Unity iOS App Submission to App Store: Step-by-Step Guide

To publish your Unity iOS app on the App Store:

Join the Apple Developer Program ($99/year)
Have a Mac with Xcode and a valid Apple ID
Prepare your Unity project for iOS:
- Configure player settings (bundle ID, signing team, icons)
- Optimize for iOS (reduce asset size, use occlusion culling, minimize garbage collection)
- Add iOS-specific features (in-app purchases, Game Center)
Create App Store assets (app icon, screenshots, preview video)
Set up App Store Connect (create app entry, upload assets, provide info)
Get distribution certificates and provisioning profiles
Build and sign your iOS app in Xcode
Submit the app for review on App Store Connect
Handle any rejections and submit updates as needed

By following these steps and Apple's guidelines, you can successfully publish your Unity game on the iOS App Store.

Things You Need

Before submitting your Unity iOS app to the Apple App Store, make sure you have the following:

Apple Developer Program Membership

Apple Developer Program

You need to join the Apple Developer Program, which costs $99/year. This gives you access to tools like certificates, identifiers, and provisioning profiles.

Apple ID

A valid Apple ID is required to access Apple's developer resources, including the Apple Developer website and App Store Connect.

Mac with Xcode

Xcode

Xcode is necessary for building and submitting iOS apps. You need a Mac with Xcode installed to create an archive of your app and upload it to the App Store.

Unity Project for iOS

Unity

Ensure your Unity project is set up for iOS as the target build platform. This includes configuring player settings, optimizing for iOS, and adding iOS-specific features.

1. Prepare Unity Project

Getting your Unity project ready for iOS submission involves setting up player settings, optimizing for iOS, and adding iOS-specific features. This ensures your game runs well and meets Apple's guidelines.

Configure Player Settings

Set Target Platform: In Unity Editor, go to File > Build Settings and select iOS.
Open Player Settings: Click on Player Settings to open the window.
Fill Out Details: Enter your company and product names, and set up your default and allowed orientations.
Set Icons and Images: Configure your game's icon and cursor image.
Bundle Identifier: Set your Bundle Identifier in reverse domain-name format. This must be unique.
Signing Team ID: Find your Signing Team ID on your Apple Developer membership page.

Optimize for iOS

Reduce Asset Size: Minimize the size of your asset files.
Use Occlusion Culling: Implement occlusion culling to improve performance.
Minimize Garbage Collection: Reduce garbage collection to enhance performance.
Use Unity Profiler: Identify performance bottlenecks with Unity's built-in profiler.
Choose Scripting Backend: Use IL2CPP instead of Mono for better performance and security.
Use Addressables: Reduce game package size and improve loading times with Addressables.

Add iOS-Specific Features

Depending on your game's needs, you may need to add features like:

In-App Purchases
Game Center
Advertising SDKs

Follow Apple's guidelines and Unity's iOS-specific features documentation for smooth integration.

2. Create App Store Assets

When submitting your Unity iOS app to the App Store, you'll need to create assets that showcase your app's features and functionality. These assets help attract users and increase your app's visibility.

App Icon

Your app icon is the first thing users will see. Design an icon that is eye-catching, simple, and scalable. Follow Apple's guidelines:

Requirement	Details
Size	1024 x 1024 pixels
Format	PNG
Color Scheme	Match your app's brand
Content	Avoid clutter, keep it simple

Use tools like Adobe Photoshop or Sketch to design your app icon. Ensure it looks good in various sizes and resolutions.

Screenshots

Screenshots show your app's features and user interface. Capture screenshots for different devices and orientations. Follow these guidelines:

Requirement	Details
Devices	iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
Orientations	Portrait and landscape
Content	Highlight key features
Format	PNG or JPEG

Use tools like Adobe Photoshop or Skitch to edit and optimize your screenshots. Ensure they are clear and visually appealing.

Preview Video (Optional)

A preview video can showcase your app's features and gameplay. It's optional but can attract more users. Follow these guidelines:

Requirement	Details
Length	15-30 seconds
Format	M4V, MP4, or MOV
Content	Highlight key features
Audio	Include music or sound effects

Use tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or iMovie to create and edit your preview video. Ensure it is engaging and visually appealing.

Description and Keywords

Your app description and keywords are crucial for discoverability. Follow these guidelines:

Requirement	Details
Description	Describe your app's features and benefits
Keywords	Choose relevant keywords
Format	Follow Apple's guidelines

Use tools like App Store Connect or a keyword research tool to optimize your app description and keywords. Ensure they are concise and relevant to your target audience.

3. Set Up App Store Connect

App Store Connect

Create New App Entry

To set up App Store Connect, you need to create a new app entry. Follow these steps:

Sign in to App Store Connect with your Apple ID and password.
Click the "+" icon in the top-right corner to create a new app.
Enter the required information:
- App name
- Description
- Keywords
Select the primary language and bundle ID for your app.
Click "Create" to finalize the new app record.

Upload Visual Assets

After creating a new app entry, upload the required visual assets:

Asset Type	Requirements
App Icon	1024 x 1024 pixels, PNG or JPEG
Screenshots	PNG or JPEG images showcasing your app's features and user interface
Preview Video	(Optional) 15-30 seconds, M4V, MP4, or MOV, demonstrating your app's features

Ensure you follow Apple's guidelines for each asset type to avoid issues during the review process.

Provide Required Information

You also need to provide the following information:

Information Type	Details
Privacy Policy	URL linking to your app's privacy policy
Content Rights	Information about the ownership and rights of your app's content
Other Info	App categories, keywords, and release notes

Fill out all required fields accurately to avoid delays in the review process.

4. Get Distribution Certificates and Profiles

Create Distribution Certificate

Follow these steps to create a distribution certificate:

Go to the Apple Developer Portal and sign in with your Apple ID.
Select Certificates, IDs & Profiles from the left menu.
Click the “+” button under Certificates.
Choose iOS Distribution and click Continue.
Upload the CSR file you generated earlier and click Continue.
Download the generated iOS Distribution Certificate.
Double-click the downloaded certificate to add it to your Keychain.

Create App ID and Provisioning Profile

To create an App ID and provisioning profile:

In Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles, click Profiles in the sidebar, then click the add button (+).
Under Distribution, select an App Store distribution profile and click Continue.
Choose the App ID for this profile and click Continue.
Name your provisioning profile, generate it, and download the profile.
Double-click the downloaded profile to add it to Xcode.

Download and Install Certificates/Profiles

After creating the distribution certificate and provisioning profile:

Download the distribution certificate and provisioning profile from the Apple Developer Portal.
Double-click the downloaded certificate to add it to your Keychain.
Double-click the downloaded profile to add it to Xcode.

5. Build and Sign iOS App

Build Xcode Project from Unity

To build an Xcode project from Unity, follow these steps:

Open your Unity project and go to File > Build Settings.
Select iOS as the target platform and click Switch Platform.
In the Build Settings window, click Player Settings to open the Player Settings in the Inspector.
Configure the settings as needed, including setting the Bundle Identifier and Version.
In the Build Settings window, click Build to create an Xcode project.

Sign the App

To sign the app with the distribution certificate and provisioning profile:

Open the Xcode project generated by Unity.
In the Xcode project, go to Project Navigator and select the project.
In the General tab, select the Signing (Release) option.
Select the distribution certificate and provisioning profile created earlier.
Ensure the Bundle Identifier matches the one in the Unity Player Settings.

Create Archive for Submission

To create an archive for submission to App Store Connect:

In Xcode, go to Product > Archive to create an archive of your app.
Once the archiving process is complete, the Organizer window will open.
Select the archive and click Distribute App to upload it to App Store Connect.

6. Submit App for Review

Upload to App Store Connect

To upload your app to App Store Connect:

1. Open the Organizer window in Xcode. 2. Select the archive you created. 3. Click Distribute App. 4. Choose App Store Connect as the destination. 5. Click Next to start the upload.

Provide Additional Details

You will need to provide more information about your app:

Information Type	Details
App Description	A brief summary of your app and its features
Keywords	Relevant keywords to help users find your app
Screenshots	Images of your app in action
Preview Video	(Optional) A video showcasing your app's features

Submit for Review

To submit your app for review:

1. Review all the information to ensure accuracy. 2. Click Submit for Review. 3. Wait for Apple to review your app. This usually takes 24-48 hours but can take longer.

7. Handle Rejections and Updates

Common Rejection Reasons

Understanding why apps get rejected can help you avoid mistakes. Here are some common reasons:

Reason	Description
Copycat Apps	Apps that are duplicates or very similar to others
Limited User Experience	Apps that feel like a mobile website
Placeholder Content	Unfinished content still in the app
Inaccurate Description	Misleading app descriptions
Poor UI/UX	Bad user interface or user experience
Mentioning Other Platforms	References to platforms like Android
Incomplete Information	Missing metadata or broken links

Submit an Update

If your app is rejected, you can fix the issues and resubmit. Here's how:

Fix the issues mentioned in the rejection notice.
Update your app's metadata, including description, screenshots, and keywords.
Resubmit your app for review.

Manage App Updates and Releases

Keeping your app updated is important. Here are some tips:

Regularly update your app to fix bugs and add new features.
Use TestFlight to test your app with beta testers before submitting to the App Store.
Ensure your app's metadata is up-to-date and accurate.
Plan your app's release strategy, including scheduling updates and promotions.

Summary

This guide has walked you through the steps to publish your Unity iOS app to the App Store. From preparing your Unity project to submitting your app for review, we've highlighted the importance of following Apple's guidelines and thorough testing before submission. By following these steps, you'll be ready to publish your app and make it available to millions of iOS users.

FAQs

How do I publish Unity games on iOS App Store?

To publish your Unity game on the iOS App Store:

Open your game project in Unity.
Go to File > Build Settings and select iOS as the build target.
Click on Player Settings and fill out Company Name, Product Name, and Version.
Set the app icon, which users will see on their phones when they install the app.

How do I publish my Unity game?

To publish your Unity game, follow these steps:

Sign up to the store: Create an account on the App Store Connect platform.
Register your game with the store: Provide required information about your game, such as its name, description, and screenshots.
Select the Target Step: Choose the countries and regions where you want to distribute your game.
Countries and Advanced settings: Configure additional settings, such as pricing, availability, and release date.
Publish: Submit your game for review and wait for approval.