The Ultimate Guide to Publishing Your App on the Apple App Store & Google Play

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Meerako — We don't just build mobile apps; we get them launched. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Introduction

You've spent months designing, developing, and testing your mobile application. The code is finalized, and you're ready to share your creation with the world.

Now comes the "last mile" of development: submitting to the app stores.

This final step is a minefield of confusing guidelines, technical requirements, and mysterious rejections. It's not part of the "fun" coding, but it's absolutely critical. As a full-service mobile development partner, Meerako handles this entire complex process for our clients. This guide is our checklist for a smooth, successful launch on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

What You'll Learn

-   A pre-submission checklist: what you must have ready. -   Key differences between the Apple and Google review process. -   The top 5 reasons Apple rejects apps (and how to avoid them). -   Why partnering with an expert like Meerako saves you time and headaches.

Part 1: Your Pre-Submission Checklist (For Both Stores)

Before you upload anything, you need your "store listing" assets. Don't do this at the last minute!

Part 2: The Apple App Store Submission (App Store Connect)

Apple's process is notoriously strict. They are "curators," and their main goal is protecting their users (and their 30% cut).

Top 5 Reasons for Rejection by Apple:

1.  Guideline 2.1 - Crashes and Bugs: If your app crashes or is noticeably buggy during the review, it's an instant rejection. (How Meerako solves this: Rigorous QA.) 2.  Guideline 5.1.1 - Data Privacy: You didn't provide a Privacy Policy, or your app is "creepy" (e.g., asking for Location access when it doesn't need it). You must justify every permission you ask for. 3.  Guideline 4.3 - Spam/Repost: Your app is just a "re-skinned" version of another app or a basic "web view" of your website. Your app must provide unique, native-like value. 4.  Guideline 3.1.1 - Payments: You are trying to sell digital goods (like "premium features" or "in-game coins") using your own payment system (like Stripe) instead of Apple's In-App Purchase (IAP) API. This is the #1 rule: if it's a digital good, Apple must get its 30% cut. (Selling physical goods, like an Uber ride or a t-shirt, is fine to use Stripe). 5.  Incomplete Information: You didn't provide a demo account (username/password) for the reviewer to log in and test your app.

Part 3: The Google Play Store Submission (Google Play Console)

Google's process is faster and more automated. They are "gatekeepers," and their main goal is to ensure your app is stable and not malware.

-   The Tool: You'll use the Google Play Console. -   The Build: You'll generate a signed Android App Bundle (.aab) from Android Studio or your React Native project and upload it directly. -   The Review Process: Mostly automated, with a light human review. It's much faster, often just a few hours to a day. But you have to fill out an extensive content rating questionnaire and declare all sensitive permissions.

Meerako's 5.0★ Launch Process

This process is a full-time job. When you partner with Meerako to build your mobile app (whether React Native or Native), our service includes the launch.

-   We create all the store assets. -   We manage the complex "signing" and "provisioning" profiles. -   We handle the build and upload process. -   We write the justifications for all permissions. -   If a rejection happens, we handle it. We communicate with the Apple reviewer and make the necessary code changes to ensure approval.

Conclusion

Building a mobile app is a marathon. Submitting it to the stores is the final, grueling sprint that requires a different skill set. By preparing your assets in advance and understanding the key guidelines (especially Apple's), you can avoid the pain of rejection and get your app into the hands of users.

Ready to build and launch your mobile app with a 5.0★ partner who handles it all?

🧠 Meerako — Your Trusted Dallas Technology Partner.

From concept to scale, we deliver world-class SaaS, web, and AI solutions.

📞 Call us at +1 469-336-9968 or 💌 email [email protected] for a free consultation.