What Are the Steps to Putting an App in an App Store?

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Many businesses, organizations, and institutions are opting to develop an app and put the app in an app store for customers, clients, or patients to utilize. What are the steps to getting an app on an app store? This article goes through the steps necessary to get your app placed in an app store. 

The steps for putting your app on an app store are covered as follows:

  1. Develop and test the app.
  2. Obtain a developer account.
  3. Upload your app to the store.
  4. Prepare the app for publishing.
  5. Submit your app to the store and wait for approval.
  6. Activate the app in the store.

1. Develop and test the app

Before putting an app on an app store, you need to have an app that can be submitted. This involves designing, developing, and testing an app which, in itself, is a process, most of which will be taken care of by your app developer with your collaboration. It involves creating a plan for your app and researching the market to make certain that your app will stand out from the crowd.

From there, your developer, possibly with the assistance of a UX/UI designer and your input,  will design your app, create a prototype, develop your app, and then test it to make certain that it functions properly, that it is user friendly and intuitive. It also needs to be secure and protect the user’s sensitive information and be designed to be aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. Once all of those things are checked off, you’re ready to publish your app on the app store.

2. Obtain a Developer Account

The next step is to sign up and acquire a Google Play Developer Account or an Apple Developer account. The name on the account depends on who owns the code of the app. In some cases, it may be the developer themselves. In many cases, however, it will be the name of the business or the app founder. This is one reason why it is important to determine who will own the app upon the app’s completion. This is an important question to ask potential app developers when you are considering which to partner with to develop your app. 

In order to set up a Google Play Developer Account or an Apple Developer Account, you will need to provide a valid credit card, an email address, and a legal business entity (for example, a company, organization, or sole proprietorship). 

  • For Google, you also need to provide a developer name which will be displayed publicly on the Google Play Store. This can be the name of the app founder or the business that the app was developed for if they are in possession of the app. Google also requires a one-time registration fee of $25 USD. 
  • For Apple, you will also need to provide contact info such as an address and phone number, additional information related to your business entity such as a D-U-N-S number, a Federal Tax ID Number, and a unique Apple ID. Their registration fee is $99 USD.

3. Upload your app to the store

Once you have a developer account at an app store, you would upload the app to the store. This can be done via the developer console in the stores. This does not mean that your app is published. It has simply been uploaded to the platform.

4. Prepare the app for publishing

Before submitting an app for publication to an app store, there are certain things that need to be done to make sure that the app is approved. Both Google and Apple have specific guidelines that need to be followed, but there are a number of items that are similar with both stores:

  • Give your app a name.
  • Decide if your app will be offered as free or if there will be a cost involved. If it is going to cost, determine what the cost will be. Also determine the cost of any in-app purchases you might have.
  • Write a compelling, specific description of your app. This is what users will see when they bring up the app for consideration on the app store and should include several specific things:
    • A brief overview of the app, its purpose, and how it works.
    • Some of the app’s features and any other relevant information that will help potential users understand the functionality of the app. 
    • A list of supported devices and operating systems as well as a list of languages that the app supports.
    • Any other details that you think will help the app stand out.

The description of your app needs to be clear and concise. How well it is written will often be reflected by the number of downloads your app will receive. If the description is too vague or confusing, customers may not understand what the app does. That can lead to a decrease in the number of downloads the app will receive.

  • Take pictures of the app icon and screenshots of the app’s features that can be used to promote the app in the stores. Google also requires you to submit a promotional video. 
  • Come up with relative keywords that potential users might use to search for the app.

If you wish for your app to do well in the app stores, you may want to do a bit of keyword research and send in optimized pictures and graphics. Both stores house over a million apps, and you need to ensure that your app will be noticed and stand out amongst the competition.

5. Submit your app to the store and wait for approval

Submit your app. Make sure to follow all of the rules and guidelines for the app store you are submitting it to, and include all of the items mentioned above. Both Apple and Google also require that you submit a developer agreement that explains the rules and regulations of the store as well as a privacy policy and Terms of Service. 

Problems that could lead to your app being rejected by an app store or stripped from the market once it’s published include the following:

  • Violation of Third-Party Rights. Apps will be rejected if it infringes upon the rights of any third party. This includes copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or privacy rights.
  • Privacy. An app must not collect any user information without their permission. Additionally, any data collected must be properly secured and handled in accordance with the user’s permission and applicable laws.
  • Spam: Apps must not use spam tactics including sending unsolicited messages or displaying excessive advertising.
  • Misleading Content: Apps can be rejected or removed from the app store if they contain false, deceptive, or inaccurate information.
  • Inappropriate Content. App stores have strict guidelines regarding the types of content that can be included in an app. If the content in your app is deemed inappropriate, it could be rejected.
  • Security Issues: An app must be secure. It must protect user data and prevent malicious attacks.
  • Technical Issues. When submitting an app to an app store, there are many technical requirements that must be met. If your app does not meet those technical requirements, it could be rejected.

After submitting your app for publication, your app will go through a review process before being approved. Apple aims to have applications approved within 24-48 hours while Google averages a three-day approval process. During their peak seasons for app publication requests, either store could take up to a week to approve your app.

6. Activate the app in the store

After your app is approved, you will be emailed by the respective app store. For Google, you have the option of publishing the app on the Google Play Store as soon as it’s approved or to activate the app yourself. For Apple, upon approval, you log onto your account and click on the “Ready for Sale” button to activate it.



Matraex is a premier app and software development company that is located in Boise, ID. We understand that developing an app is a time-consuming and costly endeavor. We would like to give you unbiased answers to your app development questions so you can be an informed consumer. Contact us, leave a message on the direct message feature, or leave a question on our Google Business Profile page. We look forward to talking with you.