App Store submission

Your build is on TestFlight, your screenshots are uploaded, and your privacy questionnaire is done. Time to submit.

#Before you start

Make sure you've completed each of these:

#Fill out the App Store listing

Go to appstoreconnect.apple.com, open your app, and click the version under iOS App in the left sidebar.

#App name and subtitle

Your app name can be up to 30 characters. The subtitle is another 30 characters and appears below the name in search results. Use both to communicate what your app does. Include relevant keywords where they fit naturally.

#Description

You have 4,000 characters, but the first two or three lines matter most. That's what users see before tapping "more." Lead with what the app does and why someone would use it.

Don't mention Ruby Native, Rails, or implementation details in your description. Users care about what the app does for them, not how it's built.

#Keywords

You get 100 characters of comma-separated keywords. These are hidden from users but used by App Store search.

  • Don't repeat words from your app name. Apple already indexes those.
  • Use singular forms ("recipe" not "recipes").
  • Don't add spaces after commas. Every character counts.
  • Think about what your users would search for, not technical terms.
  • Multi-word phrases match in any combination, so "ruby,on,rails" covers "ruby on rails", "rails", and "ruby".

#Screenshots

One is required, up to 10 are allowed, and five or so is the sweet spot. A single set at the 6.9 inch iPhone size covers every device; iPad screenshots are only needed if your app runs on iPad. Consider mocking them up in a design tool so you can use interesting sample data. The drift between the mockup and the real app is worth the pain for assets this visible. The screenshot tool captures real screens against your production site as a starting point.

#Promotional text

170 characters that appear above your description. This is the one field you can update without submitting a new version for review. Use it for announcements, seasonal messaging, or highlighting new features.

#Category

Pick the category that best describes your app. Common choices for Ruby Native apps:

  • Business - internal tools, B2B apps
  • Productivity - task management, workflow apps
  • Lifestyle - community, events, memberships
  • Education - courses, learning platforms
  • Social Networking - forums, groups, networking
  • Utilities - practical tools

You can pick a primary and secondary category.

#Age rating

Apple asks a series of questions about your app's content to determine its age rating. The brackets are 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, and 18+, and the questions cover in-app controls and capabilities alongside content. Answer honestly based on what your app contains. Most standard web apps end up rated 4+.

One question to watch: "unrestricted web access" forces a minimum 16+ rating. That means embedded general-purpose browsing, like a built-in browser. An app that renders your own product in web views does not qualify, so answer no unless users can genuinely browse the open web inside your app.

#Select your build

Scroll to the Build section and click the + button. You'll see a list of builds uploaded to TestFlight. Select the one you want to submit.

If you don't see your build, make sure it has finished processing in TestFlight. New builds take a few minutes to become available.

#Submit for review

  1. Click Add for Review in the upper right.
  2. Review the summary of everything you're submitting.
  3. Click Submit to App Review.

Demo account: if your app requires a login, Apple needs a demo account to test with. Add the credentials in the App Review Information section before submitting. This account should have access to the app's core features.

#What to expect

Most apps are reviewed within 24 hours. You can check the status in App Store Connect or wait for an email.

If Apple has questions or rejects your app, you'll find the details in the Resolution Center inside App Store Connect. Common rejection reasons and how to handle them are covered in the App Store review guide.

#After approval

Once approved, you choose when to release:

  • Manually release - you click a button when you're ready
  • Automatically after approval - goes live as soon as Apple approves
  • On a specific date - schedule a launch date

Your app will be available on the App Store within a few hours of release. The direct link to your listing follows this format:

https://apps.apple.com/app/id{your_apple_id}

You can find your Apple ID in App Store Connect under App Information.

Need help with your submission?

Turnkey includes hands-on help with your listing, rejections, and going live.

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