I have 4 iOS apps under one Developer team. None of them have ever been installable through TestFlight by my single internal tester since day 1. The error is always the same: "The requested app is not available or doesn't exist" — appearing only after the tester taps Install (the app DOES appear in the TestFlight app's list).
Apps (all PREPARE_FOR_SUBMISSION, never released to App Store)
- AutoChoice —
com.jiejuefuyou.autochoice— 4 valid builds, latest v1.0.1 (11) - AltitudeNowPro —
com.jiejuefuyou.altitudenow— v1.0.0 (2) valid - PromptVaultPro —
com.jiejuefuyou.promptvault— v1.0.0 (2) valid - NewDaysUntil —
com.jiejuefuyou.daysuntil— v1.0.0 (2) valid
What's verified clean via App Store Connect API + web UI
- All 3 account-level agreements ACTIVE (Developer Program, Free Apps, Paid Apps)
- Banking + tax form filled
- All builds: state=VALID, expired=False, 88+ days remaining
- All builds in Internal Testers betaGroup
- buildBetaDetail.internalBuildState =
IN_BETA_TESTING - Tester
sh1990***@hotmail.comstate = ACCEPTED in all 4 betaGroups - ASC TF group/builds page shows latest builds as "Testing"
- Distribution certificates: 2 active until 2027
- App Store provisioning profiles: 8 active until 2027
- usesNonExemptEncryption = False (export compliance set)
- contentRightsDeclaration = DOES_NOT_USE_THIRD_PARTY_CONTENT
- primaryCategory set on each app (LIFESTYLE / HEALTH_AND_FITNESS / PRODUCTIVITY)
- ageRatingDeclaration created (4+, all NONE)
- copyright filled
- betaAppReviewDetail filled (contact name/email/phone)
- appStoreReviewDetail filled
- Beta App Description, feedback email, marketing URL, privacy policy URL all filled
- 5 screenshots uploaded for AutoChoice (APP_IPHONE_67), 4 for AltitudeNow, 3 for DaysUntil
- 175 territories available
What's verified on iPhone side
- iOS version ≥ 17 (build minOsVersion=17.0, satisfied)
- iCloud Apple ID = sh1990***@hotmail.com
- Settings → Media & Purchases Apple ID = sh1990***@hotmail.com
- TestFlight app signed in as sh1990***@hotmail.com
- All 4 apps visible in TF app's main list
What's been tried (none worked)
- Force close TF app + reopen
- Sign out + sign in TF app
- Sign out + sign in Media & Purchases
- Restart iPhone
- Tap "View in TestFlight" link in invite email
- TF app's "Redeem" with invite code
- DELETE + 30s + POST tester record (Apple distribution cache reset)
- Multiple invite resends via
POST /v1/betaTesterInvitations - Patched all "Pending Submission" indicators that the API allowed (categories, content rights, age rating, copyright, review details, screenshots)
- POST /v1/appStoreVersionSubmissions returns 403 (not allowed for current version state)
What we cannot try
- New build upload (Mac+Xcode chain not currently available; previous attempts via fastlane on macOS GitHub Actions runner cost 12+ hours of debug)
- Apple Configurator 2 (we're on Windows)
The contradiction
Apple's API and web UI both say the build is in beta testing and available to the accepted internal tester. The iPhone says "App not available or doesn't exist." This contradicts every part of the documented internal-testing flow.
Question
What ASC-side or account-side check could still be missing that's specifically blocking distribution to internal testers, given everything above is set? Is there an account-level "first-build flag" or distribution-eligibility flag invisible in the public API/UI that requires Apple intervention to flip on for new developer teams?
Team ID: ZJ3FQ63UV3 First app created: late April 2026 First build uploaded: 2026-05-02
Any pointers appreciated.