📤 Submit for review

In App Store Connect → your app → App Store tab, open the version (1.0 Prepare for Submission):

1. Scroll to the Build section → + (or 'Select a build…') → choose the processed build you blessed in TestFlight.
2. What's New in This Version: required for updates (it's the changelog users see); for a v1 there's no field — your description does the work.
3. Confirm Copyright (2026 Your Name/Company) and check every section for yellow warning badges — App Store Connect marks incomplete sections.

If your build doesn't appear in the picker, it's still processing or was silently rejected (see Phase 8).

In the version page's Version Release section, pick how the app goes live after approval:

• Manually release this version — approval just unlocks a 'Release' button you press when ready. Recommended for v1: approvals can land at 3am, and you want your backend, landing page, and announcement ready.
• Automatically release this version — live as soon as approved.
• Automatically release after a date — approved builds wait for your launch date.
• Phased Release — updates only: rolls out to automatic-updaters over 7 days (1%→2%→5%→10%→20%→50%→100%); you can pause or jump to 100% anytime. Not applicable to a first release.

The App Review Information section is your direct line to the reviewer:

• Contact information: a real phone number and email someone answers this week — reviewers do call about ambiguities instead of rejecting, sometimes.
• Sign-In Information: if any feature requires login, toggle it on and provide a working demo account (username + password):
  • Use a dedicated, never-expiring account on production, pre-populated with realistic data.
  • Disable SMS/email OTP for it, or supply a static bypass code in the notes.
  • Test the credentials on a clean install the day you submit.

The Notes field (up to 4000 chars) prevents misunderstandings before they become rejections. Explain anything non-obvious:

• Special hardware: 'Requires a compatible BLE heart-rate strap; demo video: <link>'.
• Region-specific content: 'Store listings populate for German addresses; use demo address: …'.
• Where the IAP lives: 'Paywall: Settings → Upgrade to Pro'.
• Permissions timing: 'Camera permission is requested when tapping the scan button on the Home tab'.
• Anything reviewed before that caused confusion.

You can also attach a short screen-recording link for hard-to-reach flows. Reviewers spend minutes, not hours, in your app — make the path to every key feature obvious.

1. Press Add for Review (top right), then confirm Submit to App Review. Status: Waiting for Review → In Review → verdict.
2. Typical timeline: most apps are reviewed within 24–48 hours; Apple states ~90% within 24h. First submissions and monetized apps sometimes take a touch longer. Holiday season (late December) has reduced staffing.
3. You'll get an email on every status change. In Review usually lasts minutes-to-hours — the queue is the long part.
4. While waiting: you can keep editing some metadata, but uploading a new build or changing the selected build resets your place in the queue. Resist the urge unless something is truly broken.
5. If something urgent comes up, you can remove the submission from review (Remove from Review) — also resets the queue.