Workflow: Ship iOS App

<required_reading> Read NOW:

references/app-store.md
references/ci-cd.md </required_reading>

## Step 1: Pre-Release Checklist

Version/build numbers updated
No debug code or test data
Privacy manifest complete (PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy)
App icons all sizes (see references/app-icons.md)
Screenshots prepared
Release notes written

Step 2: Archive

xcodebuild archive \
  -project AppName.xcodeproj \
  -scheme AppName \
  -archivePath ./build/AppName.xcarchive \
  -destination 'generic/platform=iOS'

Step 3: Export for Distribution

For TestFlight/App Store:

xcodebuild -exportArchive \
  -archivePath ./build/AppName.xcarchive \
  -exportPath ./build/export \
  -exportOptionsPlist ExportOptions.plist

ExportOptions.plist:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>method</key>
    <string>app-store-connect</string>
    <key>signingStyle</key>
    <string>automatic</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Step 4: Upload to App Store Connect

xcrun altool --upload-app \
  -f ./build/export/AppName.ipa \
  -t ios \
  --apiKey YOUR_KEY_ID \
  --apiIssuer YOUR_ISSUER_ID

Or use xcrun notarytool with App Store Connect API.

Step 5: TestFlight

Wait for processing in App Store Connect
Add testers (internal or external)
Gather feedback
Iterate

Step 6: App Store Submission

In App Store Connect:

Complete app metadata
Add screenshots for all device sizes
Set pricing
Submit for review

Step 7: Post-Release

Monitor crash reports
Respond to reviews
Plan next version

<privacy_manifest> Required since iOS 17. Create PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>NSPrivacyTracking</key>
    <false/>
    <key>NSPrivacyCollectedDataTypes</key>
    <array/>
    <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypes</key>
    <array>
        <dict>
            <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key>
            <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryUserDefaults</string>
            <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key>
            <array>
                <string>CA92.1</string>
            </array>
        </dict>
    </array>
</dict>
</plist>

</privacy_manifest>

<common_rejections>

Reason	Fix
Crash on launch	Test on real device, check entitlements
Missing privacy descriptions	Add all NS*UsageDescription keys
Broken links	Verify all URLs work
Incomplete metadata	Fill all required fields
Guideline 4.3 (spam)	Differentiate from existing apps
</common_rejections>

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