Prepare and Submit Your iOS Branded Mobile App

Ready to create and set up your own branded app on iOS? This article will walk you through the necessary steps to help you submit your branded mobile app to the Apple App Store.

About This Feature

Branded Mobile fits into your audience’s existing routines, making it easier for them to learn and engage with your content — all on their own schedule. This means higher course completion rates, improved student satisfaction, and more revenue opportunities for your business.

The Thinkific team will work with you to build your own branded app and ensure that it is approved by Apple and Google. However, there are certain steps that need to be completed by you. These steps are outlined below.

Important Considerations

We strongly recommend creating your Apple Developer account as soon as possible. Creating a developer account in advance can help shorten the time it takes to submit the app.
The Thinkific team will work closely with you on ensuring that the app is approved, but it is up to you to decide when you want the app launched and available for your audience. Unlike the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store allows you to make your app available to your audience separately from the app approval. See more: Branded Mobile: What is the Difference between App Submission and App Launch?
For the Google Play Store instructions, see: Prepare and Submit Your Android Branded Mobile App.

Step 1: Prepare and Grant Access to Your iOS Branded Mobile App

First things first, you'll need to create an Apple Developer Account account! This is where the Thinkific team will build your iOS mobile app and where you'll manage it.

Create an Apple Developer Account

Before you can create an Apple Developer Account, you'll need an Apple ID account. If you don't have one, see How to Create a New Apple ID and set up two-factor authentication.

You can enroll your Apple Developer Account either as an Individual or Organization. We strongly recommend selecting Organization if possible. If you choose to set up a developer profile as:

An Individual, you'll need to complete additional steps when providing the Thinkific team with the required information.
An Organization, you'll need to provide information, such as a D-U-N-S number, Legal Entity status, etc.

Enroll into the Apple Developer Program here.

There is an annual subscription fee associated with an Apple Developer account. A paid account is required in order to distribute your app on the App Store.

Grant Thinkific Access to Your Developer Account

To help build and submit your app to the Apple App store, Thinkific will need access to your account.

In the top navigation of your developer account, click Program resources
Under Additional Resources, select Users and Access
Click the add button (+)
In the window that appears, enter the following:
First Name: Thinkific
Last Name: Admin
Email: svc-mobileapp-mgt@thinkific.com
Roles: Admin
Apps: Leave as default All Apps
Click Invite.

You can also see instructions on how to invite team members here.

Once we have access to your Apple Developer Account, we will take the initial steps to create your App. We will contact you once it is time to complete Step 2.

Thinkific will prepare your creative assets, such as App Icon and App Splash Screen for you. If there is any difficulty in creating these assets, our team will reach out to you.

Step 2: Retrieve Your Apple API Keys

You can start this step only after the Thinkific team has completed the initial app setup. We will contact you once the setup is complete and you can complete this step.

The Apple API key information allows Thinkific to upload apps via our systems without requiring manual input.

Create Your App Store Connect API Keys

Go to App Store Connect
Navigate to Users and Access -> Keys
Click on the + sign to generate a new API Key
Enter the name for the key and select App Manager access rights.
Click Generate
Download the key
Copy the Issuer ID and Key ID of the generated Key
Send the API Key, Issuer ID, and Key ID to the Thinkific Team at svc-mobileapp-mgt@thinkific.com

API Key Example

Issue ID Example

907c7d07-818d-49d5-ac47-c55a5292ec5d

Key ID Example

Q4GLVL365M

Once the Thinkific team received the API keys, we will continue working on the app setup. We will also work with you to ensure that the app gets approved after a review by Apple.

Step 3: Launch Your App

Once your app is created and reviewed, you are ready to publish your app! See the article for more information: Overview of publishing your app.

Once your app is approved by the Apple team, it is not yet visible to the general public. You need to take the additional step of publishing it to make it accessible to your audience. See more: Branded Mobile: What is the Difference between App Submission and App Launch?