Distribute an app through the App Store
Before you distribute your app through the App Store, test it on simulated and real devices in Xcode, then distribute the final build to real-world users. The final build you upload to App Store Connect should be product quality and pass all validation tests.
If you distribute your app using TestFlight, perform some of the steps below before you distribute the final build. Then the final build is already uploaded to App Store Connect and if you distribute to external testers, approved by Beta App Review.
Step 1: Prepare your app for submission
Go to App Review to review the App Store and human interface guidelines. For watchOS apps, also read Preparing Your watchOS App for Submission. For example, you must provide an App Store icon. If you haven’t already done so, add an App Store icon to your Xcode project.
Step 2: Enter additional information in App Store Connect
You may need to enter additional information in App Store Connect before you can submit your app to App Review. After your app is uploaded or released, you can’t change some of this metadata, so it’s important to choose your settings carefully. For the metadata that is required (or can’t be changed later), go to Required, localizable, and editable properties in App Store Connect Help.
For a Mac app built with Mac Catalyst, create separate app records for the Mac and iPad versions, then enter all the required information.
Step 3: Archive, validate, and upload your app
If you didn’t distributed the final build using TestFlight, prepare your app for distribution and create an archive of your app now. Validate the archive and fix any validation errors before continuing. Then upload it to App Store Connect and wait for it to pass App Store Connect validation tests.
For a Mac app built with Mac Catalyst, create separate archives for the iPad and Mac app. When creating the archive for the Mac app, choose My Mac as the run destination.
Step 4: Submit your app to App Review
To submit the build to App Review, go to Publish your app in App Store Connect Help.