Documenting my process of getting an iOS app approved for unlisted distribution in the AppStore.
Fri Oct 14, 2022
Filled out all the normal fields and submitted to AppReview. I had the Account Holder (the only one that can do this) fill out the unlisted app distribution request.
The unlisted app distribution request asked these questions in case you want to prepare answers for the Account Holder.
- App Name
- Apple ID of App
- Have you submitted your app to the App Store for review?
- Describe in detail the business problem your app solves and why unlisted app distribution helps solves this problem.
- Why do you prefer unlisted app distribution over public distribution on the App Store? Why do you prefer unlisted app distribution over private distribution to specific organizations via Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager?
- Will your app be distributed internally to your employees, externally to partners and/or customers, or both?
- How many people will use this app?
- How many organizations (example: businesses or schools) will use this app?
- Who is your app designed for?
- What category best describes your app?
- Will the app be distributed to managed devices, unmanaged devices, or both?
- How many devices will be unmanaged?
- In what regions will your app be available?
Sat Oct 15
AppReview rejected the app and asked questions about the distribution audience, similar to some questions in the unlisted distribution request. I answered, resubmitted, AppReview rejected and said:
We understand you may already have submitted a request for unlisted app distribution. If that is the case and your request is approved, you should resubmit your app for review in App Store Connect. If you are not approved for unlisted app distribution, it would be appropriate to consider the other app distribution options.
Ok, so I waited for a response from the unlisted app distribution request.
Thurs Oct 20 @ 7:00am
The unlisted distribution request team said the app needs to be in review and ready to distribute before they can approve the request. Ok… so both teams want the other one to approve first! I responded to unlistedapp_request@apple.com mentioning this too.
Fri Oct 21
I submitted a developer support request asking what was up with their two teams.
Mon Oct 24 @ 7:24am
The unlisted distribution request team approved the app. I re-submitted the app for review.
Later in the afternoon developer support replied and didn’t offer any new information. Basically said the steps were the same as what I had already done:
- submit the app for review, select “public”
- request unlisted distribution
- if approved for unlisted the “Pricing & Distribution” will show “Unlisted” with a link to the app url
- publish the app as normal
Tue Oct 25 @ 8:11am
The app was approved and released as an unlisted app.
Summary
Overall it was quite a clunky process. Hopefully apple will improve this in the future or have the same review team do this. I’ve since submitted other updates to the unlisted app and they have gone through App Review quickly and without an issues.