiers	Device ID, advertising ID
Purchases	Purchase history
Usage Data	Crash data, diagnostics
Diagnostics	Crash logs, performance data

For each data type, indicate:

Whether it’s collected
Whether it’s linked to the user
Whether it’s used for tracking

6. App Review Notes

This is your chance to communicate with reviewers. If your app requires login, provide demo credentials.

Include in review notes:

Demo Account:
- Email: [email protected]
- Password: Demo123!

Special Instructions:
- The app requires location permission for [specific feature]
- To test in-app purchase, use Sandbox testing
- Any features that might seem confusing

What to include:

Demo account credentials (if login required)
Explanation of any unusual features
Instructions for accessing hidden features
Video link demonstrating complex flows

7. Technical Requirements

Certificates & Profiles:

Required:
[ ] Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year)
[ ] Distribution certificate in Keychain
[ ] App Store provisioning profile
[ ] Correct bundle ID matching App Store Connect

Build Requirements:

Built with Xcode (latest version recommended)
Valid provisioning profile
Correct version number and build number
Archive exported for App Store distribution

Common Rejection Reasons

Avoid these mistakes that cause first-submission rejections:

Reason	How to Prevent
Missing Privacy Policy	Create and host before submitting
Incomplete Privacy Labels	Review all data collection thoroughly
Crashes on Launch	Test on real devices, check crash logs
Broken Links	Verify all URLs work
Login Required, No Demo	Always provide test credentials
Screenshots Don’t Match App	Update screenshots after any UI changes
Misleading Description	Be accurate about app capabilities

Most Common First-Time Mistakes:

Forgetting test credentials - If your app has login, reviewers can’t test without them
Outdated screenshots - Screenshots must match the submitted build exactly
Vague privacy labels - Apple will reject if your labels seem incomplete
Broken support URL - Verify every link you provide

Submission Timeline

Set realistic expectations for the process:

Phase	Duration	Notes
Preparation	1-2 days	Gather all materials
Privacy policy creation	2-4 hours	Write and host
App Store Connect setup	2-4 hours	Fill in all metadata
Build upload	30-60 minutes	Via Xcode or Transporter
First submission	1-2 hours	Including all uploads
Apple review	24-48 hours	Typically, can be longer
Rejection fix and resubmit	+24-48 hours	Per rejection cycle

Total expected time: 4-7 days for first approval (assuming no rejections).

Step-by-Step Submission Process

Step 1: Create App Record

Log into App Store Connect
Click “My Apps” > ”+” > “New App”
Fill in:
- Platform (iOS)
- App name (must be unique)
- Primary language
- Bundle ID (from Xcode)
- SKU (internal identifier)

Step 2: Fill App Information

Navigate through each section:

[ ] App Information
    - Category (primary and secondary)
    - Content rights declaration
    - Age rating questionnaire

[ ] Pricing and Availability
    - Price tier
    - Available regions

[ ] App Privacy
    - Data types collected
    - Tracking disclosures
    - Privacy policy URL

Step 3: Upload Build

Archive in Xcode (Product > Archive)
Distribute App > App Store Connect
Upload and wait for processing (15-30 minutes)
Select build in App Store Connect

Step 4: Submit for Review

Complete all required fields
Answer export compliance questions
Click “Submit for Review”
Confirm submission

Step 5: Monitor Status

Possible Statuses:
- Waiting for Review (queued)
- In Review (being examined)
- Pending Developer Release (approved, waiting for you)
- Pending Apple Release (approved, waiting for date)
- Ready for Sale (live!)
- Rejected (fix and resubmit)

Quick Reference: Final Pre-Submit Checklist

Before hitting submit, verify:

App Store Connect:
[ ] App name entered and unique
[ ] All screenshots uploaded (correct dimensions)
[ ] App description written
[ ] Keywords added (100 chars max)
[ ] Support URL working
[ ] Privacy policy URL working
[ ] Age rating questionnaire completed
[ ] Privacy labels declared
[ ] App review notes with demo credentials
[ ] Build uploaded and selected

Technical:
[ ] Bundle ID matches App Store Connect
[ ] Version number correct
[ ] Build archived from Release configuration
[ ] Provisioning profile valid
[ ] App doesn't crash on launch
[ ] All advertised features work

After Submission

If approved: Your app goes live within hours (or on your chosen release date).

If rejected: Don’t panic. Read the resolution center message carefully. Common fixes take 1-2 hours.

Resubmission tips:

Address every point in the rejection message
Add a note explaining what you fixed
Respond in the resolution center, not by email

Resources

App Store Review Guidelines - Read these before building
App Store Connect Help - Official documentation
App Privacy Details - Privacy label requirements
Human Interface Guidelines - Design standards

Final Words + More Resources

My intention with this article was to help others share my knowledge and experience. If you want to contact me, you can contact by email: Email me

Here are also the most important links from this article along with some further resources that will help you in this scope:

Oh, and if you found these resources useful, don’t forget to support me by starring the repo on GitHub!