Publishing to App Stores

Guide to submitting Capacitor apps to Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

When to Use This Skill

• User is ready to publish app
• User asks about app store submission
• User needs app store screenshots
• User has app rejection issues
• User needs to update app listing

Pre-Submission Checklist

Universal Requirements

• App icon in all required sizes
• Splash screen configured
• App name and bundle ID set
• Version and build numbers set
• Privacy policy URL
• Terms of service URL
• Support email/URL
• Age rating content questionnaire
• App description (short and long)
• Keywords/tags
• Screenshots for all device sizes
• Feature graphic (Android)
• App preview video (optional)

iOS-Specific

• Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year)
• App Store Connect app created
• Signing certificates and profiles
• Info.plist usage descriptions
• App Tracking Transparency (if applicable)
• Sign in with Apple (if social login used)
• Export compliance (encryption)

Android-Specific

• Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time)
• App signed with release keystore
• Target SDK level (API 34+)
• 64-bit support
• Permissions declared in manifest
• Data safety form completed
• Content rating questionnaire

App Store Configuration

Version and Build Numbers

// capacitor.config.ts - Not stored here, just for reference

// iOS: Info.plist
// CFBundleShortVersionString = "1.2.3" (user-visible)
// CFBundleVersion = "45" (build number, increment each upload)

// Android: build.gradle
// versionName = "1.2.3" (user-visible)
// versionCode = 45 (must increment each upload)

iOS Info.plist

<!-- ios/App/App/Info.plist -->
<key>CFBundleDisplayName</key>
<string>My App</string>

<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
<string>1.0.0</string>

<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
<string>1</string>

<!-- Privacy descriptions - REQUIRED for permissions -->
<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key>
<string>Take photos for your profile</string>

<key>NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription</key>
<string>Select photos from your library</string>

<key>NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription</key>
<string>Find nearby locations</string>

<key>NSFaceIDUsageDescription</key>
<string>Secure login with Face ID</string>

<key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key>
<string>Record voice messages</string>

<!-- App Tracking Transparency -->
<key>NSUserTrackingUsageDescription</key>
<string>Allow tracking for personalized ads</string>

<!-- Export compliance -->
<key>ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption</key>
<false/>

Android build.gradle

// android/app/build.gradle
android {
    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.yourcompany.yourapp"
        minSdkVersion 22
        targetSdkVersion 34
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0.0"

        // 64-bit support
        ndk {
            abiFilters 'armeabi-v7a', 'arm64-v8a', 'x86', 'x86_64'
        }
    }

    buildTypes {
        release {
            minifyEnabled true
            shrinkResources true
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }

    bundle {
        language {
            enableSplit = true
        }
        density {
            enableSplit = true
        }
        abi {
            enableSplit = true
        }
    }
}

App Icons

iOS App Icons

Required sizes (place in Assets.xcassets):

Size	Scale	Usage
20pt	2x, 3x	Notification
29pt	2x, 3x	Settings
40pt	2x, 3x	Spotlight
60pt	2x, 3x	App Icon
76pt	1x, 2x	iPad
83.5pt	2x	iPad Pro
1024pt	1x	App Store

Android App Icons

Required sizes (place in res/mipmap-*):

Density	Size	Folder
mdpi	48x48	mipmap-mdpi
hdpi	72x72	mipmap-hdpi
xhdpi	96x96	mipmap-xhdpi
xxhdpi	144x144	mipmap-xxhdpi
xxxhdpi	192x192	mipmap-xxxhdpi

Also needed:

• Adaptive icon (foreground + background layers)
• Play Store icon: 512x512

Generate Icons

# Use capacitor-assets
bun add -D @capacitor/assets
bunx capacitor-assets generate --iconBackgroundColor '#ffffff'

Screenshots

iOS Screenshot Sizes

Device	Size	Required
iPhone 6.7"	1290x2796	Yes
iPhone 6.5"	1284x2778	Yes
iPhone 5.5"	1242x2208	Yes
iPad Pro 12.9"	2048x2732	If supporting iPad
iPad Pro 11"	1668x2388	If supporting iPad

Android Screenshot Sizes

Type	Size	Required
Phone	1080x1920 to 1080x2400	Yes (2-8)
7" Tablet	1200x1920	If supporting
10" Tablet	1600x2560	If supporting

Feature Graphic (Android)

• Size: 1024x500
• Required for Play Store listing

Generating Screenshots

// Use Playwright for automated screenshots
import { test } from '@playwright/test';

const devices = [
  { name: 'iPhone 14 Pro Max', viewport: { width: 430, height: 932 } },
  { name: 'iPhone 14', viewport: { width: 390, height: 844 } },
  { name: 'Pixel 7', viewport: { width: 412, height: 915 } },
];

test('generate screenshots', async ({ page }) => {
  for (const device of devices) {
    await page.setViewportSize(device.viewport);

    // Screenshot 1: Home
    await page.goto('/');
    await page.screenshot({
      path: `screenshots/${device.name}-home.png`,
      fullPage: false,
    });

    // Screenshot 2: Feature
    await page.goto('/feature');
    await page.screenshot({
      path: `screenshots/${device.name}-feature.png`,
    });
  }
});

App Store Connect Submission

1. Create App

1. Go to https://appstoreconnect.apple.com
2. My Apps > + > New App
3. Fill in:
   • Platform: iOS
   • Name: Your App Name
   • Primary Language
   • Bundle ID
   • SKU (unique identifier)

2. App Information

• Category (primary and secondary)
• Content Rights
• Age Rating (complete questionnaire)

3. Pricing and Availability

• Price (Free or paid tier)
• Availability (countries)

4. App Privacy

• Privacy Policy URL (required)
• Data collection types:
  • Contact Info
  • Health & Fitness
  • Financial Info
  • Location
  • Identifiers
  • Usage Data
  • etc.

5. Version Information

• Screenshots (all sizes)
• Promotional Text (170 chars)
• Description (4000 chars)
• Keywords (100 chars, comma-separated)
• Support URL
• Marketing URL (optional)
• What's New (for updates)

6. Build Upload

# Using Xcode
# Product > Archive > Distribute App > App Store Connect

# Using Fastlane
fastlane ios release

# Using xcrun
xcrun altool --upload-app --type ios --file App.ipa \
  --apiKey KEY_ID --apiIssuer ISSUER_ID

7. Submit for Review

• Answer export compliance questions
• Add notes for reviewer (if needed)
• Submit

Google Play Console Submission

1. Create App

1. Go to https://play.google.com/console
2. All apps > Create app
3. Fill in:
   • App name
   • Default language
   • App or game
   • Free or paid

2. Store Listing

• Short description (80 chars)
• Full description (4000 chars)
• Screenshots (2-8 per device type)
• Feature graphic (1024x500)
• App icon (512x512)
• Video URL (optional, YouTube)

3. Content Rating

Complete the questionnaire for IARC rating

4. Target Audience

• Target age group
• Ads declaration

5. Data Safety

• Data collection
• Data sharing
• Security practices
• Data deletion request handling

6. App Content

• Ads (yes/no)
• App category
• Contact details
• Privacy policy

7. Release

# Build AAB (required for new apps)
cd android && ./gradlew bundleRelease

# Upload via Play Console or API
# Production > Create new release > Upload AAB

Release Tracks

Track	Purpose
Internal testing	Up to 100 testers, instant
Closed testing	Invite-only, review
Open testing	Public beta
Production	Full release

Common Rejection Reasons

iOS Rejections

Reason	Solution
Crashes	Test on real devices, fix bugs
Broken links	Verify all URLs work
Incomplete metadata	Fill all required fields
Missing privacy info	Complete App Privacy section
Login issues	Provide demo account
Guideline 4.2 (Minimum Functionality)	Add meaningful features
Guideline 5.1.1 (Data Collection)	Justify data usage

Android Rejections

Reason	Solution
Crashes/ANRs	Fix stability issues
Policy violation	Review Play policies
Deceptive behavior	Be transparent about features
Sensitive permissions	Justify in-app
Target SDK too low	Update to API 34+

Updates and Versioning

Version Incrementing

# Increment patch (1.0.0 -> 1.0.1)
bun version patch

# Increment minor (1.0.0 -> 1.1.0)
bun version minor

# Increment major (1.0.0 -> 2.0.0)
bun version major

Phased Rollout

iOS:

• Enable phased release in App Store Connect
• 7-day gradual rollout (1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 100%)

Android:

• Set rollout percentage in release
• Monitor crash rate before increasing

Resources

• App Store Review Guidelines: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines
• Google Play Policy Center: https://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy
• App Store Connect: https://appstoreconnect.apple.com
• Google Play Console: https://play.google.com/console
• Capacitor Assets: https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor-assets