Publishing Your App to Android and iOS Stores



Publishing Your App to Android and iOS Stores

Publishing a mobile app on both Android and iOS platforms is an essential step in the app development lifecycle. .NET MAUI allows you to build cross-platform applications for Android and iOS, and in this blog, we will cover the detailed steps for publishing your app to both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

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This blog will guide you through:

  • How to generate an APK or AAB file for Android.
  • How to generate an IPA file for iOS.
  • How to use Transporter to upload your app to the App Store.
  • How to make your app available for testing via TestFlight.
  • The final steps for submitting your app for review.

Table of Contents

1. Preparing for Publishing

Before you begin the process of publishing your app to the app stores, there are several essential steps you must follow:

  • Update App Version: Ensure you’ve updated the version number for both Android and iOS projects. For Android, it’s located in AndroidManifest.xml, and for iOS, in the Info.plist.
  • Test Your App: Test the app thoroughly on physical devices and emulators to ensure it works smoothly and passes basic functionality tests.
  • Create Store Accounts: You need a Google Developer account for the Google Play Store (one-time fee of $25), and an Apple Developer account for the Apple App Store (yearly fee of $99).
  • App Icons and Splash Screens: Make sure that you have the proper app icon and splash screen for both platforms, meeting the required specifications.
  • Prepare App Store Listing Information: Prepare your app’s title, description, screenshots, and promotional materials for both stores. You’ll also need a privacy policy and terms of service if your app collects data.

2. Publishing to the Android Store

Step 1: Build the APK or AAB File

To publish your app to the Android store, you need to generate either an APK (Android Package) or AAB (Android App Bundle).

  • Open your .NET MAUI project in Visual Studio.
  • Set the build configuration to Release.
  • Right-click on the project in Solution Explorer and select Publish > Android.
  • Choose whether to generate an APK or AAB file (AAB is recommended by Google).
  • Click Create Package to build the file.

Once completed, you will have either an .apk or .aab file located in your output folder.

Step 2: Upload the APK or AAB File to Google Play Store

  • Log in to Google Play Console: Use your Google Developer account to access the Google Play Console.
  • Create a New App: If this is your first time publishing the app, click Create App and fill out the necessary details.
  • Upload APK or AAB: Navigate to Release Management and select Create Release. Upload the APK or AAB file that you generated earlier.
  • Complete the Store Listing: Fill in details like your app’s description, category, and contact information. Ensure all mandatory fields are filled.
  • Submit for Review: Once everything is in place, click Review and Rollout to submit your app for review by Google.

Table of Contents for .Net Maui

3. Publishing to the iOS Store

Step 1: Generate the IPA File (iOS App Archive)

To upload your app to the Apple App Store, you need to create an IPA file, which is the iOS app package.

  • Open your project in Visual Studio and select the Release configuration for iOS.
  • Configure the Bundle Identifier in Info.plist.
  • Create an Archive: Go to Build > Archive in Visual Studio to build your app and generate the IPA.
  • After archiving, the Archive Manager will open, where you can review and export the IPA.
  • Code Signing: Ensure that you have the correct provisioning profile and certificates installed in Xcode.
  • Export the IPA: From the Archive Manager, select Distribute App, choose App Store Connect as the destination, and then Upload the IPA.

Step 2: Upload the IPA File Using Transporter

  • Download Transporter from the Mac App Store if you don’t already have it.
  • Open Transporter and log in with your Apple Developer account.
  • Drag the IPA file into Transporter and click Deliver to upload your app to App Store Connect.

Step 3: TestFlight

  • Log in to App Store Connect.
  • Navigate to My Apps and select your app.
  • Once the build is available in TestFlight, you can invite testers by adding their email addresses.
  • Submit the build for review if you’re ready for public testing.

Step 4: Submit the App for Review

  • After testing the app in TestFlight and fixing any bugs, go back to App Store Connect.
  • AppStore Tap - Click on add plus sign and provide version name
  • Go to build section, Select app from list of app
  • Add the necessary App Metadata such as description, screenshots, and other details.
  • Click Submit for Review.
  • Apple will review your app, typically taking 1-3 days. Once approved, your app will be live on the App Store.

Best Practices for Publishing

  • Test your app thoroughly before submitting it to ensure it functions correctly on all target devices.
  • Follow platform-specific guidelines to ensure your app meets the standards set by both Google and Apple.
  • Monitor the app once it is live, using crash analytics tools like Firebase Crashlytics to track any issues.
  • Keep your app up-to-date by regularly releasing updates that fix bugs and improve performance.

Interview Questions

  • What’s the difference between an APK and an AAB file?
  • How do you handle code signing for iOS apps in .NET MAUI?
  • What steps are required to upload an IPA to App Store Connect using Transporter?
  • What is the process of using TestFlight for beta testing?
  • Explain how to manage app versioning for Android and iOS in .NET MAUI.
  • What is the App Store review process and what common issues could cause rejection?
  • How do you handle app localization when preparing for an app store release?





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