Checklist for releasing an app

  • Monetisation:
    • Use a Sandbox account to test purchases (local Xcode/dev builds only): Create a separate Sandbox account in App Store Connect -> Users and Access -> Sandbox. Set a password. On the test device, go to Settings -> Developer -> Sandbox Apple Account, sign in with the Sandbox account. When prompted, make sure to not go through account security upgrade as it will ask you to validate your email and phone number. Then, from Xcode, Run the app on the device.
    • With a TestFlight build, test with your real Apple ID: (no money will be taken)

Monetisation and In-App Purchases

Terminology

  • off-device-buy: this is where a transaction was not initiated on the local device/app session, so the app should be able to detect and handle a previously completed purchase (e.g. Restore Purchases)

.storekit files

.storekit file is a way to have a local mock of the App Store during development. If this file is active, StoreKit in your app doesn’t talk to Apple’s servers, but reads product details from the local file.

A .storekit file can also be optionally synced with App Store Connect, which just makes it easier to test with a list of products you’ve already defined “for real” in ASC, without having to type them all in locally.

  • synced configs are fine for running an app (e.g. on a physical device), NOT for programmatic tests.
  • unsynced configs are preferred for programmatic tests