When parents visit the Kids category on the App Store, they expect that the apps they find are suitable for children. That’s why apps published on the App Store must protect children’s data and provide only age-appropriate content. Apps must also require a parental gate in order to link out of the app, request permissions, or present purchasing opportunities. It’s critical that apps do not transmit personally identifiable information or device information to third parties, and that advertisements are human-reviewed for age appropriateness in order to be displayed.

As a reminder, existing apps in the Kids category on the App Store must be in full compliance with the updated guideline 1.3 and guideline 5.1.4 by March 3, 2020.

When taxes or foreign exchange rates change, we sometimes need to update prices on the App Store. In the next few days, prices of apps on the App Store and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) will change in the following countries.

• Thailand: Prices will decrease due to changes in foreign exchange rates.
• Pakistan: Prices will increase due to changes in foreign exchange rates.

Additionally, on January 1, 2020, a 7% goods and services tax (GST) was introduced in Singapore. Developers based in Singapore who provide their GST number in App Store Connect will not have their proceeds affected. Otherwise, proceeds will be adjusted accordingly. Prices on the App Store won’t change based on the introduction of this tax.

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. For subscriptions, you have the option to preserve prices for existing subscribers.

View the updated price tier charts now

Apps should look great on all models of iPhone and iPad, regardless of display size or aspect ratio. With features like Xcode storyboards and Auto Layout, your app’s interface elements and layouts automatically fit the display. As announced at WWDC19, starting April 2020, apps submitted to the App Store must use an Xcode storyboard to provide the app’s launch screen and must have an interface that supports any display size.

Support for Multitasking on iPad is strongly encouraged. Adding support for multiple windows, and adopting Multitasking capabilities, including Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture, will ensure your app delivers a modern and complete experience on iPadOS.

Learn about designing adaptive interfaces

Learn about multitasking on iPad

The new Reality Converter app makes it easy to convert, view, and customize USDZ 3D objects on Mac. Simply drag-and-drop common 3D file formats, such as .obj, .gltf and .usd, to view the converted USDZ result, customize material properties with your own textures, and edit file metadata. You can even preview your USDZ object under a variety of lighting and environment conditions with built-in IBL options.

Download Reality Converter beta

View example 3D models using USDZ

If your app still embeds web content using the deprecated UIWebView API, we strongly encourage you to update to WKWebView as soon as possible for improved security and reliability. WKWebView ensures that compromised web content doesn’t affect the rest of an app by limiting web processing to the app’s web view. And it’s supported in iOS and macOS, and by Mac Catalyst.

The App Store will no longer accept new apps using UIWebView as of April 2020 and app updates using UIWebView as of December 2020.

Learn more about WKWebView

In June, we announced that all Mac software distributed outside the Mac App Store must be notarized by Apple in order to run by default on macOS Catalina. In September, we temporarily adjusted the notarization prerequisites to make this transition easier and to protect users on macOS Catalina who continue to use older versions of software. Starting February 3, 2020, all submitted software must meet the original notarization prerequisites.

If you haven’t yet done so, upload your software to the notary service and review the developer log for warnings. These warnings will become errors starting February 3 and must be fixed in order to have your software notarized. Software notarized before February 3 will continue to run by default on macOS Catalina.

As a reminder, all installer packages must be signed since they may contain executable code. Disk images do not need to be signed, although signing them can help your users verify their contents.

Learn about notarizing software

As part of Apple’s commitment to security, we reward researchers who share critical issues with us through the Apple Security Bounty. You can now earn up to $1,500,000 and report issues on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and iCloud. In addition, Apple offers public recognition for those who submit valid reports and will match donations of the bounty payment to qualifying charities.

Learn more

Apple is taking a major step in its approach to the smart home by joining a new industry effort with Amazon, Google, Zigbee Alliance, and others. The initiative aims to develop an open standard that will increase the compatibility of smart home products across multiple platforms, with security and privacy as fundamental design tenets. The new standard will make it even simpler for developers to build one device that is compatible with smart home services and voice assistants, while ensuring consumers can easily choose smart home products that seamlessly work together.

Learn more about the initiative

Now it’s simpler than ever for developers based in China mainland to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. The Apple Developer app now supports enrollment in China mainland, allowing developers to start and finish their membership purchase with local payment methods on iPhone or iPad. And since membership is provided as an auto-renewable subscription, keeping your account active is easy.

View on the App Store

了解如何通过该 app 进行注册

As a reminder, new apps and app updates will not be accepted December 23 to 27 (Pacific Time), so any releases should be scheduled, submitted, and approved in advance. Other App Store Connect and developer account features will remain available.

Every year, the App Store’s Best Of celebration honors a select group of innovative, beautifully designed, culturally interesting apps and games with exceptional production quality. Congratulations to the 2019 winning developers!

See this year’s selections

The busiest season on the App Store is almost here. Make sure your apps are up to date and ready for the holidays. New apps and app updates will not be accepted December 23 to 27 (Pacific Time), so any releases should be scheduled, submitted, and approved in advance. Other App Store Connect and developer account features will remain available.

Server-to-server notifications from the App Store let you receive real-time updates in a subscription’s status, so you can provide customized experiences for your subscribers. New notifications are now available when a subscription renewal fails due to a billing issue and when a billing issue is resolved by the App Store. In addition, a unified receipt containing information about the latest 100 in-app purchase transactions is now included with the notification. If you’ve already enabled server-to-server notifications in App Store Connect, you’ll automatically receive the new notifications and unified receipt for these subscription events.

Learn how to enable server-to-server notifications

With the SF Symbols Mac app, you can view over 1,500 symbols available for use. Each symbol comes in a wide range of weights and scales, allowing you to easily design adaptable interfaces that look great. Symbols are easy to integrate into your app directly from within Xcode. And if you need a symbol that isn’t provided by SF Symbols, you can export template files to create your own with the same capabilities using a vector graphics editor. Version 1.1 adds custom symbol validation, a new sidebar with categories for faster browsing, and the option to receive updates automatically.

Learn more about SF Symbols

Download SF Symbols

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week and Hour of Code, join us at an Apple Store near you to learn the basics of coding and apps, December 1 to 15. Sign up for engaging Code with Apple sessions to code augmented reality art, robots, and more on iPad. And if you’d like to lead your own Swift coding activity, you can download the new Hour of Code with Swift Playgrounds Facilitator Guide.

Starting today, the WWDC app is now the Apple Developer app and delivers in-depth information from Apple experts all year round. Stay up to date with the latest developer news, informative videos, WWDC content, and more. Developers in the U.S. can also use the app to conveniently enroll in the Apple Developer Program on iPhone or iPad, with enrollment in additional countries and regions becoming available over time. And since membership is provided as an auto-renewable subscription, keeping your account active is easy.

View on the App Store

Learn about enrolling with the app

Apple is committed to making sure that the App Store is a safe place for kids around the world to browse and download apps. Due to regulations in Brazil, the Brazil-specific age ratings that are automatically generated from the age ratings set in App Store Connect have been adjusted as listed below. The local age rating is shown as a badge displayed alongside Apple’s rating on the App Store in Brazil.

Apps with Infrequent/Mild selected for the following content descriptions displays a local rating of 12+:

• Mature or Suggestive Themes
• Sexual Content or Nudity

Apps with Infrequent/Mild selected for the following content descriptions displays a local rating of 14+:

• Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use References

Apps with Frequent/Intense selected for the following content descriptions displays a local rating of 18+:

• Mature or Suggestive Themes
• Realistic Violence
• Sexual Content or Nudity
• Simulated Gambling

Learn more about age ratings

If you send push notifications with the legacy binary protocol, we recommend updating to the HTTP/2-based APNs provider API as soon as possible. You’ll be able to take advantage of great modern features, such as authentication with a JSON Web Token, improved error messaging, and per-notification feedback.

The Apple Push Notification service (APNs) will no longer support the legacy binary protocol as of November 2020.

Learn about the APNs Provider API

Today marks the completion of Apple Entrepreneur Camp’s first year with its fourth cohort of 2019. So far, Apple Entrepreneur Camp has helped 100 participants from 13 different countries work on the next generation of cutting-edge apps with a hands-on technology lab and one-on-one code-level guidance from Apple engineers, as well as mentorship, inspiration, and insights from top Apple leaders. The next cohort is planned for January 28 to February 5, 2020, and applications are accepted until November 15.

Learn about our alumni

Find out how to apply

The new Transporter app for macOS makes it easy to upload your binary to App Store Connect. To get started, download Transporter from the Mac App Store, and simply drag and drop your binaries into the upload window. With Transporter you can:

• Upload your .ipa or .pkg files to App Store Connect.
• View delivery progress, including validation warnings, errors, and delivery logs, so you can quickly fix any issues.
• See a history of past deliveries, including date and time.

The Transporter app is available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

View on the Mac App Store

macOS Catalina will soon be available to hundreds of millions of users around the world. With macOS Catalina, your Mac apps can take advantage of Sign in with Apple, Sidecar, and the latest advances in Core ML 3, and Metal. And with Mac Catalyst, you can bring your iPad apps to Mac. Build your apps using Xcode 11, test them on a Mac computer running the macOS Catalina GM seed, and submit them for review.

Learn about preparing your apps

To further protect users on macOS Catalina, we’re working with developers to make sure all software, whether distributed on the App Store or outside of it, is signed or notarized by Apple. This will give users more confidence that the software they download and run, no matter where they get it from, has been checked for known security issues.

In June, we announced that all Mac software distributed outside the Mac App Store must be notarized by Apple in order to run by default on macOS Catalina. Make sure to test all versions of your software on the macOS Catalina GM seed and submit it to Apple to be notarized.

Learn about notarizing software

When taxes or foreign exchange rates change, we sometimes need to update prices on the App Store. In the next few days, prices of apps on the App Store and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) will increase in Kazakhstan and Sweden due to changes in foreign exchange rates. Your proceeds will be increased accordingly.

Once this change goes 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. For subscriptions, you have the option to preserve prices for existing subscribers.

View updated price tiers

With iPadOS, you can deliver multiwindow experiences, add full drawing experiences for Apple Pencil, and contribute fonts for systemwide use. You can also take advantage of Dark Mode, Sign in with Apple, and the latest advances in ARKit 3, Core ML 3, and Siri. Build your apps using Xcode 11, test them on the latest version of iPadOS, and submit them for review.

Starting April 2020, all new apps and app updates for iPad will need to be built with the iOS 13 SDK and support the all-screen design of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation).

Learn about preparing your apps

When taxes or foreign exchange rates change, we sometimes need to update prices on the App Store. Starting October 2019, the Japan Consumption Tax (JCT) will increase from 8% to 10%, resulting in a price increase for apps on the App Store and in-app purchases (excluding auto-renewable subscriptions) in Japan. Once the change goes into effect, the Pricing and Availability section of My Apps will be updated and your proceeds will be increased accordingly. You can change the price of your apps and in-app purchases (including auto-renewable subscriptions) at any time in App Store Connect. For subscriptions, you have the option to preserve prices for existing subscribers.

Note that Apple does not administer the collection and remittance of JCT applicable to sales to customers purchasing content on the App Store in Japan. You will continue to be responsible for the collection and remittance of such taxes to the appropriate tax authorities, as may be required by local law.

View updated price tiers

With tvOS 13, your apps can now take advantage of multi-user support and Sign in with Apple, play full-screen video previews on the Home screen, and much more. Build your tvOS apps using Xcode 11, test them on Apple TV running tvOS 13 GM seed, and submit them for review.

Learn about preparing your apps

Apps on the App Store in China mainland, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Vietnam are now available for volume purchase on Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager. You can now also privately distribute custom apps to specific organizations in these locations or proprietary apps to employees within your organization in these locations. The organizations that you identify in App Store Connect can access your custom app in the Custom Apps section of Apple Business Manager.

Learn more

A new certificate for server-based Game Center verification is available via the publicKeyUrl property of generateIdentityVerificationSignature. The previous certificate will no longer be available as of September 17, 2019.

Make sure your app always retrieves and uses the current publicKeyUrl value so it automatically uses the new certificate. If your app caches the certificate or hardcodes the certificate URL, it will require an update.

Learn more

We’ve worked closely with leading developers to create a solution for reducing customer churn while improving the experience for auto-renewable subscriptions. With the new grace period for unsuccessful auto-renewals, subscribers can continue accessing your app’s paid content while Apple attempts to collect payment — allowing them time to fix the issue. There won’t be any interruption to the subscriber’s days of paid service or to your revenue if payment is successful within the grace period.

Learn more

Make it easy for users to sign in to your apps and websites using the Apple ID they already have. With privacy and security features built-in, Sign in with Apple is a great way to help users set up an account, sign in, and engage with your app quickly and easily. All accounts are protected with two-factor authentication for superior security, and Apple will not track users’ activity in your app or website.

We’ve updated the App Store Review Guidelines to provide criteria for when apps are required to use Sign in with Apple. Starting today, new apps submitted to the App Store must follow these guidelines. Existing apps and app updates must follow them by April 2020. We’ve also provided new guidelines for using Sign in with Apple on the web and other platforms.

View the App Store review guideline

View guidelines for websites and other platforms

When parents visit the Kids category on the App Store, they expect the apps they find will protect their children’s data, provide only age-appropriate content, and require a parental gate in order to link out of the app, request permissions, or present purchasing opportunities. It’s critical that no personally identifiable information or device information be transmitted to third parties, and that advertisements are human-reviewed for age appropriateness in order to be displayed.

Guideline 1.3 and guideline 5.1.4 detail important rules related to apps in the Kids category and we’ve been working with some developers of existing apps to assist them in the transition to full compliance with this important guideline.

All new apps must follow these guidelines, and we urge you to update your existing apps as soon as possible. If your existing app requires more time to implement these guidelines, we’ve provided an additional six months, until March 3, 2020, to bring it into full compliance.

With watchOS 6, customers around the world can use the new App Store on Apple Watch to easily discover, browse, search, and install apps directly on their wrist. And for the first time, you can distribute an app just for Apple Watch, without a companion app on iOS. Build your watchOS apps using Xcode 11 GM seed, test them on devices running the latest watchOS 6 GM seed, and submit them for review.

Starting April 2020, all new watchOS apps and app updates submitted to the App Store must be built with the watchOS 6 SDK and support Apple Watch Series 4 or later.

Learn about preparing your apps

With iOS 13, your app can take advantage of Dark Mode, a dramatic new look for iPhone, Sign in with Apple, the fast, easy way to sign in to apps, and the latest advances in ARKit 3, Core ML 3, and Siri. Build your apps using Xcode 11 GM seed, test them on iOS devices running the latest GM seeds, and submit them for review.

Starting April 2020, all new apps and app updates will need to be built with the iOS 13 SDK and support the all-screen design of iPhone XS Max or later.

Learn about preparing your apps

In order to provide users with the secure and curated experience that they expect on the App Store, we have always specified that apps must be self-contained bundles. This means that the core features and functionality of the app must be contained within the binary of the software, rather than made possible by referring users outside of the approved app, including through the use of HTML5. Apps that provide core features and functionality dynamically with web technology like HTML5 are best delivered to everyone in Safari, rather than through the curated App Store.

To prevent fraud and abuse, the exceptions to this rule have always been very narrow. In June, we updated guideline 4.7 sections 4, 5, & 6, to further narrow these exceptions and clarify an existing restriction. Apps containing or running code that is not embedded in the binary cannot provide access to real money gaming, lotteries, or charitable donations, among other changes.

All new apps must follow this guideline and we urge you to update your existing apps as soon as possible. If your existing app requires more time to implement the guidelines, we’ve provided an additional six months, until March 3, 2020, to bring it into compliance.

View the App Store Review Guidelines

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a powerful and wide-reaching technology that grants a broad range of access to and control over users’ devices. While these capabilities are necessary to effectively manage a large number of devices, and in limited cases for parental control services, they also have the potential to create user privacy and security issues if not used properly.

In June, we announced that apps seeking to include MDM technology must first submit an MDM capability request. This process will evaluate how the app will use MDM in order to prevent abuse and ensure that no data is shared with third parties. The MDM capability will be re-evaluated on an annual basis, and you will need to submit a new request each year. We have worked with developers of parental control apps who have successfully completed this process and are now providing safer apps for kids and their families.

This new guideline was effective for all apps on June 3, 2019. If you already have an app on the App Store that uses MDM capabilities but does not follow the new guideline, submit an MDM capability request as soon as possible.

View the Mobile Device Management guideline

As a reminder, Mac software distributed outside the Mac App Store must be notarized by Apple in order to run on macOS Catalina. To make this transition easier and to protect users on macOS Catalina who continue to use older versions of software, we’ve adjusted the notarization prerequisites until January 2020.

Dark Mode introduces a dramatic new look for iPhone and iPad that is seamlessly integrated throughout the system and simple to turn on from Control Center or Siri. With a dark appearance for all user interface elements, your app’s content becomes the focus.

When a user has Dark Mode turned on, all apps built with the iOS 13 SDK will run in Dark Mode. Learn how to optimize for Dark Mode, then test your apps on a device running the latest beta version of iOS 13 or iPadOS. If you need more time to make your apps look fantastic in Dark Mode, or if Dark Mode is not suited for your app, you can learn how to opt out.

View WWDC19 videos

Read documentation

In an effort to open up additional opportunities for developers, we’ve worked with the government of the Republic of Korea on making more apps available on the App Store in the Republic of Korea. And to ensure that our global age rating system continues to help make the App Store safe for kids, apps that feature Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling will be rated 17+ in all countries and regions starting August 20, 2019.

You can now watch all the session videos from this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference with Japanese and Simplified Chinese subtitles.

View WWDC19 videos

Take advantage of transcripts to quickly discover and share information presented in WWDC19 videos. You can search by keyword, see all instances where the keyword is mentioned in the video, go straight to the time it was mentioned, and even share a link to that specific time.

See this year’s WWDC videos

Links generated for apps on the App Store now begin with apps.apple.com. Existing links that begin with itunes.apple.com will continue to work in their current form and will automatically redirect to the apps.apple.com domain.

Create seamless, intelligent, and engaging experiences with the Xcode 11 beta, which includes the SDKs for iOS 13, watchOS 6, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina.

Learn more

SwiftUI is an innovative new way to build user interfaces across all Apple platforms, so you can create better apps with less code. With a declarative Swift syntax that’s easy to read and natural to write, SwiftUI works seamlessly with new Xcode design tools to keep your code and design perfectly in sync. Automatic support for Dynamic Type, Dark Mode, localization, and accessibility means your first line of SwiftUI code is already the most powerful UI code you’ve ever written.

Learn more

Now it’s incredibly simple to start building a native Mac app from your current iPad app. The beta version of Xcode 11 is all you need. Your Mac and iPad apps share the same project and source code, so any changes you make translate to both platforms. And your newly created Mac app runs natively, utilizing the same frameworks, resources, and even runtime environment as apps built just for Mac.

Learn more

Now users can sign in to your apps and websites with their Apple ID, and can even use Face ID or Touch ID. With privacy and security features, Sign in with Apple is a great way to help your users set up an account and get started right away.

Learn more

Core ML 3 seamlessly uses the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine to provide maximum performance and efficiency, and lets you integrate the latest cutting-edge models into your apps. The new Create ML app lets you build, train, and deploy machine learning models with no machine learning expertise required. Take advantage of on-device model training and a gallery of curated models.

Learn more

ARKit 3 delivers an incredible awareness of people with the ability to integrate human movement into your app, the new People Occlusion feature that lets AR content realistically pass behind and in front of people in the real world, and much more. It’s easy to prototype and produce AR experiences with Reality Composer — a powerful new app that lets you easily create AR experiences, and RealityKit — a new high-level augmented reality framework.

Learn more

Use the latest advances in Siri to provide an interactive voice experience with follow-up questions, additional shortcut customization, and audio content playback. Your apps can let Siri know when a user makes a reservation so Siri can remind them to check in, provide directions in Maps, add the event to Calendar, and more. And with the Shortcuts app built in to iOS 13, it’s even faster for users to find, use, and combine shortcuts.

Learn more

You can now submit developer feedback and file bug reports to Apple using the native Feedback Assistant app for iOS and Mac, which features automatic on-device diagnostics, remote bug filing, more detailed bug forms, and more bug statuses. You can also use the Feedback Assistant website. Feedback Assistant replaces Bug Reporter.

Learn more

Mac apps, installer packages, and kernel extensions that are signed with Developer ID must also be notarized by Apple in order to run on macOS Catalina. This will help give users more confidence that the software they download and run, no matter where they get it from, is not malware by showing a more streamlined Gatekeeper interface.

Learn more

The App Store is dedicated to the best store experience for everyone. In order to continue providing a safe experience for users and a great opportunity for developers to be successful, we sometimes need to update the App Store Review Guidelines.

We’re working with developers to create a safer Mac user experience through a process where all software, whether distributed on the App Store or outside of it, is signed or notarized by Apple. With the public release of macOS 10.14.5, we require that all developers creating a Developer ID certificate for the first time notarize their apps, and that all new and updated kernel extensions be notarized as well. This will help give users more confidence that the software they download and run, no matter where they get it from, is not malware by showing a more streamlined Gatekeeper interface.

Learn how to get your software notarized

Now you can use Apple Search Ads to reach customers in 46 more countries and regions at the very moment they’re searching for apps like yours. Take advantage of this efficient and easy way to promote your app at the top of relevant App Store search results with a 100 USD credit toward your first app promotion.

Learn more about Apple Search Ads

Registration closes on Wednesday, March 20 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Don’t miss your chance to register for this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, June 3-7.

Learn more about WWDC

iOS 12 is now running on more than 80% of devices worldwide. Make sure your app delivers a great user experience by seamlessly integrating with the latest advances in iOS. Starting March 27, 2019, all new apps and app updates for iPhone or iPad, including universal apps, must be built with the iOS 12.1 SDK or later and support iPhone XS Max or the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation). Screenshots for these devices will also be required. All new apps and app updates for Apple Watch will need to be built with the watchOS 5.1 SDK or later and support Apple Watch Series 4.

Understanding Changes in Memory Accounting
iOS 12 and tvOS 12 require apps to use memory far more efficiently than before. If you have difficulty reducing your app’s memory requirements, contact us to request an entitlement for your app to use iOS 11-style memory accounting.

Learn more about preparing your apps

Register by Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. PDT for your chance to join us and thousands of coders, creators, and crazy ones at this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, June 3-7.

Learn more about WWDC

WWDC Scholarships reward talented students and STEM organization members with the opportunity to attend this year’s conference. Apply by Sunday, March 24, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

Learn more about WWDC Scholarships

Apps with auto-renewable subscriptions will soon be able to provide a discounted price for existing or previously subscribed customers. Subscription offers can help re-engage subscribers who have canceled their subscriptions or promote an upgrade to another subscription at a special price. Make sure your offers are ready once this feature is publicly available. Download the latest Xcode 10.2 beta, implement the new StoreKit APIs, and test on the latest beta version of iOS 12.2, macOS 10.14.4, and tvOS 12.2.

Learn how to provide offers for subscriptions

Make sure your iOS and watchOS apps continue to deliver outstanding user experiences. Take advantage of new Siri Shortcuts design templates, the SF Compact Rounded font for watchOS, and the watchOS design kit for Adobe XD. You can also get updated design templates for iOS Home Screen, Notifications, Widgets, and Home Screen Quick Actions.

Learn more