iOS developer account
This article explains what an iOS developer account is, why you need it to submit apps to the Apple App Store, and how you can create your own account.
To submit apps to the iTunes Store/App Store you need an iOS Developer Account. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to set up this account.
Please note that is important that apps are submitted directly by the provider of the app’s content using their own Apple Developer Account. If the app and the developer account do not match, Apple will potentially reject the app.
You can enroll in two ways:
Enrolling as an Individual If you are an individual or sole proprietor/single person business, sign in with your Apple ID to get started. You’ll need to provide basic personal information, including your legal name and address.
Enrolling as an Organisation If you’re enrolling your organisation, you’ll need an Apple ID as well as the following to get started:
A D-U-N-S® Number Your organisation must have a D-U-N-S Number so that we can verify your organisation’s identity and legal entity status. These unique nine-digit numbers are assigned by Dun & Bradstreet and are widely used as standard business identifiers. You can check to see if your organisation already has a D-U-N-S Number and request one if necessary. They are free in most jurisdictions.
Legal Entity Status Your organisation must be a legal entity so that it can enter into contracts with Apple. We do not accept DBAs, fictitious businesses, trade names, or branches.
Legal Binding Authority As the person enrolling your organisation in the Apple Developer Program, you must have the legal authority to bind your organisation to legal agreements. You must be the organisation’s owner/founder, executive team member, senior project lead, or have legal authority granted to you by a senior employee.
Creating an iOS Developer account
Open this url https://developer.apple.com/enroll and click Start your Enrollment. Sign in using your Apple ID (or create an Apple ID if you do not have one yet).
2. Confirm the agreement and click Submit.
3. Confirm that all your information is correct (email, name, location), then choose an entity. Please read Apple's explanation of entities below before you make a choice.
Explanation from Apple: The Developer name listed on the App Store is based on the type of account selected from the options below. Apps published to Individual Developer Accounts will display the name listed on the iOS Developer Account. Apps published to Company/Organisation Developer Accounts will display the Company Name entered within the iOS Developer Account.
Entities:
Individual/Sole Proprietor/Single Person Business: Individuals or companies without an officially recognised business (company without a Dun and Bradstreet number). This account only allows for a single primary login to be created to the iOS Developer Account.
Company/Organisation: Legally recognised Companies with a Dun and Bradstreet number can select this option. This will allow multiple user logins to be created and managed with varying permissions capabilities for each login. See here to check if your company is a legal recognised company with a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number.
4. Fill in all the contact details for your Developer Account.
5. Read the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, check the box confirming you have read the agreement and click Continue.
6. Confirm that all the previously entered information is correct en click continue.
7. Click Purchase to enrol and pay for your yearly iOS Developer Account. Check the Automatic Renewal box to make sure your membership will renew automatically.
8. Sign in with your Apple ID and fill in your billing information. Then click Continue to complete the setup of your iOS Developer Account.
9. Fill in any remaining information on the following pages. Within 24 hours you will receive a confirmation email from Apple letting you know the setup of your iOS Developer Account was successful.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a client adds me to their iOS Developer Account as an Admin would my ‘admin’ login information suffice for AppMachine’s requirement for iOS publication? Yes this is possible, but only when your client is able to grant you 'Access to Certificates, Identifiers, and Profiles'. This is an extra option in the Users & Access section of App Store Connect, and is required by our system in order to create the required certificates for the app. Your client will only be able to invite you with this permission enabled if they have registered their developer license as a company/organisation type account. Would it be best if my client also purchased their own Google Play developers account?
Yes, we always advise to publish apps on their own accounts. This is to prevent apps from being removed from the store when an account gets terminated by Google for whatever reason. Spreading the apps on multiple accounts, also spreads the risk.
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