Navigating the process of getting your iOS app onto the App Store can be daunting, especially with the various tools and methods available. App Store Connect is Apple's essential platform for managing and distributing apps to the world, where you can submit new app builds and app updates for review and publishing. Understanding how to upload your app to this portal is crucial to fulfill Apple’s guidelines and requirements as well as to reach Apple's global audience. 

In this blogpost, we'll explore the steps required to upload a build to App Store Connect, and how Updraft simplifies this process, allowing you to focus on what truly matters - developing great apps.

What is the App Store Connect portal? 

App Store Connect is a platform provided by Apple that allows companies to manage and distribute their apps on the App Store. Through App Store Connect, you can submit new apps, app updates, and in-app purchases for review, ensuring your products meet Apple's guidelines. 

The App Store Connect portal offers several key features that are essential for app management and development. First, it allows developers to submit new apps or updates for review by Apple. Furthermore you can also manage app metadata, including descriptions, keywords, screenshots, and app previews. In terms of User and Account Management, the portal enables organizations to manage access for multiple team members by assigning various roles such as developer, marketing, or admin. Additionally, it allows for viewing and updating team account details, including important banking and tax information. Through TestFlight, Apple’s solution for app testing, developers can distribute beta versions of their apps to testers to gather feedback before the final release. 

Via the App Store Connect portal, developers can address feedback from Apple’s review team. It also helps to manage responses to user reviews and ratings on the App Store.

Using the App Store Connect Portal it is crucial if you want to reach Apple's global user base. But how exactly do you get an app onto the App Store Connect? 

In the following section, we will focus on the part between the creation of a new iOS app build and the Updraft integration with the App Store Connect portal. 

How to get your app build onto the App Store Connect portal

There are 3 main options how you can upload a build to App Store Connect:

1. The first option will be using Apps from Apple like Xcode and Transporter. Xcode, or more specifically, the Organizer, offers a direct way to upload your app to App Store Connect. Furthermore you can use the Organizer to create an .ipa file and export it for later use. This exported .ipa file then can be used to “deliver” the app via another app by Apple, the Transporter app, to the App Store Connect portal. These methods may be better suited for those, who are already working with Xcode.  

2. Option 2: Upload your app with the command line to the App Store Connect portal. Both of the described apps (Xcode & Transporter) also have command line interfaces which can be used for automated (CI/CD) use cases.
   Fastlane, an open source platform aimed at automating the development and release process, is built on the basis of the Apple command line tools and API and provides a very handy and more sophisticated possibility to upload and submit your iOS app. 

3. The 3rd option to submit an app binary to the App Store Connect portal is via the App Store Connect Rest API. It is a very powerful API where you can manage all sorts of things from the App Store Connect portal. It provides everything you need. With it, you can automate things like creating provisioning profiles, manage your users and roles and download performance metrics. You can even respond to customer reviews.

While these methods can be very powerful and get the job done, applying them also requires knowledge about their intricacies. 

Why there is a better way to upload an iOS build to the App Store Connect portal

For the Xcode approach, you will need to have the correct provisioning profiles locally on your Mac machine, with the right distribution certificates. If you want to use the App Store Connect API, you will need to understand the complex API endpoints and know how to handle API responses. Even a tool like Fastlane needs some configuration and knowledge so it can be used smoothly (manually or in an automated environment). And not to forget: a lot of apps from Apple, like Xcode, require you to have an Apple product yourself (e.g. a MacBook). 

If a TestFlight build expires, which it will after 90 days, you will need to create a new build. If you don’t have an automated system for that (e.g. fastlane), it will require a person who understands what needs to be done. Most of the time, it will be a developer doing every step, from the building of the application, to the right signing and the uploading to the App Store. And if you have fastlane set up, but it does not work correctly, somebody has got to fix it. Furthermore, if you want somebody to test your app, you will either need to go through a beta app review from Apple or add your testers as developers for your project. Both options bear a few pros and cons. 

How Updraft can help to submit your iOS app

Lucky for you, whether you are a developer or not, you do not need to worry about all of this when using Updraft as your build management and app distribution tool. Upload one app build to Updraft and you will not have to touch Xcode anymore (plus point: no MacBook required). If the 90 days provided by TestFlight to test your app are not enough, you can easily distribute your apps via a link from Updraft. Without having to go through a beta app review process or re-building your app every 90 days. If a distribution certificate expires or if you need to change it from a development to a distribution certificate, our resigning feature has got you covered. Want to change entitlements, release notes, app build and version number or even your app name? Again, resign your builds to your liking with Updraft.

PS: If you also have an Android app, Updraft has some nice features for distributing, resigning and testing.  

Now you might ask, how can you get your app build from Updraft to the App Store Connect portal? We have a solution for you. 

How to use Updraft to upload your app to the App Store Connect portal

Let’s say that you just changed your app entitlements and you want to upload the new app build to App Store Connect. As an owner of your Updraft organization, you can add an App Store integration to your Updraft organization, and then upload your app build easily to the integrated App Store Connect account. These are the necessary steps to do this:

1. First you need to get the App Store API keys. You can do this via https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/. You are going to need an Admin or Account Holder account. Select your desired team and click on Users and Access. There you will find an integration tab where you can create a key. Directly after you have created one, download the key. 
   
   The private key is available for download only once. Apple does not keep a copy of the private key. Store your private key in a safe place!

2. After you have done that, add the key to Updraft. A prerequisite is to have an Owner account of your organization. Go to the Profile section on the left and then Developer Accounts. Create a new integration and upload the needed details. With that, Updraft is connected to the App Store Connect portal. 
   
   If you need a more thorough explanation on how to do this, we’ve created a step by step guide on adding an App Store Connect API key to Updraft: https://docs.getupdraft.com/.../app-store-connect-api 

3. Now, if you decide to upload a build, Updraft lets you choose which of your builds you want to upload and provides you with an overview of which app version goes to App Store Connect. You will find the options to distribute builds under the Apps > Distribution tab. Here you can see a distribute menu. Press on App Store and go through the necessary steps for the upload and submit the app to the integrated App Store Connect Account . 

4. After you have submitted your iOS release to the App Store Connect portal, you will see your Updraft build on TestFlight shortly after. That's just great 😁

We hope this blogpost is helpful for uploading your app builds onto the App Store Connect portal with Updraft. Feel free to send us your Feedback! It helps us to create a better experience for everybody. If you have any questions regarding Updraft, don’t hesitate, just contact us by email via info@getupdraft.com