Introduction

This tutorial will walk you through the steps necessary to deploy and publish your iOS app to the Apple App Store. Throughout this guide, you'll learn how to prepare your app for submission, set up your app's App Store page, upload your app, and finally, submit it for review.

By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to:

• Understand the App Store submission process.
• Prepare your app for submission.
• Set up your app's App Store page.
• Upload your app to App Store Connect.
• Submit your app for review.

Prerequisites:

• A completed iOS app ready for deployment.
• An Apple Developer account.
• Xcode installed on your Mac.

Step-by-Step Guide

Preparing Your App for Submission

1. Code Signing: Within Xcode, go to your project settings and select your target. Under the 'Signing & Capabilities' tab, ensure your team is properly selected in the 'Team' dropdown.

2. Versioning: In the 'General' tab of your target, ensure the version and build numbers are correct. Remember, each new submission to the App Store requires a unique build number.

3. App Icons: Make sure all your app icons are correctly sized and added to your project. These can be set in the 'App Icon Source' in the 'App Icons and Launch Images' section of the 'General' tab.

Setting Up Your App's App Store Page

1. Create an App Store Connect Record: Sign in to your Apple Developer account and navigate to 'My Apps'. Click '+' and select 'New App'. Fill in your app's details and click 'Create'.

2. Prepare App Store Listing: In the 'App Store' tab, fill in your app's description, keywords, support URL, and other necessary details.

3. Upload Screenshots: Upload the required screenshots for all device sizes.

Uploading Your App

1. Archive Your App: In Xcode, select 'Product' > 'Archive'. This will create a build of your app that can be uploaded to App Store Connect.

2. Upload Your App: After the archive process is completed, click 'Distribute App' and follow the steps, ensuring 'Upload' is selected when choosing a distribution method.

Submitting for Review

1. Set Pricing and Availability: In App Store Connect, select your app and go to the 'Pricing and Availability' tab to set your app's price.

2. Submit for Review: In the 'Version or Platform' section, click '+ Version or Platform' and select iOS. Fill in the necessary details and click 'Submit for Review'.

Code Examples

Since this tutorial involves using the Xcode interface and the App Store Connect website, there aren't specific code examples to provide. However, here is an example of how your Info.plist file might look:

<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
<string>1.0</string>
<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
<string>1</string>

This file is included in every iOS app and contains metadata about your app. The 'CFBundleShortVersionString' is your app's public version number, and 'CFBundleVersion' is your app's build number.

Summary

We've covered how to prepare your app for submission, create an App Store Connect record, fill out your app's listing details, upload your app, and submit it for review.

To further your knowledge, consider learning about iOS app development best practices, or how to handle common App Store rejection reasons.

Practice Exercises

1. Create an App Store Connect record for a test app. Go through the process of creating a new App Store Connect record without actually submitting it. Fill out as much information as you can.

2. Prepare a test app for submission. If you have an app that you've been developing, try preparing it for submission. Go through the steps of code signing, versioning, and setting up your app icon.

Remember, these exercises are for practice and you don't actually have to submit any apps. The goal is to familiarize yourself with the process.