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Ready to share your app with the world? Vibecode makes it easy to publish your app directly to the Apple App Store. Follow this step-by-step guide to submit your first build.

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Before You Start

You’ll need the following before submitting your app:
  1. Apple Developer Program Membership ($99/year)
  2. App Store Connect Access
  3. Expo Account
    • Create a free account at expo.dev/signup
    • Vibecode uses Expo to build and deploy your app
  4. Apple Device for 2FA
    • Have your iPhone, iPad, or Mac nearby to receive two-factor authentication codes

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Step-by-Step Submission Process

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Step 1: Start the Submission

On Mobile App:
  1. Open your project in Vibecode
  2. Tap the app name at the top
  3. In the dropdown menu, select Publish on App Store
  4. Tap Get Started on the welcome screen
On Web App:
  1. Open your project in Vibecode
  2. Click the Share button at the top right
  3. Select Deploy to App Store
  4. Click Get Started on the welcome screen

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Step 2: Verify Prerequisites

Check all three boxes to confirm:
  • ✓ I have paid for the Apple Developer Program
  • ✓ I have signed all required agreements in App Store Connect
  • ✓ I have my Apple Device ready to receive 2FA codes
If you haven’t completed these steps, use the quick links provided to join the Apple Developer Program or access App Store Connect.

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Step 3: Sign Into Your Apple Developer Account

Enter your Apple Developer credentials:
  • Apple ID - Your Apple Developer account email
  • Password - Your Apple Developer account password
  • Apple Team ID (optional, rare) - Only needed if you’re part of multiple teams
Vibecode securely stores your credentials locally to make future builds faster.

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Step 4: Confirm App Details

Review and edit your app information:
  • App Name - The name displayed in the App Store (max 30 characters)
  • Version Number - Starting version like “1.0.0” (follows semantic versioning)
  • Support iPad - Toggle on if you want your app to work on iPad
You don’t usually need to update these details, we handle it automatically.

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Step 5: Confirm Your App Icon

Review your app icon. Make sure it looks good and represents your app well. This is what users will see in the App Store. You can generate an icon inside the Vibecode app!

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Step 6: Create a Bundle ID (First Build Only)

A bundle ID is a unique identifier for your app (like com.vibecode.yourapp). Important: Once you submit your first build, you cannot change your bundle ID.
  • Vibecode automatically generates a suggested bundle ID
  • You can customize it if needed, usually you should if you have a website for your app, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t
  • Check the box to confirm you understand it cannot be changed later
The bundle ID format is typically: com.yourcompany.appname

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Step 7: Add Your Expo Access Token

Vibecode uses Expo’s build service to compile and deploy your app. Expo gives you 20 free builds per month.
  1. Click Get access token from Expo (opens expo.dev in a new tab)
  2. Sign into your Expo account
  3. Go to Settings → Access Tokens
  4. Create a new access token
  5. Copy the token and paste it into Vibecode
Use the paste button for quick entry of long tokens. Make sure your token is correct and there are no extra spaces or characters.

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Step 8: Build & Deploy

Once you tap Start Build, Vibecode will:
  1. Authenticate your credentials with Apple
  2. Set up certificates and provisioning profiles
  3. Build your app using Expo’s cloud infrastructure
  4. Upload your app to App Store Connect
  5. Process your app for TestFlight and App Store review
The build process typically takes 15-30 minutes. You can:
  • Watch the live progress in Vibecode
  • Close the app and come back later - your build continues in the cloud
  • Cancel the build if needed

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Step 9: Build Complete!

Once your build is finished:
  • ✓ Your app is automatically uploaded to App Store Connect
  • ✓ Your app is available in TestFlight for testing
  • ✓ You can submit for App Store review directly from App Store Connect

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Subsequent Builds

After your first successful build, the process is even faster:
  1. You won’t need to create a new bundle ID (it’s already set)
  2. Your credentials are saved (just update if they changed)
  3. Start build and you’re done!

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App Store Review & Release

After your build completes: It is immediately available in TestFlight for testing! This means you can share it with friends and family to test it out before you submit for review. If you want to submit for review, you can do so by following these steps:
  1. Go to App Store Connect
  2. Navigate to your app
  3. Fill in your app’s metadata:
    • Description
    • Screenshots
    • Categories
    • Privacy policy
    • Pricing
  4. Submit for review
  5. Apple review takes 2-4 days on average
  6. Once approved, your app is live on the App Store! 🎉

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Troubleshooting

Build Failed?
  • Check that your Apple credentials are correct
  • Verify your Expo token is valid and hasn’t expired
  • Make sure you’ve signed all agreements in App Store Connect
  • Contact support via Intercom chat in the app if you need help (you’ll be notified by email and notification when we reply)
Version Number Issues?
  • Each new build must have a higher version number than the previous
Bundle ID Errors?
  • Ensure your bundle ID is unique and not already taken
  • Follow the format: com.company.appname
  • Use only lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and periods

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Need Help?

Request support via Intercom chat in the app - it’s the easiest way to get help! You’ll be notified by email and notification when we reply to you. You can also join our Discord community where thousands of builders are successfully deploying apps to the App Store.