Updated for Xcode 4.5.2, Nov. 9, 2012 (previous versions)

To prepare your iOS app for distribution on the App Store, you'll need to create a release build for it. You should already have created your distribution certificate and provisioning profile before starting. (If you haven't, log into the Developer Portal to create them.)

1. Edit the Appname-info.plist file in your app.
   1. Set the Bundle Identifier (if you haven't already) to YourAppName. (Remove the com.apple.whatever bit. You can change it to com.yourcompany.yourappname, or just yourappname. If you created an App ID for this app in the iOS Provisioning Portal, the bundle ID should match the last half of the App ID.) The Identifier should not contain spaces or funny characters - alphanumeric and dashes are ok.
      
   2. If you want your app to be named something different on the actual device than its name in Xcode, change the Bundle Display Name as well.
      
   3. Update the bundle version. If this is your first time submitting this app, the version number should probably be 1.0.
      
   4. Be sure the icon file is set.
      
2. Clean all targets. (Product Menu -> Clean)
3. Select the iOS Device scheme in the schemes pull-down. (Be sure your test device isn't plugged in.)

   

4. Edit the Build Settings for the Project and the Target(s). (If you are using a third party library (such as cocos2d), you'll have multiple targets to configure.)

   

5. Under Architectures, use Latest iOS for the Base SDK.

   

6. Scroll down to the Code Signing section, and be sure your Release build is signed with your distribution certificate.

   

7. If you want to target older versions of iOS, scroll down to the Deployment section and choose the iOS Deployment Target.

   

8. Check to be sure the previous steps are true for the Build Settings on both the Target and the Project:

   

9. Create the release archive. (Product Menu -> Archive.)
10. You can view the Archive build log by clicking on the Logs tab at the top of the navigator frame. Make sure your app builds all the way to completion, including the Code Signing step at the end.

    

11. Once the build is complete, the Organizer window should open automatically (or go to Window -> Organizer). Your newly archived app will appear there.

Now you're ready to submit the app.

• Next:
• Submit the App to the App Store.

Additional References:

• App Review Guidelines
• App Store Submission Tutorial

Version History

• Building an app for Distribution in Xcode 4.3
• Building an app for Distribution in Xcode 3.2