Introduction
Publishing an iOS app to the Apple App Store starts with one thing: getting your App Store Connect account set up correctly. App Store Connect is Apple’s central hub for managing your app listing, submitting builds, running TestFlight beta tests, and handling your team’s access, so it’s worth taking the time to do it right from the start.
This guide walks you through every requirement and every step, so you can avoid the common pitfalls that cause delays and get your account ready to publish.
What You’ll Need Before You Start (Prerequisites)
Gather these before you begin, missing any of them mid-setup can bring the process to a halt, sometimes for several days.
1. An Apple ID with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Enabled
You’ll need an Apple Account (Apple ID) with Two-Factor Authentication turned on. Like Google, Apple requires 2FA as a security baseline, you won’t be able to proceed without it. If you haven’t enabled it yet, do that before anything else.
Pro tip: Use a dedicated Apple ID tied to your company, not a personal one. This keeps your business assets cleanly separated and makes it easier to manage team access over time.
2. Company Legal Entity Details
If you’re enrolling as an Organisation — which is required if you want to publish under a company name, you’ll need your:
- Registered company name (exactly as it appears in official records)
- Business address
- Company phone number
These details must match your D-U-N-S® record precisely (more on that below). Discrepancies are one of the most common causes of enrolment delays.
3. A Publicly Accessible Company Website
Apple requires a live, publicly reachable website as part of the verification process. Make sure your site is online and not hidden behind any login walls or maintenance pages before you apply.
4. A Company Email Address
A company domain email (e.g., developer@yourcompany.com) is strongly recommended over a generic iCloud or Gmail address. It adds credibility to your account and may be required during verification.
5. A D-U-N-S® Number (Required for Organisation Enrolment)
Unlike Google Play Console — where a D-U-N-S® number is only sometimes required, Apple mandates it for all Organisation accounts. A D-U-N-S® Number is a unique nine-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet that Apple uses to verify your business is legitimate.
If your company doesn’t have one, you can look it up or request one for free through Apple’s D-U-N-S guide. Allow up to 2 weeks for processing if you need to register a new number, plan accordingly.
Step 1: Get or Confirm Your D-U-N-S® Number
Before you even attempt to enrol in the Apple Developer Program, confirm that your D-U-N-S® Number exists and that the details on file are accurate.
Use Apple’s official D-U-N-S lookup tool to search for your company. When you find your record, verify that:
- Your legal company name matches exactly (including Ltd, Inc, LLC, etc.)
- Your registered address is current and correct
If anything is out of date, you’ll need to contact Dun & Bradstreet to update it before Apple can verify your account. This is a step many developers skip, and it frequently causes avoidable delays of a week or more.
Step 2: Enrol in the Apple Developer Program (Organisation)
With your D-U-N-S® Number confirmed and your details in order, you’re ready to enrol.
- Go to the Apple Developer Program enrolment page
- Sign in with your company Apple ID
- Select Organisation as your entity type
- Enter your D-U-N-S® Number and company details
- Accept the Apple Developer Program License Agreement
- Pay the annual membership fee of $99 USD (this renews yearly, set a calendar reminder)
Apple will then review your application. For Organisation accounts, this typically takes 1–5 business days, though it can take longer if additional verification is needed. You’ll receive an email once your account is approved.
For full requirements and guidance, refer to Apple’s official enrolment help page.
Step 3: Sign In to App Store Connect
Once your Apple Developer Program membership is active, you can access App Store Connect at appstoreconnect.apple.com.
App Store Connect is where you’ll handle everything related to your app’s presence on the App Store, including:
- App listings — creating and managing your app’s store page, screenshots, and descriptions
- Build management — uploading and managing app builds submitted via Xcode or CI/CD pipelines
- TestFlight — setting up internal and external beta testing before your public launch
- App Review submissions — submitting builds for Apple’s review process
- Sales and analytics — tracking downloads, revenue, and user engagement
For an overview of the interface and its features, see Apple’s official App Store Connect overview.
Step 4: Add Your Development Team (Users and Access)
With your account live, the next step is giving your team the access they need. App Store Connect uses a role-based permissions system that lets you grant people exactly the level of access appropriate to their role, no more, no less.
To add team members:
- Sign in to App Store Connect
- Click your name/account in the top-right, then go to Users and Access
- Click the + button to invite a new user
- Enter their Apple ID email address
- Select the appropriate role
Key Roles in App Store Connect
- Admin — full access to all account settings, billing, and apps
- App Manager — can manage app metadata, submissions, and TestFlight, but not account-level settings
- Developer — can upload builds and manage TestFlight; cannot edit store listings
- Marketing — can edit app metadata and manage pricing; cannot upload builds
- Finance — access to financial reports and contracts only
- Customer Support — can view and respond to customer reviews
Getting roles right from the start means your developers can upload builds without waiting on an admin, and your finance team can access reports without having access to anything they shouldn’t.
Full details on every role are available in Apple’s role permissions reference.
Quick Reference Checklist
Before you begin:
- Apple ID with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled
- Company legal entity details (name, address, phone)
- Publicly accessible company website
- Company domain email address
- D-U-N-S® Number confirmed and up to date
Setup steps:
- Step 1: Confirm D-U-N-S® Number matches your legal entity details
- Step 2: Enrol in the Apple Developer Program as an Organisation
- Step 3: Sign in to App Store Connect and explore the dashboard
- Step 4: Add team members and assign appropriate roles
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Apple Developer Program cost? The annual membership fee is $99 USD, billed every year. Unlike Google Play’s one-time $25 fee, this is a recurring cost you’ll need to budget for. If your membership lapses, your apps will be removed from the App Store.
Do I need a D-U-N-S® Number if I’m enrolling as an individual? No, D-U-N-S® Numbers are only required for Organisation accounts. Individual developers can enrol using just their Apple ID and personal details.
How long does Apple’s review process take? Organisation account approval typically takes 1–5 business days after all information is verified. If there are discrepancies in your D-U-N-S® record, expect additional delays.
What’s the difference between App Store Connect and the Apple Developer Portal? The Apple Developer Portal (developer.apple.com) is where you manage certificates, identifiers, profiles, and devices. App Store Connect (appstoreconnect.apple.com) is where you manage your app listings, submissions, TestFlight, and analytics. You’ll use both as part of your development workflow.
Can I have multiple apps under one App Store Connect account? Yes, one account can manage as many apps as you need. You don’t require a separate account per app.
What is TestFlight and do I need to set it up? TestFlight is Apple’s official beta testing platform, integrated into App Store Connect. It lets you distribute pre-release builds to internal testers (up to 100 users) and external testers (up to 10,000 users) before you submit to the App Store. It’s not mandatory, but it’s highly recommended as part of any iOS release process.
App Store Connect vs. Google Play Console: Key Differences
If you’re setting up both platforms for a cross-platform app, it’s worth knowing where the two differ:
| Feature | App Store Connect | Google Play Console |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99/year (recurring) | $25 (one-time) |
| D-U-N-S® Number | Required for organisations | Sometimes required |
| Beta testing tool | TestFlight (built-in) | Internal/Closed testing tracks |
| Review time | Typically 1–3 days | Typically a few hours to days |
| Account type change | Not supported after enrolment | Not straightforward |
Final Thoughts
Setting up App Store Connect takes a little more upfront work than Google Play Console (particularly the D-U-N-S® requirement) but the process is well-documented and manageable if you come prepared. The most important thing is to confirm your D-U-N-S® record first, before you attempt enrolment, so your company name and address are already verified in Apple’s system.
Once your account is approved and your team is in place, you’ll have everything you need to start building your App Store presence, running TestFlight betas, and working towards your first submission.
Setting up for both iOS and Android? Read our companion guide: How to Set Up Google Play Console: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
