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More options for apps distributed in the European Union

We’re providing more flexibility for developers who distribute apps in the European Union (EU), including introducing a new way to distribute apps directly from a developer’s website.

More flexibility

Developers who’ve agreed to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU have new options for their apps in the EU:

  • Alternative app marketplaces. Marketplaces can choose to offer a catalog of apps solely from the developer of the marketplace.
  • Linking out to purchase. When directing users to complete a transaction for digital goods or services on an external webpage, developers can choose how to design promotions, discounts, and other deals. The Apple-provided design templates, which are optimized for key purchase and promotional use cases, are now optional.

Distributing directly from your website

Web Distribution, available with a software update later this spring, will let authorized developers distribute their iOS apps to EU users directly from a website owned by the developer. Apple will provide authorized developers access to APIs that facilitate the distribution of their apps from the web, integrate with system functionality, back up and restore users’ apps, and more. For details, visit Getting ready for Web Distribution in the EU.

New App Store, iOS, and CloudKit data analytics now available

New App Store, iOS, and CloudKit data analytics now available

We’re expanding the analytics available for your apps to help you get even more insight into your business and apps’ performance.

Over 50 new reports are now available through the App Store Connect API to help you analyze your apps’ App Store and iOS performance. These reports include hundreds of new metrics that can enable you to evaluate your performance and find opportunities for improvement. Reports are organized into the following categories:

  • App Store Engagement — the number of users on the App Store interacting with a developer’s app or sharing it with others
  • App Store Commerce — downloads, sales, pre-orders, and transactions made with the secure App Store In-App Purchase system
  • App Usage — active devices, installs, app deletions, and more
  • Frameworks Usage — an app’s interaction with OS capabilities, such as PhotoPicker and Widgets
  • Performance — how your apps perform and how users interact with specific features

Additionally, new reports are also available through the CloudKit console with data about Apple Push Notifications and File Provider.

  • Apple Push Notifications — notification states as they pass through the Apple Push Notification service (APNs)
  • File Provider — usage, consistency, and error data

Updates to app distribution in the European Union

Over the past several weeks, we’ve communicated with thousands of developers to discuss DMA-related changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting apps in the European Union. As a result of the valuable feedback received, we’ve revised the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU to update the following policies and provide developers more flexibility:

  • Decisioning by membership: To make it easier for more developers to sign up for the new terms, we’ve removed the corporate entity requirement that the Addendum must be signed by each membership that controls, is controlled by, or is under control with another membership. This means an entity can now choose to sign up for the new terms at the developer account level.
  • Switching back: To help reduce the risk of unexpected business changes under the new terms, such as reaching massive scale more quickly than anticipated, or if you simply change your mind, we’ve created a one-time option to terminate the Addendum under certain circumstances and switch back to Apple’s standard business terms for your EU apps. For details, view the Addendum.
  • Alternative app marketplace requirements: To make it easier for developers who want to create alternative app marketplaces, we’ve added a new eligibility criteria that lets developers qualify without a stand-by letter of credit. For details, view the marketplace support page.

If you’ve already entered into the Addendum, you can sign the updated version here.

The latest OS Release Candidates are now available

The latest OS Release Candidates are now available

You can now submit your apps and games built with Xcode 15.3 and all the latest SDKs for iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, tvOS 17.4, visionOS 1.1, and watchOS 10.4.

Developers who have agreed to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU can now submit apps offering alternative payment options in the EU. They can also now measure the number of first annual installs their apps have accumulated.

If you’d like to discuss changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting apps in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act, request a 30-minute online consultation with an Apple team member.

Updated App Review Guidelines now available

The App Store Review Guidelines have been revised to support updated policies, upcoming features, and to provide clarification.

  • The title of the document has been changed to App Review Guidelines.
  • The Introduction section explains that in the European Union, developers can also distribute notarized iOS apps from alternative app marketplaces. This section provides links to further information about alternative app marketplaces and Notarization for iOS apps.

The following guidelines have been updated:

  • 2.3.1: Added that a violation of this rule is grounds for an app being blocked from installing via alternative distribution.
  • 2.3.10: Added that developers cannot include names, icons, or imagery of other mobile platforms or alternative app marketplaces in their apps or metadata, unless there is specific, approved interactive functionality.
  • 3.1.3(b): Added a link to 3.1.1 to make clear that 3.1.1(a) applies, and multiplatform services apps can use the 3.1.1(a) entitlement.
  • 4.8 Login Services: Updated to make clear that the login service cannot collect interactions with your app for advertising purposes without consent. It also adds that another login service is not required if your app is an alternative app marketplace, or an app distributed from an alternative app marketplace, that uses a marketplace-specific login for account, download, and commerce features.
  • 5.1.1(viii): Added that apps that compile personal information from any source that is not directly from the user or without the user’s explicit consent, even public databases, are not permitted on alternative app marketplaces.
  • 5.4 and 5.5: Updated to state that apps that do not comply with these guidelines will be blocked from installing via alternative distribution.
  • Bug Fix Submissions: Added that bug fixes will not be delayed for apps that are already on alternative app marketplaces, except for those related to legal or safety issues.

View the App Review Guidelines

Translations of the guidelines will be available on the Apple Developer website within one month.

Privacy updates for App Store submissions

Privacy updates for App Store submissions

Developers are responsible for all code included in their apps. At WWDC23, we introduced new privacy manifests and signatures for commonly used third-party SDKs and announced that developers will need to declare approved reasons for using a set of APIs in their app’s privacy manifest. These changes help developers better understand how third-party SDKs use data, secure software dependencies, and provide additional privacy protection for users.

Starting March 13: If you upload a new or updated app to App Store Connect that uses an API requiring approved reasons, we’ll send you an email letting you know if you’re missing reasons in your app’s privacy manifest. This is in addition to the existing notification in App Store Connect.

Starting May 1: You’ll need to include approved reasons for the listed APIs used by your app’s code to upload a new or updated app to App Store Connect. If you’re not using an API for an allowed reason, please find an alternative. And if you add a new third-party SDK that’s on the list of commonly used third-party SDKs, these API, privacy manifest, and signature requirements will apply to that SDK. Make sure to use a version of the SDK that includes its privacy manifest and note that signatures are also required when the SDK is added as a binary dependency.

This functionality is a step forward for all apps and we encourage all SDKs to adopt it to better support the apps that depend on them.

App submissions now open for the latest OS releases

App submissions now open for the latest OS releases

Submit in App Store Connect

iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, tvOS 17.4, visionOS 1.1, and watchOS 10.4 will soon be available to customers worldwide. Build your apps and games using the Xcode 15.3 Release Candidate and latest SDKs, then test them using TestFlight. You can submit your iPhone and iPad apps today.

Apps in the European Union

Developers who’ve agreed to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU can set up marketplace distribution in the EU. Eligible developers can also submit marketplace apps and offer apps with alternative browser engines.

Once these platform versions are publicly available:

  • First annual installs for the Core Technology Fee begin accruing and the new commission rates take effect for these developers.
  • Apps offering alternative payment options in the EU will be accepted in App Store Connect. In the meantime, you can test in the sandbox environment.

If you’d like to discuss changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting apps in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act, request a 30-minute online consultation to meet with an Apple team member. In addition, if you’re interested in getting started with operating an alternative app marketplace on iOS in the EU, you can request to attend an in-person lab in Cork, Ireland.

Sign in to App Store Connect

Developer activities you’ll love

A smiling developer wearing a blue denim shirt sits in front of an open laptop at a table in a bright room.

Apple developer activities are in full swing. Here’s a look at what’s happening:

And we’ll have lots more activities in store — online, in person, and in multiple languages — all year long.

Browse the schedule

Updates to support app distribution changes in the European Union

We recently announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting developers’ apps in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), supported by more than 600 new APIs, a wide range of developer tools, and related documentation.

And we’re continuing to provide new ways for developers to understand and utilize these changes, including:

  • Online consultations to discuss alternative distribution on iOS, alternative payments on the App Store, linking out to purchase on their webpage, new business terms, and more.
  • Labs to help develop alternative app marketplaces on iOS.

Developers who have agreed to the new business terms can now use new features in App Store Connect and the App Store Connect API to set up marketplace distribution and marketplace apps, and use TestFlight to beta test these features. TestFlight also supports apps using alternative browser engines, and alternative payments through payment service providers and linking out to a webpage.

And soon, you’ll be able to view expanded app analytics reports for the App Store and iOS.

Apply for the Swift Student Challenge now through February 25

Swift bird logo on a colorful background with decorative code.

Every year, the Swift Student Challenge aims to inspire students to create amazing app playgrounds that can make life better for their communities — and beyond.

Have an app idea that’s close to your heart? Now’s your chance to make it happen. Build an app playground and submit by February 25.

All winners receive a year of complimentary membership in the Apple Developer Program and other exclusive awards. And for the first time ever, we’ll award a select group of Distinguished Winners a trip to Apple Park for an incredible in-person experience.

Apply now

Request a consultation about the changes to apps distributed in the European Union

The iOS, Safari, and App Store icons against a light gray background.

Meet with an Apple team member to discuss changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting apps in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Topics include alternative distribution on iOS, alternative payments in the App Store, linking out to purchase on your webpage, new business terms, and more.

Request a 30-minute online consultation to ask questions and provide feedback about these changes.

In addition, if you’re interested in getting started with operating an alternative app marketplace on iOS in the European Union, you can request to attend an in-person lab in Cork, Ireland.

Apple introduces new options worldwide for streaming game services and apps that provide access to mini apps and games

Apple introduces new options worldwide for streaming game services and apps that provide access to mini apps and games

New analytics reports coming in March for developers everywhere

Developers can also enable new sign-in options for their apps

Today, Apple is introducing new options for how apps globally can deliver in-app experiences to users, including streaming games and mini-programs. Developers can now submit a single app with the capability to stream all of the games offered in their catalog.

Apps will also be able to provide enhanced discovery opportunities for streaming games, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins that are found within their apps.

Additionally, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins will be able to incorporate Apple’s In-App Purchase system to offer their users paid digital content or services for the first time, such as a subscription for an individual chatbot.

Each experience made available in an app on the App Store will be required to adhere to all App Store Review Guidelines and its host app will need to maintain an age rating of the highest age-rated content included in the app.

The changes Apple is announcing reflect feedback from Apple’s developer community and is consistent with the App Store’s mission to provide a trusted place for users to find apps they love and developers everywhere with new capabilities to grow their businesses. Apps that host this content are responsible for ensuring all the software included in their app meets Apple’s high standards for user experience and safety.

New app analytics

Apple provides developers with powerful dashboards and reports to help them measure their apps’ performance through App Analytics, Sales and Trends, and Payments and Financial Reports. Today, Apple is introducing new analytics for developers everywhere to help them get even more insight into their businesses and their apps’ performance, while maintaining Apple’s long-held commitment to ensure users are not identifiable at an individual level.

Over 50 new reports will be available through the App Store Connect API to help developers analyze their app performance and find opportunities for improvement with more metrics in areas like:

Engagement — with additional information on the number of users on the App Store interacting with a developer’s app or sharing it with others;

Commerce — with additional information on downloads, sales and proceeds, pre-orders, and transactions made with the App Store’s secure In-App Purchase system;

App usage — with additional information on crashes, active devices, installs, app deletions, and more.

Frameworks usage — with additional information on an app’s interaction with OS functionality such as PhotoPicker, Widgets, and CarPlay.

Additional information about report details and access will be available for developers in March.

Developers will have the ability to grant third-party access to their reports conveniently through the API.

More flexibility for sign in options in apps

In line with Apple’s mission to protect user privacy, Apple is updating its App Store Review Guideline for using Sign in with Apple. Sign in with Apple makes it easy for users to sign in to apps and websites using their Apple ID and was built from the ground up with privacy and security in mind. Starting today, developers that offer third-party or social login services within their app will have the option to offer Sign in with Apple, or they will now be able to offer an equivalent privacy-focused login service instead.

Update on apps distributed in the European Union

We’re sharing some changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store, impacting developers’ apps in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These changes create new options for developers who distribute apps in any of the 27 EU member states, and do not apply to apps distributed anywhere else in the world. These options include how developers can distribute apps on iOS, process payments, use web browser engines in iOS apps, request interoperability with iPhone and iOS hardware and software features, access data and analytics about their apps, and transfer App Store user data.

If you want nothing to change for you — from how the App Store works currently in the EU and in the rest of the world — no action is needed. You can continue to distribute your apps only on the App Store and use its private and secure In-App Purchase system.

Learn about the updates

Updated App Store Review Guidelines now available

Updated App Store Review Guidelines now available

The App Store Review Guidelines have been revised to support updated policies, upcoming features, and to provide clarification. We’ve added notations to all guidelines to indicate which guidelines only apply to Notarization for iOS apps in EU, and which guidelines additionally apply to apps distributed on the App Store.

StoreKit and review guideline update

Starting today, because of a recent United States Court decision, App Store Review Guideline 3.1.1 has been updated to introduce the StoreKit Purchase Link Entitlement (US), which allows apps that offer in-app purchases in the iOS or iPadOS App Store on the United States storefront the ability to include a link to the developer’s website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services.

We believe Apple’s in-app purchase system is the most convenient, safe, and secure way for users to purchase digital goods and services. If you’re considering using this entitlement along with in‑app purchase, which continues to be required for the purchase of digital goods and services within your app — it’s important to understand that some App Store features, such as Ask to Buy or Family Sharing, won’t be available to your customers when they make purchases on your website. Apple also won’t be able to assist customers with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other issues encountered when purchasing digital goods and services. You will be responsible for addressing such issues with customers.

A commission will apply to digital purchases facilitated through the StoreKit Purchase Link Entitlement (US). For additional details on commissions, requesting the entitlement, usage guidelines, and implementation details, view our support page.

Submit your apps to the App Store for Apple Vision Pro

Submit your apps to the App Store for Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro will have a brand-new App Store, where people can discover and download incredible apps for visionOS. Whether you’ve created a new visionOS app or are making your existing iPad or iPhone app available on Apple Vision Pro, here’s everything you need to know to prepare and submit your app to the App Store.

Find out more

Updated Apple Developer Program License Agreement now available

The Apple Developer Program License Agreement has been revised to support updated policies and provide clarification. The revisions include:

  • Definitions, Section 3.3.3(N): Updated "Tap to Present ID" to "ID Verifier"

  • Definitions, Section 14.10: Updated terms regarding governing law and venue

  • Section 3.3: Reorganized and categorized provisions for clarity

  • Section 3.3.3(B): Clarified language on privacy and third-party SDKs

  • Section 6.7: Updated terms regarding analytics

  • Section 12: Clarified warranty disclaimer language

  • Attachment 1: Updated terms for use of Apple Push Notification Service and Local Notifications

  • Attachment 9: Updated terms for Xcode Cloud compute hours included with Apple Developer Program membership

View full terms and conditions

Announcing contingent pricing for subscriptions

Announcing contingent pricing for subscriptions

Contingent pricing for subscriptions on the App Store — a new feature that helps you attract and retain subscribers — lets you give customers a discounted subscription price as long as they’re actively subscribed to a different subscription. It can be used for subscriptions from one developer or two different developers. We’re currently piloting this feature and will be onboarding more developers in the coming months. If you’re interested in implementing contingent pricing in your app, you can start planning today and sign up to get notified when more details are available in January.

Learn about contingent pricing and sign up to get notified

25 hours of Xcode Cloud now included with the Apple Developer Program

25 hours of Xcode Cloud now included with the Apple Developer Program

Xcode Cloud, the continuous integration and delivery service built into Xcode, accelerates the development and delivery of high-quality apps. It brings together cloud-based tools that help you build apps, run automated tests in parallel, deliver apps to testers, and view and manage user feedback.

We’re pleased to announce that as of January 2024, all Apple Developer Program memberships will include 25 compute hours per month on Xcode Cloud as a standard, with no additional cost. If you’re already subscribed to Xcode Cloud for free, no additional action is required on your part. And if you haven’t tried Xcode Cloud yet, now is the perfect time to start building your app for free in just a few minutes.

Learn more about Xcode Cloud

Privacy updates for App Store submissions

Privacy updates for App Store submissions

Third-party SDK privacy manifest and signatures. Third-party software development kits (SDKs) can provide great functionality for apps; they can also have the potential to impact user privacy in ways that aren’t obvious to developers and users. As a reminder, when you use a third-party SDK with your app, you are responsible for all the code the SDK includes in your app, and need to be aware of its data collection and use practices.

At WWDC23, we introduced new privacy manifests and signatures for SDKs to help app developers better understand how third-party SDKs use data, secure software dependencies, and provide additional privacy protection for users. Starting in spring 2024, if your new app or app update submission adds a third-party SDK that is commonly used in apps on the App Store, you’ll need to include the privacy manifest for the SDK. Signatures are also required when the SDK is used as a binary dependency. This functionality is a step forward for all apps, and we encourage all SDKs to adopt it to better support the apps that depend on them.

Learn more and view list of commonly-used third-party SDKs

New use cases for APIs that require reasons. When you upload a new app or app update to App Store Connect that uses an API (including from third-party SDKs) that requires a reason, you’ll receive a notice if you haven’t provided an approved reason in your app’s privacy manifest. Based on the feedback we received from developers, the list of approved reasons has been expanded to include additional use cases. If you have a use case that directly benefits users that isn’t covered by an existing approved reason, submit a request for a new reason to be added.

Starting in spring 2024, in order to upload your new app or app update to App Store Connect, you’ll be required to include an approved reason in the app’s privacy manifest which accurately reflects how your app uses the API.

Learn more and view list of APIs and approved reasons

New design and technology consultations now available

A developer wearing a denim jacket sits in front of an open laptop at a table in a room with white walls. They smile at the person next to them, who is off camera. Other developers sit in the background.

Have questions on designing your app or implementing a technology? We’re here to help you find answers, no matter where you are in your development journey. One-on-one consultations with Apple experts in December — and newly published dates in January — are available now.

We’ll have lots more consultations and other activities in store for 2024 — online, in person, and in multiple languages.

Browse the schedule

Get your apps ready for the holidays

Get your apps ready for the holidays

The busiest season on the App Store is almost here! Make sure your apps and games are up to date and ready in advance of the upcoming holidays. We’ll remain open throughout the season and look forward to accepting your submissions. On average, 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours. However, reviews may take a bit longer to complete from December 22 to 27.

Learn about submitting apps

App Store Award finalists announced

App Store Awards 2023 Finalists

Every year, the App Store celebrates exceptional apps that improve people’s lives while showcasing the highest levels of technical innovation, user experience, design, and positive cultural impact. This year we’re proud to recognize nearly 40 outstanding finalists. Winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

Learn about the finalists

Announcing the Swift Student Challenge 2024

Swift bird logo on a colorful background with decorative code.

Apple is proud to support and uplift the next generation of student developers, creators, and entrepreneurs. The Swift Student Challenge has given thousands of students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and coding capabilities through app playgrounds, and build real-world skills that they can take into their careers and beyond. From connecting their peers to mental health resources to identifying ways to support sustainability efforts on campus, Swift Student Challenge participants use their creativity to develop apps that solve problems they’re passionate about.

We’re releasing new coding resources, working with community partners, and announcing the Challenge earlier than in previous years so students can dive deep into Swift and the development process — and educators can get a head start in supporting them.

Applications will open in February 2024 for three weeks.

New for 2024, out of 350 overall winners, we’ll recognize 50 Distinguished Winners for their outstanding submissions and invite them to join us at Apple in Cupertino for three incredible days next summer.

Learn more

Over 30 new developer activities now available

A developer wearing a denim jacket sits in front of an open laptop at a table in a room with white walls. They smile at the person next to them, who is off camera. Other developers sit in the background.

Ready to level up your app or game? Join us around the world for a new set of developer labs, consultations, sessions, and workshops, hosted in person and online throughout November and December.

You can explore:

Discover activities in multiple time zones and languages.

Browse the full schedule

Tax updates for apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions

Tax updates for apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions

The App Store’s commerce and payments system was built to enable you to conveniently set up and sell your products and services on a global scale in 44 currencies across 175 storefronts. Apple administers tax on behalf of developers in over 70 countries and regions and provides you with the ability to assign tax categories to your apps and in‑app purchases.

Periodically, we make updates to rates, categories, and agreements to accommodate new regulations and rate changes in certain regions. As of today, the following updates have been made in App Store Connect.

Tax rates

Your proceeds from the sale of eligible apps and in‑app purchases (including auto‑renewable subscriptions) have been increased to reflect the following reduced value-added tax (VAT) rates. Prices on the App Store haven’t changed.

  • Austria: Reduced VAT rates for certain apps in the Video tax category
  • Cyprus: Reduced VAT rate of 3% for certain apps in the following tax categories: Books, News Publications, Audiobooks, Magazines and other periodicals
  • Vietnam: Eliminated VAT for certain apps in the following tax categories: Books, News Publications, Magazines, and other periodicals

Tax categories

  • New Boosting category: Apps and/or in-app purchases that offer resources to provide exposure, visibility, or engagement to enhance the prominence and reach of specific content that’s experienced or consumed in app (such as videos, sales of “boosts” in social media apps, listings, and/or other forms of user-generated content).
  • New attribute for books: Textbook or other educational publication used for teaching and studying between ages 5 to 18
  • New attributes for videos: Exclusively features live TV broadcasting and/or linear programming. Public TV broadcasting, excluding shopping or infomercial channels.

If any of these categories or attributes are relevant to your apps or in-app purchases, you can review and update your selections in the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps.

Learn about setting tax categories

Paid Applications Agreement

  • Exhibit C Section 1.2.2: Updated language to clarify the goods and services tax (GST) requirements for developers on the Australia storefront.
Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, macOS 14.2, tvOS 17.2, and watchOS 10.2 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 15.1 beta.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other comments. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

TestFlight makes it even simpler to manage testers

TestFlight makes it even simpler to manage testers

TestFlight provides an easy way to get feedback on beta versions of your apps, so you can publish on the App Store with confidence. Now, improved controls in App Store Connect let you better evaluate tester engagement and manage participation to help you get the most out of beta testing. Sort testers by status and engagement metrics (like sessions, crashes, and feedback), and remove inactive testers who haven’t engaged. You can also filter by device and OS, and even select relevant testers to add to a new group.

Learn about managing testers

Learn about TestFlight

New delivery metrics now available in the Push Notifications Console

New delivery metrics now available in the Push Notifications Console

The Push Notifications Console now includes metrics for notifications sent in production through the Apple Push Notification service (APNs). With the console’s intuitive interface, you’ll get an aggregated view of delivery statuses and insights into various statistics for notifications, including a detailed breakdown based on push type and priority.

Introduced at WWDC23, the Push Notifications Console makes it easy to send test notifications to Apple devices through APNs.

Learn more

Apple Vision Pro developer labs expand to New York City and Sydney

Apple Vision Pro developer labs expand to New York City and Sydney

We’re thrilled with the excitement and enthusiasm from developers around the world at the Apple Vision Pro developer labs, and we’re pleased to announce new labs in New York City and Sydney. Join us to test directly on the device and connect with Apple experts for help with taking your visionOS, iPadOS, and iOS apps even further on this exciting new platform. Labs also take place in Cupertino, London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo.

Submit a lab request

Learn about other ways to work with Apple to prepare for visionOS.

Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of iOS 17.1, iPadOS 17.1, macOS 14.1, tvOS 17.1, and watchOS 10.1 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 15.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other feedback. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

Meet with Apple Experts

A smiling developer wearing AirPods and a white shirt sits in front of an open laptop at a table in a bright room.

Join us around the world for a variety of sessions, consultations, labs, and more — tailored for you.

Apple developer activities are for everyone, no matter where you are on your development journey. Activities take place all year long, both online and in person around the world. Whether you’re looking to enhance your existing app or game, refine your design, or launch a new project, there’s something for you.

Learn more

Pre-orders by region now available

Pre-orders by region now available

Offering your app or game for pre-order is a great way to build awareness and excitement for your upcoming releases on the App Store. And now you can offer pre-orders on a regional basis. People can pre-order your app in a set of regions that you choose, even while it’s available for download in other regions at the same time. With this new flexibility, you can expand your app to new regions by offering it for pre-order and set different release dates for each region.

Learn about pre-orders

Learn how to manage your app’s availability

App Store submissions now open for the latest OS releases

App Store submissions now open for the latest OS releases

iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10 will soon be available to customers worldwide. Build your apps and games using the Xcode 15 Release Candidate and latest SDKs, test them using TestFlight, and submit them for review to the App Store. You can now start deploying seamlessly to TestFlight and the App Store from Xcode Cloud. With exciting new capabilities, as well as major enhancements across languages, frameworks, tools, and services, you can deliver even more unique experiences on Apple platforms.

Apple Entrepreneur Camp applications now open

Apple Entrepreneur Camp for Female Founders and Developers

Apple Entrepreneur Camp supports underrepresented founders and developers, and encourages the pipeline and longevity of these entrepreneurs in technology. Building on the success of our alumni from cohorts for female*, Black, and Hispanic/Latinx founders, starting this fall, we’re expanding our reach to welcome professionals from Indigenous backgrounds who are looking to enhance and grow their existing app-driven businesses. Attendees benefit from one-on-one code-level guidance, receive insight, inspiration, and unprecedented access to Apple engineers and experts, and become part of the extended global network of Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni.

Applications are now open for founders and developers from these groups who have either an existing app on the App Store, a functional beta build in TestFlight, or the equivalent. Attendees will join us online starting in October 2023. We welcome eligible entrepreneurs with app-driven organizations to apply and we encourage you to share these details with those who may be interested.

Apply by September 24, 2023.

Learn more

* Apple believes that gender expression is a fundamental right. We welcome all women to apply to this program.

Take your iPad and iPhone apps even further on Apple Vision Pro

Take your iPad and iPhone apps even further on Apple Vision Pro

A brand‑new App Store will launch with Apple Vision Pro, featuring apps and games built for visionOS, as well as hundreds of thousands of iPad and iPhone apps that run great on visionOS too. Users can access their favorite iPad and iPhone apps side by side with new visionOS apps on the infinite canvas of Apple Vision Pro, enabling them to be more connected, productive, and entertained than ever before. And since most iPad and iPhone apps run on visionOS as is, your app experiences can easily extend to Apple Vision Pro from day one — with no additional work required.

Updated Apple Developer Program License Agreement now available

The Apple Developer Program License Agreement has been revised to support upcoming features and updated policies, and to provide clarification. The revisions include:

  • Definitions, Section 3.3.39: Specified requirements for use of the Journaling Suggestions API.

  • Schedule 1 Exhibit D Section 3 and Schedules 2 and 3 Exhibit E Section 3: Added language about the Digital Services Act (DSA) redress options available to developers based in the European Union.

  • Schedule 1 Section 6.3 and Schedules 2 and 3 Section 7.3: Added clarifying language that the content moderation process is subject to human and systematic review and action pursuant to notices of illegal and harmful content.

View full terms and conditions

Helping customers resolve billing issues without leaving your app

Helping customers resolve billing issues without leaving your app

As announced in April, your customers will soon be able to resolve payment issues without leaving your app, making it easier for them to stay subscribed to your content, services, and premium features.

Starting August 14, 2023, if an auto-renewable subscription doesn’t renew because of a billing issue, a system-provided sheet will appear in your app with a prompt that lets customers update the payment method for their Apple ID. You can test this sheet in Sandbox, as well as delay or suppress it using messages and display in StoreKit. This feature is available in iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 or later, and no action is required to adopt it.

Learn about the system-provided sheet

Learn how to test billing issues in Sandbox

List of APIs that require declared reasons now available

List of APIs that require declared reasons now available

Apple is committed to protecting user privacy on our platforms. We know that there are a small set of APIs that can be misused to collect data about users’ devices through fingerprinting, which is prohibited by our Developer Program License Agreement. To prevent the misuse of these APIs, we announced at WWDC23 that developers will need to declare the reasons for using these APIs in their app’s privacy manifest. This will help ensure that apps only use these APIs for their intended purpose. As part of this process, you’ll need to select one or more approved reasons that accurately reflect how your app uses the API, and your app can only use the API for the reasons you’ve selected.

Starting in fall 2023, when you upload a new app or app update to App Store Connect that uses an API (including from third-party SDKs) that requires a reason, you’ll receive a notice if you haven’t provided an approved reason in your app’s privacy manifest. And starting in spring 2024, in order to upload your new app or app update to App Store Connect, you’ll be required to include an approved reason in the app’s privacy manifest which accurately reflects how your app uses the API.

If you have a use case for an API with required reasons that isn’t already covered by an approved reason and the use case directly benefits the people using your app, let us know.

View list of APIs and approved reasons

Submit a request for a new approved reason

Meet with App Store experts

The App Store logo in a speech bubble

Join us for online sessions August 1 through 24 to learn about the latest App Store features and get your questions answered. Live presentations with Q&A are being held in multiple time zones and languages.

  • Explore App Store pricing upgrades, including enhanced global pricing, tools to manage pricing by storefront, and additional price points.
  • Find out how to measure user acquisition with App Analytics and grow your subscription business using App Store features.
  • Discover how product page optimization lets you test different elements of your product page to find out which resonate with people most.
  • Understand how custom product pages let you create additional product page versions to highlight specific features or content.
  • Learn how to boost discovery and engagement with Game Center and how to configure in-app events.

Learn more

View schedule

Take your apps and games beyond the visionOS simulator

Apple Vision Pro compatibility evaluations

We can help you make sure your visionOS, iPadOS, and iOS apps behave as expected on Vision Pro. Align your app with the newly published compatibility checklist, then request to have your app evaluated directly on Vision Pro.

Learn more

Apple Vision Pro developer labs

Experience your visionOS, iPadOS, and iOS apps running on Vision Pro. With support from Apple, you’ll be able to test and optimize your apps for the infinite spatial canvas. Labs are available in Cupertino, London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo.

Learn more

Apple Vision Pro developer kit

Have a great idea for a visionOS app that requires building and testing on Vision Pro? Apply for a Vision Pro developer kit. With continuous, direct access to Vision Pro, you’ll be able to quickly build, test, and refine your app so it delivers amazing spatial experiences on visionOS.

Learn more

Upcoming price and tax changes for apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions

Upcoming price and tax changes for apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions

The App Store’s commerce and payments system was built to empower you to conveniently set up and sell your products and services on a global scale in 44 currencies across 175 storefronts. When tax regulations or foreign exchange rates change, we sometimes need to update prices on the App Store in certain regions and/or adjust your proceeds. These updates are done using publicly available exchange rate information from financial data providers to help ensure prices for apps and in‑app purchases stay equalized across all storefronts.

On July 25, pricing for apps and in‑app purchases (excluding auto‑renewable subscriptions) will be updated for the Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Türkiye storefronts. These updates also consider the following tax changes:

  • Egypt: introduction of a value‑added tax (VAT) of 14%
  • Tanzania: introduction of a VAT of 18% and a digital service tax of 2%
  • Türkiye: increase of the VAT rate from 18% to 20%

How this impacts pricing

  • If you’ve selected Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, or Türkiye as the base storefront for your app or in‑app purchase (excluding auto‑renewable subscriptions), the price won’t change on that storefront. Prices on other storefronts will be updated to maintain equalization with your chosen base price.
  • If the base storefront for your app or in‑app purchase (excluding auto‑renewable subscriptions) isn’t Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, or Türkiye, prices will increase on the Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Türkiye storefronts.
  • If your in‑app purchase is an auto‑renewable subscription or if you manually manage prices on storefronts instead of using the automated equalized prices, your prices won’t change.

The Pricing and Availability section of My Apps has been updated in App Store Connect to display these upcoming price changes. As always, you can change the prices of your apps, in‑app purchases, and auto‑renewable subscriptions at any time.

How this impacts proceeds and tax administration

Your proceeds for sales of apps and in-app purchases (including auto‑renewable subscriptions) will change to reflect the new tax rates and updated prices. Exhibit B of the Paid Applications Agreement has been updated to indicate that Apple collects and remits applicable taxes in Egypt and Tanzania.

Learn more about managing your prices

Viewing new pricing

Selecting a base country or region

Pricing and availability start times by region

Setting in‑app purchase pricing

Providing safe app experiences for families

Providing safe app experiences for families

The App Store was created to be a safe and trusted place for users to get apps, and a great business opportunity for developers. Apple platforms and the apps you build have become important to many families, as children use our products and services to explore the digital world and communicate with family and friends. We hold apps for kids and those with user-generated content and interactions to the highest standards. To continue delivering safe experiences for families together, we wanted to remind you about the tools, resources, and requirements that are in place to help keep users safe in your app.

New design resources now available

Simplified drawing of Apple Vision Pro on a green background

Now it’s even easier to design your apps quickly and accurately with new and updated design resources for creating apps on Apple platforms.

visionOS SDK now available

visionOS SDK now available

You can now start creating cutting-edge spatial computing apps for the infinite canvas of Apple Vision Pro. Download Xcode 15 beta 2, which includes the visionOS SDK and Reality Composer Pro (a new tool that makes it easy to preview and prepare 3D content for visionOS). Add a visionOS target to your existing project or build an entirely new app, then iterate on your app in Xcode Previews. You can interact with your app in the all-new visionOS simulator, explore various room layouts and lighting conditions, and create tests and visualizations. New documentation and sample code are also available to help you through the development process.

Download Xcode 15 beta 2

Learn about developing for visionOS

Sign up for WWDC23 labs and activities

Rainbow colored icons representing development topics are arranged in three rows on a black background

Online labs and activities are a great way to connect with Apple engineers, designers, and experts all week long.

One-on-one labs

Get personalized guidance about development basics, complex concepts, and everything in between. Learn how to implement new Apple technologies, explore UI design principles, improve your App Store presence, and much more.

Activities

There are plenty of exciting activities happening daily on Slack.

  • Ask engineering and design questions in Q&As.
  • Join or follow real-time conversations while watching session videos together, and stay for a Q&A with the presenter.
  • Get to know other developers and teams from Apple in community icebreakers.
  • Test your trivia expertise starting on June 6.

Labs and activities are open to all members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program, as well as 2023 Swift Student Challenge applicants.

Register for labs

Register for activities

Learn about WWDC23

Apple Design Award winners announced

Three rows of app icons belonging to Apple Design Award winners

The Apple Design Awards celebrate apps and games that excel in the categories of Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Learn about the 2023 winning apps and the talented developers behind them.

Discover the winners

Find out what’s new for Apple developers

Find out what’s new for Apple developers

Discover the latest advancements on all Apple platforms. With an incredible new opportunity in spatial computing in visionOS, new features in iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, and major enhancements across languages, frameworks, tools and services, you can create even more unique experiences for users worldwide.

Learn what’s new

Introducing Apple Vision Pro and visionOS

Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, while allowing users to stay present and connected to others. Apple Vision Pro creates an infinite canvas for apps that scales beyond the boundaries of a traditional display and introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by the most natural and intuitive inputs possible — a user’s eyes, hands, and voice. Featuring visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, Apple Vision Pro lets users interact with digital content in a way that feels like it is physically present in their space. The breakthrough design of Apple Vision Pro features an ultra-high-resolution display system that packs 23 million pixels across two displays, and custom Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip design to ensure every experience feels like it’s taking place in front of the user’s eyes in real time.

Discover the resources you can use to bring your spatial computing creations to life with a new, yet familiar, way to build apps that reimagine what it means to be connected, productive, and entertained.

Learn more about visionOS

Updated agreements and guidelines now available

The App Store Review Guidelines, the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, and the Apple Developer Agreement have been updated to support updated policies and upcoming features, and to provide clarification. Please review the changes below and accept the updated terms as needed.

What’s new in privacy on the App Store

What’s new in privacy on the App Store

At Apple, we believe privacy is a fundamental human right. That is why we’ve built a number of features to help users understand developers’ privacy and data collection and sharing practices, and put users in the driver’s seat when it comes to their data. App Tracking Transparency (ATT) empowers users to choose whether an app has permission to track their activity across other companies’ apps and websites for the purposes of advertising or sharing with data brokers. With Privacy Nutrition Labels and App Privacy Report, users can see what data an app collects and how it’s used.

Many apps leverage third-party software development kits (SDKs), which can offer great functionality but may have implications on how the apps handle user data. To make it even easier for developers to create great apps while informing users and respecting their choices about how their data is used, we’re introducing two new features.

First, to help developers understand how third-party SDKs use data, we’re introducing new privacy manifests — files that outline the privacy practices of the third-party code in an app, in a single standard format. When developers prepare to distribute their app, Xcode will combine the privacy manifests across all the third-party SDKs that a developer is using into a single, easy-to-use report. With one comprehensive report that summarizes all the third-party SDKs found in an app, it will be even easier for developers to create more accurate Privacy Nutrition Labels.

Additionally, to offer additional privacy protection for users, apps referencing APIs that could potentially be used for fingerprinting — a practice that is prohibited on the App Store — will now be required to select an allowed reason for usage of the API and declare that usage in the privacy manifest. As part of this process, apps must accurately describe their usage of these APIs, and may only use the APIs for the reasons described in their privacy manifest.

Second, we want to help developers improve the integrity of their software supply chain. When using third-party SDKs, it can be hard for developers to know the code that they downloaded was written by the developer that they expect. To address that, we’re introducing signatures for SDKs so that when a developer adopts a new version of a third-party SDK in their app, Xcode will validate that it was signed by the same developer. Developers and users alike will benefit from this feature.

We’ll publish additional information later this year, including:

  • A list of privacy-impacting SDKs (third-party SDKs that have particularly high impact on user privacy)
  • A list of “required reason” APIs for which an allowed reason must be declared
  • A developer feedback form to suggest new reasons for calling covered APIs
  • Additional documentation on the benefits of and details about signatures, privacy manifests, and when they will be required
Xcode 15 beta now available

Xcode 15 beta now available

The Xcode 15 beta supports the latest SDKs for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This version of Xcode helps you code and design your apps faster with enhanced code completion, interactive previews, and live animations. Use Git staging to craft your next commit without leaving your code. Explore and diagnose your test results with redesigned test reports with video recording. And start deploying seamlessly to TestFlight and the App Store from Xcode Cloud.

Learn more

WWDC23 schedule and lab requests now available

Cropped colorful Apple logo

Check out the session schedule to plan your week! Sessions will be posted daily and will include links to resources and forums tags. And you can now request one-on-one lab appointments to get your questions answered, whether you’re just starting out or need to solve an advanced issue.

Learn more

Upcoming tax changes for apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions

Upcoming tax changes for apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions

The App Store’s commerce and payments system was built to empower you to conveniently set up and sell your products and services at a global scale in 44 currencies across 175 storefronts. Apple administers tax on behalf of developers in over 70 countries and regions and provides you with the ability to assign tax categories to your apps and in‑app purchases. Periodically, we update your proceeds in certain regions based on changes in tax regulations.

On May 31, your proceeds from the sale of apps and in‑app purchases (including auto‑renewable subscriptions) will be adjusted to reflect the tax changes listed below. Prices will not change.

  • Ghana: Increase of the VAT rate from 12.5% to 15%.
  • Lithuania: Reduction of the VAT rate from 21% to 9% for eligible e‑books and audiobooks.
  • Moldova: Reduction of the VAT rate from 20% to 0% for eligible e‑books and periodicals.
  • Spain: Digital services tax of 3%.

Due to changes to tax regulations in Brazil, Apple now withholds taxes for all App Store sales in Brazil. We’ll administer the collection and remittance of taxes to the appropriate tax authority on a monthly basis. You can view the amount of tax deducted from your proceeds starting in June 2023 with your May earnings. Developers based in Brazil aren’t impacted by this change.

Once these changes go into effect, the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps will be updated in App Store Connect. As always, you can change the prices of your apps and in‑app purchases (including auto‑renewable subscriptions) at any time. And now you can change them for any storefront with 900 price points to choose from.

Code new worlds

A colorful Apple logo

WWDC23 is almost here. We’ll be kicking off with the Apple Keynote on June 5 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Watch online at apple.com or in the Apple Developer app. You can even use SharePlay to watch with friends.

Activities are now open for sign-up for eligible developers. Designed to connect you with the developer community and Apple experts, they’ll feature Q&As, Meet the Presenters, and community icebreakers in online group chats.

Learn more

Sign up

Upcoming changes to the App Store receipt signing intermediate certificate

Upcoming changes to the App Store receipt signing intermediate certificate

As part of ongoing efforts to improve security and privacy on Apple platforms, the App Store receipt signing intermediate certificate that’s used to verify the sale of apps and associated in‑app purchases is being updated to use the SHA‑256 cryptographic algorithm. This update will be completed in multiple phases and new apps and app updates may be impacted, depending on how they verify receipts.

What to expect

If your app verifies App Store transactions using the AppTransaction and Transaction APIs, or the verifyReceipt web service endpoint, no action is required.

If your app validates App Store receipts on device, make sure your app will support the SHA-256 version of this certificate. New apps and app updates that don’t support the SHA-256 version of this certificate will no longer be accepted by the App Store starting August 14, 2023.

Important dates

  • June 20, 2023. Receipts in the sandbox environment will be signed with the SHA‑256 version of this certificate for devices running a minimum of iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, watchOS 9.6, or macOS Ventura 13.5.
  • August 14, 2023. Receipts in new apps and app updates submitted to the App Store, as well as all apps in sandbox, will be signed with the SHA‑256 intermediate certificate.

For more details, view TN3138: Handling App Store receipt signing certificate change.

Apple notary service update

As announced last year at WWDC, if you notarize your Mac software with the Apple notary service using the altool command-line utility or Xcode 13 or earlier, you’ll need to transition to the notarytool command-line utility or upgrade to Xcode 14 or later. Starting November 1, 2023, the Apple notary service will no longer accept uploads from altool or Xcode 13 or earlier. Existing notarized software will continue to function properly.

The Apple notary service is an automated system that scans Mac software for malicious content, checks for code-signing issues, and returns the results quickly. Notarizing your software assures users that Apple has checked it for malicious software and none was detected.

Learn about migrating to the latest notarization tool

Learn about notarizing macOS software

Apple Design Award finalists announced

The Apple Design Awards celebrate apps and games that excel in the categories of Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Discover this year’s finalists, then check back June 5 at 6:30 p.m. PT to learn about the winners.

Discover the finalists

Swiftly developing

A colorful Swift logo

Get ready for an action-packed online experience at WWDC23. Join the developer community for a week of sessions, labs, and activities, starting June 5 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Find out what's ahead

Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6, macOS 13.5, tvOS 16.6, and watchOS 9.6 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 14.3.1.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other feedback. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

Get ready to help customers resolve billing issues without leaving your app

Get ready to help customers resolve billing issues without leaving your app

Soon it will be easier than ever for your customers to resolve payment issues, so they can stay subscribed to your content, services, and premium features. Starting this summer, if an auto-renewable subscription doesn’t renew due to a billing issue, a system-provided sheet appears in your app with a prompt that lets customers update their payment method for their Apple ID. No action is required to adopt this feature. Starting today, you can get familiar with the sheet in Sandbox. You can also test delaying or suppressing it using messages and display in StoreKit. This feature will require a minimum of iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4.

All of this adds to existing powerful App Store features that help you retain subscribers. For example, if a subscription is in the billing retry state, Apple uses machine learning to optimize payment retries for the best possible recovery rate. And when you enable Billing Grace Period, customers can continue accessing their subscriptions while Apple attempts to collect payment.

Learn about the system-provided sheet

Learn how to test billing issues in Sandbox

Preparing for the enhanced global pricing update on May 9

Preparing for the enhanced global pricing update on May 9

The App Store’s world-class commerce and payments system provides a convenient and effective way to set equalized prices across international markets, adapt to foreign exchange rate or tax changes, and manage prices per storefront. Last month, we introduced major pricing upgrades, including enhanced global pricing, across all purchase types. Now more customer friendly, the new price points follow the most common conventions in each country or region, and are globally equalized to your selected base country or region using publicly available exchange rate information from financial data providers.

As a reminder, on May 9, 2023, pricing for existing apps and one-time in-app purchases will be updated across App Store storefronts using your current price in the United States as the basis — unless you’ve made relevant updates after March 8, 2023. You can update your base country or region at anytime using App Store Connect or the App Store Connect API. If you choose to do so, prices in your selected base country or region won’t be adjusted when prices are globally equalized on the App Store to account for foreign currency changes or new taxes. You can also choose to manually adjust prices on multiple storefronts of your choice instead of using the equalized price.

Learn how to select a base country or region

Learn how to set in-app purchase availability

Learn how to view the new pricing

Swift Student Challenge applications now open

Swift Student Challenge logo

We’re excited to continue our long-standing support of students around the world who love to code. Show us your passion for coding by submitting an incredible app playground on the topic of your choice using Swift Playgrounds or Xcode. Winners will receive an award, recognition, and more.

Learn about the Challenge

WWDC23 is coming June 5

Apple WWDC23

Mark your calendars June 5 through 9 for an exhilarating week of technology and community. Be among the first to learn the latest about Apple platforms, technologies, and tools. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with Apple experts and other developers. All online and at no cost.

In addition, Apple will host a special all‑day event for developers and students on June 5 at Apple Park. Watch the keynote and State of the Union videos together, meet some of the teams at Apple, celebrate great apps at the Apple Design Awards ceremony, and enjoy activities into the evening.

Talented students can showcase their creativity for the opportunity to receive an award in the Swift Student Challenge.

Learn more

Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of iOS 16.5, iPadOS 16.5, macOS 13.4, tvOS 16.5, and watchOS 9.5 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 14.3.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other feedback. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

App Store submission requirement starts April 25

App Store submission requirement starts April 25

Starting April 25, 2023, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS apps submitted to the App Store must be built with Xcode 14.1 or later. The latest version of Xcode 14, which includes the latest SDKs for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and watchOS 9, is available for free on the Mac App Store.

When building your app, we highly recommend taking advantage of the latest advances in iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and watchOS 9.

iOS 16 enhances iPhone with all-new personalization features, deeper intelligence, and more seamless ways to communicate and share. Take advantage of Live Activities to help people stay on top of what’s happening live in your app, right from the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro. Use App Intents to help users quickly accomplish tasks related to your app by voice or tap. And get the most out of the latest enhancements in MapKit, ARKit, Core ML, and more.

iPadOS 16 introduces new productivity features that let you deliver compelling collaboration experiences and build more capable, intuitive apps and powerful pro workflows on iPad. You can bring desktop-class features, such as an editor-style navigation bar, enhanced text editing menu, and external display support, to your iPad app. Metal 3 introduces powerful features that help your games and pro apps tap into the full potential of Apple silicon on the latest generations of iPad Pro and iPad Air.

watchOS 9 provides new and powerful communication features for watchOS apps. You can deliver timely information with rich complications on more Apple Watch faces, enable sharing of your app content, let users make VoIP calls directly from Apple Watch, and more. And with a simplified watchOS app structure, managing your projects is simpler than ever.

App Store pricing upgrades have expanded to all purchase types

App Store pricing upgrades have expanded to all purchase types

In December, we announced the most comprehensive upgrade to pricing capabilities since the App Store first launched, including additional price points and new tools to manage pricing by storefront. Starting today, these upgrades and new prices are now available for all app and in‑app purchase types, including paid apps and one‑time in‑app purchases.

  • More flexible price points. Choose from 900 price points — nearly 10 times the number of price points previously available for paid apps and one‑time in‑app purchases. These options also offer more flexibility, increasing incrementally across price ranges (for example, every $0.10 up to $10, every $0.50 between $10 and $50, etc.).

  • Enhanced global pricing. Use globally equalized prices that follow the most common pricing conventions in each country or region, so you can provide pricing that’s more relevant to customers.

  • Worldwide options for base price. Specify a country or region you’re familiar with as the basis for globally equalized prices across the other 174 storefronts and 43 currencies for paid apps and one‑time in‑app purchases. Prices you set for this base storefront won’t be adjusted by Apple to account for taxes or foreign currency changes, and you’ll be able to set prices for each storefront if you prefer.

  • Regional options for availability. Define the availability of in‑app purchases (including subscriptions) by storefront, so you can deliver content and services customized for each market.

Get ready for enhanced global pricing updates in May

The App Store’s global equalization tools provide a simple and convenient way to manage pricing across international markets. On May 9, 2023, pricing for existing apps and one‑time in‑app purchases will be updated across all 175 App Store storefronts to take advantage of new enhanced global pricing. The updated prices will be globally equalized to your selected base country or region using publicly available exchange rate information from financial data providers. These price points will also follow the most common conventions in each country or region so that prices are more relevant to customers.

You can now update your current pricing to take advantage of the enhanced global pricing using App Store Connect or the App Store Connect API. If you haven’t made price updates for your existing apps and one‑time in‑app purchases by May 9, Apple will update them for you using your current price in the United States as the basis. If you’d like a different price to be used as the basis, update the base country or region for your apps or in‑app purchases to your preferred storefront. You can also choose to manually manage prices on storefronts of your choice instead of using the equalized price.

Learn how to select a base storefront

Learn how to set in-app purchase availability

Learn how to view the new pricing

Peer group benchmarks now available in App Analytics

Peer group benchmarks now available in App Analytics

App Analytics in App Store Connect is a helpful tool with a breadth of features to help you understand and improve how your app is performing on the App Store. With metrics related to acquisition, usage, and monetization strategy, App Analytics enables you to monitor results in each stage of the customer lifecycle, from awareness to conversion and on to retention. Starting today, you can put your app’s performance into context using peer group benchmarks, which compare your app’s performance to that of similar apps on the App Store. Now you’ll have even more insights to help you identify growth opportunities.

Peer group benchmarks provide powerful new insights across the customer journey, so you can better understand what works well for your app and find opportunities for improvement. Apps are placed into groups based on their App Store category, business model, and download volume to ensure relevant comparisons. Using industry-leading differential privacy techniques, peer group benchmarks provide relevant and actionable insights — all while keeping the performance of individual apps private.

Review your new benchmark data, then leverage other tools in App Store Connect to improve conversion rates, proceeds, crash rates, and user retention. You can test different elements of your product page to find out which resonate with people most, create additional product page versions to highlight specific features or content, get feedback on beta versions of your app, offer in‑app events to encourage engagement, and so much more.

Learn how to view benchmark data

Learn how to take action on insights from benchmarks

Meet with App Store experts about App Analytics

Meet with App Store experts

The App Store logo in a speech bubble

Join us for online sessions February 28 to April 13 to learn about the latest App Store features and get your questions answered. Find out how to measure user acquisition with App Analytics and grow your subscription business using App Store features. Explore how product page optimization lets you test different elements of your product page to find out which resonate with people most and how custom product pages let you create additional product page versions to highlight specific features or content. Learn how to boost discovery and engagement with Game Center and how to configure in‑app events. Apple Developer Program members can register for sessions today.

Learn more

View schedule

Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS 13.3, tvOS 16.4, and watchOS 9.4 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 14.3.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other feedback. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

Upcoming tax and price changes for apps and in‑app purchases

Upcoming tax and price changes for apps and in‑app purchases

The App Store’s commerce and payments system was built to empower you to conveniently set up and sell your products and services at a global scale with 44 currencies across 175 storefronts. Periodically, we update prices on the App Store in certain regions based on changes in taxes and foreign exchange rates. This is done using publicly available exchange rate information from financial data providers to help ensure prices for apps and in‑app purchases stay equalized across all storefronts.

On February 13, 2023, prices of apps and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) on the App Store will increase in Colombia, Egypt, Hungary, Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Prices in Uzbekistan will decrease to reflect a reduction of the value-added tax rate from 15% to 12%. Your proceeds will be adjusted accordingly and will be calculated based on the tax-exclusive price.

While prices on the App Store in Ireland, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Zimbabwe won't change, your proceeds will be adjusted to reflect the following tax changes:

  • Ireland: Reduction of value-added tax rate on electronic newspapers and periodicals from 9% to 0%
  • Luxembourg: Reduction of value-added tax rate from 17% to 16%
  • Singapore: Increase of goods and services tax rate from 7% to 8%
  • Zimbabwe: Increase of value-added tax rate from 14.5% to 15%

Additionally, by the end of January proceeds will increase for local developers selling in Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

Apple will estimate and remove taxes based on the tax category information you have provided before calculating commission. Exhibit B of the Paid Applications Agreement will be updated to reflect this change.

Once these changes go into effect, the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps will be updated. As always, you can change the price of your apps and in-app purchases (including auto-renewable subscriptions) at any time in App Store Connect. If you offer subscriptions, you can choose to preserve prices for existing subscribers.

And as previously announced, in spring 2023, upgraded pricing capabilities for apps and in-app purchases will provide you 700 additional price points and more flexibility to set prices per storefront, so you can manage foreign exchange rate changes independent of globally equalized prices.

View the updated price tier charts.

Ask Apple Q&As and survey

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Thank you to everyone who joined us during three great weeks of Ask Apple in October, November, and December. Q&As remain available in Slack for Ask Apple participants to review as needed.

If you haven’t already told us about your experience in Q&As, we’d love to get your feedback in our short survey. It only takes a few minutes to complete and your responses will be anonymous.

We’re excited to connect with you again soon.

Take the survey

Upcoming changes to the App Store receipt signing certificate

Starting January 18, 2023, the App Store receipt signing certificate will use a new WWDR intermediate certificate. The existing intermediate certificate expires on February 7, 2023. In most cases, this certificate change won’t require changes to apps. However, we recommend reviewing how you verify the sale of your apps and in-app purchases from the App Store to make sure your apps aren’t impacted.

If you verify App Store transactions using the AppTransaction and Transaction APIs, or the verifyReceipt web service endpoint, no action is required.

If you validate App Store receipts on device using the App Store receipt signing certificate, make sure you haven’t hardcoded the intermediate certificate and verify that the chain of trust for the container’s signature matches the Apple Inc. Root Certificate.

Additional details on App Store receipt validation:

Validating receipts with the App Store

Choosing a receipt validation technique

Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, macOS 13.2, tvOS 16.3, and watchOS 9.3 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 14.2.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other feedback. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

A new week of Ask Apple starts December 12

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Join us for another exciting week of Ask Apple, where you can connect directly with Apple experts to get your latest technical and design questions answered — or just hang out and learn from the conversation. Ask about using the latest frameworks, improving your app’s UI design, developing with beta OS software and tools, and so much more.

Online one-on-one consultations and group Q&As will run December 12 to 16, with activities in multiple languages and time zones. Registration is open now to current members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program.

Learn more

Get your apps ready for the holidays

Get your apps ready for the holidays

The busiest season on the App Store is almost here! Make sure your apps and product pages are up to date and ready in advance of the upcoming holidays. We’re pleased to remain open throughout the season again this year and look forward to accepting your submissions. On average, 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours. However, reviews may take a bit longer to complete from December 23 to 27.

Learn about submitting apps

Get tips to prevent review issues

Congratulations to the App Store Award winners

The App Store Awards icon

Every year, the App Store editorial team celebrates exceptional apps that improve people’s lives while showcasing the highest levels of technical innovation, user experience, design, and positive cultural impact. Join us in celebrating the work of outstanding developers from around the world.

View this year’s selections

There’s still time to meet with App Store experts

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Connect with experts online to learn how to make the most of App Store features. Discover how to attract new customers, test marketing strategies, add subscriptions, and so much more. Live presentations with Q&A are being held through December 8 in multiple time zones and languages. Register today if you’re a member of the Apple Developer Program.

Learn more

View schedule

A new week of Ask Apple starts November 14

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Join us for another exciting week of the Ask Apple developer series, where you can connect directly with Apple experts. Ask about integrating the latest technologies into your apps, designing intuitive UIs, testing on the latest software, and so much more.

Online one-on-one consultations and group Q&As will run November 14 to 18, with activities in multiple languages and time zones. Registration is open now to current members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program.

And stay tuned for details on the next round of the Ask Apple developer series taking place in December.

Learn more

Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 14.1 RC 2.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other feedback. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

Meet with App Store experts

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Get ready to connect with experts online to learn how to make the most of App Store features. Discover how to attract new customers, test marketing strategies, add subscriptions, and so much more. Live presentations with Q&A will be held this November and December in multiple time zones and languages. Register today if you’re a member of the Apple Developer Program.

Learn more

SKAdNetwork 4.0 now available

SKAdNetwork 4.0 now available

The SKAdNetwork API lets advertisers measure the success of advertisements by attributing app installations to specific ad campaigns — all while maintaining user privacy. It supports multiple ad formats, including static images, videos, audio, and interactive ads. With SKAdNetwork 4.0, now available in iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1, it provides more insight into the performance of ads for apps:

  • Hierarchical source identifiers: Identify which campaign an installation was attributed to, as well as additional attribution information.
  • Coarse conversion values: Receive less specific attribution information when the privacy thresholds for conversion values are not met, or more detailed attribution information when additional privacy thresholds are met.
  • Multiple conversions: Receive up to three postbacks to better understand how often someone who installed an app from a campaign engages with the app over time.
  • SKAdNetwork for web ads: Attribute web advertising that directs to App Store product pages.

Learn more about SKAdNetwork

App Store submissions now open for iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1

App Store submissions now open for iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1

iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1, the world’s most advanced mobile operating systems, will soon be available to customers worldwide. Take advantage of Live Activities to help people stay on top of what’s happening live in your app, right from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island on iPhone. Bring desktop-class features, such as an editor-style navigation bar and enhanced text editing menu to your iPad app, and get the most out of the latest advancements in MapKit, Metal, ARKit, Core ML, and more.

Build your app using Xcode 14.1 Release Candidate, then test and submit it for review. Please note, starting April 2023, all iOS and iPadOS apps submitted to the App Store must be built with Xcode 14.1 and the iOS 16.1 SDK.

Learn about submitting iOS apps

Learn about submitting iPadOS apps

App Store submissions now open for watchOS 9.1

App Store submissions now open for watchOS 9.1

Integrate new and powerful communication features in your app with watchOS 9. Deliver timely information with rich complications on more Apple Watch faces, enable sharing of your app content, let users make VoIP calls directly from Apple Watch, and more. And with a simplified watchOS app structure, managing your projects is easier than ever.

Build your app using Xcode 14.1 Release Candidate, then test and submit it for review. Please note, starting April 2023, all watchOS apps submitted to the App Store must be built with Xcode 14.1 and the watchOS 9.1 SDK.

Learn about submitting watchOS apps

Mac App Store submissions now open for macOS Ventura

Mac App Store submissions now open for macOS Ventura

macOS Ventura makes the things you do most on Mac even better, with powerful new ways to get more done, share and collaborate in your favorite apps, immerse yourself in next‑level games, and take full advantage of your other devices. Machine learning enhancements make it even easier to provide intelligent experiences. SharePlay enables the sharing of synchronized experiences in your app while connecting via Messages. With Metal 3, you can create next-generation Mac games that run effortlessly from MacBook Air to Mac Studio, thanks to Apple silicon. And Continuity Camera provides access to camera input, features, and effects on iPhone.

Build your app using Xcode 14.1 Release Candidate, then test and submit it for review.

Learn about submitting macOS apps

App Store submissions now open for tvOS 16.1

App Store submissions now open for tvOS 16.1

Integrate your tvOS app with your iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS app to unlock new experiences on Apple TV. Adopt multiuser support to make it easier for people to enjoy your Apple TV app with improved system integration for user profiles, and customize your app’s interface and provide even more functionality with SwiftUI.

Learn about submitting tvOS apps

Apple Entrepreneur Camp applications now open

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Apple Entrepreneur Camp supports underrepresented founders and developers with app-driven organizations as they build the next generation of cutting-edge apps and helps form a global network that encourages the pipeline and longevity of these entrepreneurs in technology.

Apply now for one of three online cohorts for female, Black, or Hispanic/Latinx founders starting in January 2023. Attendees will receive code-level guidance, mentorship, and inspiration with unprecedented access to Apple engineers and leaders. Applications close on December 5, 2022.

Learn more

Explore apps from our alumni

Introducing Ask Apple

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Join us for Ask Apple, a new series for developers to connect directly with Apple experts. Ask about integrating the latest technologies into your apps, designing intuitive UIs, testing on the latest software, and so much more.

Ask Apple runs for the first time from October 17 to 21 and features online one-on-one consultations and group Q&As. Activities are available in multiple languages and time zones. Registration is open now to current members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program.

Learn more

Upcoming price and tax changes for apps and in‑app purchases

Upcoming price and tax changes for apps and in‑app purchases

Periodically, we update prices on the App Store in certain regions based on changes in taxes and foreign exchange rates. This is done using publicly available exchange rate information from financial data providers to help ensure prices for apps and in‑app purchases stay equalized across all storefronts. As early as October 5, 2022, prices of apps and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) on the App Store will increase in Chile, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Vietnam, and all territories that use the euro currency. In Vietnam, these increases also reflect new regulations for Apple to collect and remit applicable taxes, being value added tax (VAT) and corporate income tax (CIT) at 5% rates respectively.

Your proceeds will be adjusted accordingly and will be calculated based on the tax-exclusive price. Exhibit B of the Paid Applications Agreement will be updated to indicate that Apple collects and remits applicable taxes in Vietnam.

Once these changes go into effect, the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps will be updated. You can change the price of your apps and in-app purchases (including auto-renewable subscriptions) at any time in App Store Connect. If you offer subscriptions, you can choose to preserve prices for existing subscribers.

View the updated price tier charts

Develop for Live Activities with iOS 16.1 beta and Xcode 14.1 beta

Develop for Live Activities with iOS 16.1 beta and Xcode 14.1 beta

Discover how you can build Live Activities for your apps using the new ActivityKit framework, now available in iOS 16.1 beta and Xcode 14.1 beta. Live Activities help people keep track of your app’s content with real-time updates. Your app’s Live Activities display on the Lock Screen and in Dynamic Island — a new design that introduces an intuitive, delightful way to experience iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Live Activities and ActivityKit will be included in iOS 16.1, available later this year. Once the iOS 16.1 Release Candidate is available, you’ll be able to submit apps with Live Activities to the App Store.

View ActivityKit documentation

View Human Interface Guidelines

Get ready with the latest beta releases

Get ready with the latest beta releases

The beta versions of Xcode 14.1, iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1, tvOS 16.1, and watchOS 9.1 are now available. Get your apps ready by confirming they work as expected on these releases. And to take advantage of the advancements in the latest SDKs, make sure to build and test with Xcode 14.1 beta.

To check if a known issue from a previous beta release has been resolved or if there’s a workaround, review the latest release notes. Please let us know if you encounter an issue or have other feedback. We value your feedback, as it helps us address issues, refine features, and update documentation.

View downloads and release notes

Learn about testing a beta OS

Learn about sending feedback

WeatherKit subscriptions now available

WeatherKit subscriptions now available

WeatherKit brings valuable weather information to your apps and services through a wide range of data that can help people stay up to date, safe, and prepared. It’s easy to use WeatherKit in your apps for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9 with a platform-specific Swift API, and on any other platform with a REST API. Up to 500,000 API calls per month are included with Apple Developer Program membership. And now, Account Holders can subscribe for more calls in the Apple Developer app.

Get started with WeatherKit

Xcode Cloud subscriptions now available

Xcode Cloud subscriptions now available

Xcode Cloud, the continuous integration and delivery service built into Xcode, accelerates the development and delivery of high-quality apps. Get started by configuring a workflow in Xcode and receive 25 compute hours per month at no cost until the end of 2023. And now, Account Holders can subscribe for more compute hours in the Apple Developer app.

Get started with Xcode Cloud

WWDC22 video subtitles now in more languages

Picture of text bubbles with Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese text.

You can now watch the Keynote, Platforms State of the Union, and nearly 200 sessions from this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference with Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese subtitles. Available on the web or the Apple Developer app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

View WWDC22 videos

Upcoming tax and price changes for apps and in-app purchases

Upcoming tax and price changes for apps and in-app purchases

Starting next week, prices of apps and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) on the App Store will increase in Ghana and Türkiye. In Ghana, these increases also consider a new value-added tax of 12.5% and additional levies of 6%.

Your proceeds will be adjusted accordingly and will be calculated based on the tax-exclusive price. Exhibit B of the Paid Applications Agreement has been updated to indicate that Apple collects and remits applicable taxes in Ghana.

In addition, proceeds for e-publications in Estonia have been adjusted to reflect a value-added tax decrease from 9% to 5%, if you’ve selected the appropriate tax category in App Store Connect.

Once these changes go into effect, the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps will be updated. You can change the price of your apps and in-app purchases (including auto-renewable subscriptions) at any time in App Store Connect. If you offer subscriptions, you can choose to preserve prices for existing subscribers.

View the updated price tier charts

There’s still time to meet with App Store experts

The App Store logo in a speech bubble

Connect with experts online to learn how to make the most of App Store features. Discover how to attract new customers, test marketing strategies, add subscriptions, and so much more. Live presentations with Q&A are being held throughout August in multiple time zones and languages. Register today if you’re a member of the Apple Developer Program.

Learn more

View schedule

Apple Entrepreneur Camp applications open for female, Black, and Hispanic/Latinx founders

A diverse range of Memoji

Apple Entrepreneur Camp supports underrepresented founders and developers of app-driven organizations as they build the next generation of cutting-edge apps and helps form a global network that encourages the pipeline and longevity of these entrepreneurs in technology.

Apply now for one of three online cohorts for female, Black, or Hispanic/Latinx founders starting in October 2022. Attendees will receive code-level guidance, mentorship, and inspiration with unprecedented access to Apple engineers and leaders. Applications close on August 24, 2022.

Learn more

Explore apps from our alumni

Live Activities now available in beta

Live Activities now available in beta

Live Activities help people stay on top of what’s happening in your app in real time, right from the Lock Screen. You can now get started with Live Activities and the new ActivityKit framework, which are available in the beta 4 version of iOS 16.

Please note that Live Activities and ActivityKit won’t be included in the initial public release of iOS 16. Later this year, they'll be publicly available in an update and you’ll be able to submit your apps with Live Activities to the App Store.

Learn more about Live Activities and ActivityKit

Meet with App Store experts

The App Store logo in a speech bubble

Get ready to connect with experts online to learn how to make the most of App Store features. Discover how to attract new customers, test marketing strategies, add subscriptions, and so much more. Live presentations with Q&A will be held throughout August in multiple time zones and languages. Register today if you’re a member of the Apple Developer Program.

Learn more

View schedule

Upcoming transition from the XML feed to the App Store Connect API

Upcoming transition from the XML feed to the App Store Connect API

The App Store Connect REST API lets you customize and automate tasks across developer tools, giving you greater flexibility and efficiency in your workflows. Starting in November 2022, you’ll need to use this API instead of the XML feed to automate management of in-app purchases, subscriptions, metadata, and app pricing. The XML feed will continue to support existing Game Center management functionality.

Learn about the App Store Connect API

Get ready for RoomPlan

Get ready for RoomPlan

Now your apps can create 3D floor plans — including key characteristics, such as dimensions and types of furniture. Powered by ARKit, this new Swift API utilizes the camera and LiDAR Scanner on iPhone and iPad to bring surroundings into your apps.

Learn about RoomPlan

Update on apps distributed in South Korea

Apple designed the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover and download apps. Apple’s in-app purchase system, an integral part of our world-class commerce platform, offers people around the world a private and secure user experience across apps and Apple devices, and makes it easy for them to manage their purchases and subscriptions for digital goods and services.

The Telecommunications Business Act in South Korea was recently amended to mandate that apps distributed by app market operators in South Korea be allowed to offer an alternative payment processing option within their apps. To comply with this law, developers can use the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement. This entitlement allows apps distributed on the App Store solely in South Korea the ability to provide an alternative in-app payment processing option. Developers who want to continue using Apple’s in-app purchase system may do so and no further action is needed.

If you’re considering using this entitlement, it’s important to understand that some App Store features, such as Ask to Buy and Family Sharing, will not be available to your users, in part because we cannot validate payments that take place outside of the App Store’s private and secure payment system. Apple will not be able to assist users with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other issues encountered when purchasing digital goods and services through an alternative purchasing method. You will be responsible for addressing such issues.

Learn more

Sign up now for WWDC22 labs and lounges

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Register for labs and Digital Lounges to connect with Apple engineers, designers, and experts online all week long.

Digital Lounges

A wide variety of exciting activities are happening daily on Slack.

  • Ask questions at engineering and design Q&As.
  • Join or follow real-time text-based conversations while watching a session video together, and stay for a short Q&A at Meet the Presenter activities.
  • Get to know other developers and teams from Apple in a casual setting during icebreakers.
  • Experiment with the latest frameworks, try out design concepts, participate in challenges, and share your creations in study halls.
  • Test your trivia expertise against the best in the business on June 9.

Labs

Receive one-on-one guidance about development basics, complex concepts, and everything in between. Learn how to implement new Apple technologies, explore UI design principles, improve your App Store product page, and much more.

Lounges and labs are open to all members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program, as well as 2022 Swift Student Challenge winners.

Register for labs

Register for lounges

Learn about WWDC22

Introducing WeatherKit

Introducing WeatherKit

Bring valuable weather information to your apps and services through a wide range of data that can help people stay up to date, safe, and prepared. It’s easy to use WeatherKit in your apps with a platform-specific Swift API, and on any other platform with a REST API.

Learn about WeatherKit

Apple Design Award winners announced

A stylized rendering of the engraved metal cube presented to Apple Design Award recipients.

The Apple Design Awards celebrate apps and games that excel in the categories of Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Learn about the winning apps and the talented developers behind them.

Discover the winners

Xcode Cloud now available

Xcode Cloud now available

Xcode Cloud is a continuous integration and delivery service built into Xcode and designed expressly for Apple developers. It accelerates the development and delivery of high-quality apps by bringing together cloud-based tools that help you build apps, run automated tests in parallel, deliver apps to testers, and view and manage user feedback. This service is now available for all Apple Developer Program members.

Learn about Xcode Cloud

Xcode 14 beta now available

Xcode 14 beta now available

Get the Xcode 14 beta, which includes SDKs for all Apple platforms. Leverage the simplicity and power of Swift and SwiftUI with a new multiplatform app experience, code faster with enhanced editor features, and start testing and deploying from Xcode Cloud to TestFlight and the App Store.

Download Xcode 14 beta

Find out what’s new for Apple developers

Find out what’s new for Apple developers

The latest exciting advancements in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9 help you create powerful new experiences. Your apps can deliver information in new ways, make it easier for people to share your content, offer more intelligent features, improve productivity, and so much more.

Learn about what's new

Get ready for Developer Mode

Developer Mode protects people from inadvertently installing potentially harmful software on their devices, and reduces attack vectors exposed by developer-only functionality. Make sure to enable Developer Mode on your device when testing apps on iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or watchOS 9 or later, so you can grant permission to run locally-installed apps on these platforms.

Learn more

Updated agreements and guidelines now available

The Apple Developer Program License Agreement and the App Store Review Guidelines have been updated to support new features in upcoming OS releases, better protect users, and help your apps go through the review process as smoothly as possible.

Code one, code all

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WWDC22 is almost here. We’ll be kicking off with the Apple Keynote on June 6 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Watch online at apple.com or in the Apple Developer app. You can even use SharePlay to watch with friends.

Digital Lounges are now open for registration for eligible developers. Designed to connect you with the developer community and Apple experts, they’ll feature text-based Q&As, session watch parties with the presenters, community icebreakers, and more.

In addition, a variety of developer organizations will host events throughout the week of WWDC. Find even more opportunities for learning, networking, and fun.

Visit the updated WWDC22 site

Apple Design Award finalists announced

The Apple Design Awards celebrate apps and games that excel in the categories of Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Discover this year’s finalists, then tune in June 6 at 5 p.m. PT to watch the event as part of WWDC22.

Discover the finalists

Account deletion requirement starts June 30

Account deletion requirement starts June 30

As a reminder, apps that support account creation must let users initiate deletion of their account within the app starting June 30, 2022, as described in App Store Review Guideline 5.1.1(v). This deadline was extended to provide additional time for implementation of this requirement.

Please keep these requirements in mind when updating your app:

  • The account deletion option should be easy to find in your app.
  • If your app offers Sign in with Apple, you’ll need to use the Sign in with Apple REST API to revoke user tokens when deleting an account.
  • It’s insufficient to only provide the ability to temporarily disable or deactivate an account. People should be able to delete the account along with their personal data.
  • Apps in highly-regulated industries may provide additional customer service flows to confirm and facilitate the account deletion process.
  • Follow applicable legal requirements for storing and retaining user account information, and for handling account deletion. This includes complying with local laws in different countries or regions. As always, check with your legal counsel.

Learn about offering account deletion

Swiftly approaching

An image revealing the silhouettes of five faces in a row, each in a different color: red, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Get ready for June 6 at 10:00 a.m. PT, when WWDC22 gathers the developer community for an exciting online experience. Mark your calendars for the keynote and Platforms State of the Union. Learn about sessions, one-on-one labs, Digital Lounges, and more.

Learn more

Update to subscription notifications

Update to subscription notifications

Auto-renewable subscriptions are a great way to let people access content, services, or premium features in your app. And Apple continues to set the bar in making it easy and transparent for subscribers to view, cancel, or manage their subscriptions. Our comprehensive approach includes providing email, push notifications, and in-app messaging to let subscribers know about upcoming changes and how to manage their subscriptions, or cancel if they prefer.

Currently, when an auto-renewable subscription price is increased, subscribers must opt in before the price increase is applied. The subscription doesn’t renew at the next billing period for subscribers who didn't opt in to the new price. This has led to some services being unintentionally interrupted for users and they must take steps to resubscribe within the app, from Settings on iPhone and iPad, or in the App Store on Mac.

With this update, under certain specific conditions and with advance user notice, developers may also offer an auto-renewable subscription price increase, without the user needing to take action and without interrupting the service. The specific conditions for this feature are that the price increase doesn’t occur more than once per year, doesn’t exceed US$5 and 50% of the subscription price, or US$50 and 50% for an annual subscription price, and is permissible by local law. In these situations, Apple always notifies users of an increase in advance, including via email, push notification, and a message within the app. Apple will also notify users of how to view, manage, and cancel subscriptions if preferred.

For all subscription price increases that are above the thresholds, exceed the annual limit, or occur within territories where the law requires it, subscribers must opt in before the price increase is applied. The subscription won’t renew at the next billing period for subscribers who didn’t opt in to the new price. They can always resubscribe within the app, from Settings on iPhone and iPad, or in the App Store on Mac.

For details, view App Store Connect Help.

WWDC22 special event submissions open

Illustration of Apple Park

We’re hosting a special all-day experience at Apple Park on June 6 to kick off WWDC22, and we can’t wait to connect in person. Members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program, and 2022 Swift Student Challenge applicants can submit their request to be included in the random selection process starting today until May 11 at 9 a.m. PT.

This celebration marks the start of an inspiring week of sessions, labs, and lounges — all online and with more activities than ever.

Learn more

Clarifying criteria & new timing extension for App Store Improvements process

Clarifying criteria & new timing extension for App Store Improvements process

User trust in quality apps is the basis for all we have done in building and running the App Store.

Back in 2016, to ensure a great user experience and at the suggestion of developers, we launched the App Store Improvements process to remove apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines or are outdated. This helps us ensure apps work for the vast majority of users and support our latest innovations in security and privacy. Over the course of the past six years, we have removed almost 2.8 million apps as part of this process.

Users and developers alike have benefitted from this effort, including:

  • Discoverability. Users are able to find great apps that fit their needs more easily when outdated apps are no longer on the App Store. This in turn helps developers’ apps become more easily discoverable on the store.

  • Security and privacy. Apple hardware and software are constantly evolving, and we frequently provide developers with new tools to enhance performance, security and privacy. When developers update their apps to incorporate such technologies, they’re doing their part to help safeguard user safety and security.

  • User experience. Keeping apps up to date to conform with modern screen sizes, SDKs, APIs, and all of the other features offered on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS ensures users can have a great experience with any app they get from the App Store.

As part of the App Store Improvements process, developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

Apple always wants to help developers get and keep quality software on the App Store. That’s why developers can appeal app removals. And developers, including those who recently received a notice, will now be given more time to update their apps if needed — up to 90 days. Apps that are removed will continue to function as normal for users who have already downloaded the app on their device.

To learn more, visit the revised App Store Improvements Support Page.

Small developer assistance submission requests due by May 20

Last year, Apple announced a $100 million fund to assist US small developers. Eligible developers have until May 20, 2022 to submit a request to an independent administrator to receive payment. The fund is open to all developers based in the United States who:

  • Sold paid apps or in-app purchases (including subscriptions) through the App Store between June 4, 2015 and April 26, 2021; and
  • Earned proceeds equal to or less than $1 million through the US storefront in each calendar year in which they had a developer account between 2015 to 2021.

Learn more at https://smallappdeveloperassistance.com/

Upcoming tax and price changes for apps and in-app purchases

Upcoming tax and price changes for apps and in-app purchases

When taxes or foreign exchange rates change, we sometimes need to update prices on the App Store in certain regions and/or adjust your proceeds.

In the next few days, prices of apps and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) on the App Store will increase in Cambodia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Uganda. The increases also consider the following tax changes:

  • Cambodia: New value-added tax of 10% for developers based outside of Cambodia
  • Kazakhstan: New value-added tax of 12%
  • Kyrgyzstan: New value-added tax of 12% for developers based outside of Kyrgyzstan
  • Uganda: New value-added tax of 18%

Your proceeds will be adjusted accordingly and will be calculated based on the tax-exclusive price. Exhibit B of the Paid Applications Agreement will be updated to indicate that Apple collects and remits applicable taxes in these locations.

In addition, prices on the App Store in Indonesia will not change, but proceeds for developers based outside of Indonesia will be adjusted to reflect an increase of value-added tax from 10% to 11%.

Once these changes go into effect, the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps will be updated. You can change the price of your apps and in-app purchases (including auto-renewable subscriptions) at any time in App Store Connect. If you offer subscriptions, you can choose to preserve prices for existing subscribers.

View the updated price tier charts

WWDC22. Call to code.

The Swift programming logo of a bird in a colorful circle.

Join developers worldwide from June 6 to 10 for an inspiring week of technology and community. Get a first look at Apple’s latest platforms and technologies in sessions, explore the newest tools and tips, and connect with Apple experts in labs and digital lounges. All online and at no cost.

In addition to the online conference, Apple will host a special day for developers and students at Apple Park on June 6 to watch the keynote and State of the Union videos together, along with the online community. Space is limited and details on how to apply to attend will be provided soon.

Wherever you watch from, get ready for a fantastic WWDC.

Talented students can showcase their creativity for the opportunity to receive an award in the Swift Student Challenge.

Visit the WWDC website

Update on “reader” app distribution

Update on “reader” app distribution

Last year, Apple announced an update coming to the App Store in early 2022 that would allow developers of “reader” apps to include an in-app link to their website for account creation and management purposes. Starting today, with the update of App Store Review guideline 3.1.3(a), developers of reader apps can now request access to the External Link Account Entitlement. This entitlement lets reader apps link to a website that is owned or maintained by the developer, so that users can create or manage their account outside of the app. Reader apps are apps that provide one or more of the following digital content types — magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video — as the primary functionality of the app.

Learn about the External Link Account Entitlement

Update on StoreKit External Entitlement for dating apps

Since February of this year, developers of dating apps on the App Store in the Netherlands have been able to use the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement or the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement to enable the capability to sell services through a payment system other than Apple’s in-app purchase system. Apple established these entitlements as part of our plan to comply with a recent Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) order. Today we’ve introduced changes to these entitlements, which include:

  • Removal of the Separate Binary Requirement: Apple is eliminating the requirement that developers of dating apps in the Netherlands who choose to use the above entitlements must create and use a separate binary. This change means that developers may include either entitlement in their existing dating app, but still must limit its use to the app in the Netherlands storefront and on devices running iOS or iPadOS.
  • Payment Service Provider Criteria: Apple is providing updated and more-specific criteria to evaluate non-Apple payment service providers that developers of dating apps in the Netherlands may use.
  • Consumer Disclosures: Apps that use either entitlement need to include an in-app modal sheet that explains to users that they’re going to make purchases through an external payment system, and the potential impact that choice could have on the user. Apple is adjusting the language on the modal sheet and reducing the number of times the sheet must be displayed.

Developers of dating apps who want to continue using Apple’s in-app purchase system — which we believe is the safest and most secure way for users to purchase digital goods and services — may do so and no further action is needed.

As we have previously said, we disagree with the ACM’s original order and are appealing it. In the meantime, the changes we’ve made today demonstrate Apple’s ongoing commitment to fulfill its legal obligations in the Netherlands.

Learn more