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Automate the complete App Store submission process, from attaching builds to versions through monitoring review status.

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Overview

The submission workflow handles:
  • Creating and managing App Store versions
  • Attaching builds to versions
  • Validating metadata requirements
  • Submitting builds for review
  • Monitoring review status
  • Canceling submissions when needed

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Prerequisites

Before submitting, ensure you have:
  1. A processed build uploaded to App Store Connect
  2. App Store version created with required metadata
  3. All localizations configured with required fields
  4. Screenshots uploaded for at least one device type
  5. Privacy information and app review details completed

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Submission Workflow

1

Prepare your app version

Create an App Store version if it doesn’t exist:
asc app-versions create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --platform IOS
Or list existing versions:
asc app-versions list --app "YOUR_APP_ID" --platform IOS
2

Verify localization metadata

The CLI automatically validates that required localization fields are present:
  • Description
  • Keywords
  • What’s New text
  • Marketing URL (if applicable)
Update missing localizations:
asc app-info set \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --locale "en-US" \
  --name "My App" \
  --subtitle "Amazing app subtitle" \
  --privacy-policy-url "https://example.com/privacy"
Update version-specific metadata:
asc localizations update \
  --version "VERSION_ID" \
  --locale "en-US" \
  --description "Full app description" \
  --keywords "productivity,tools,utility" \
  --whats-new "Bug fixes and improvements"
3

Find your build ID

List builds for your app version:
asc builds list \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build-number "42" \
  --output json
Or get the latest build:
asc builds list \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --sort "-uploadedDate" \
  --limit 1
4

Submit for review

Submit the build (with automatic preflight validation):
asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build "BUILD_ID" \
  --confirm
Or submit using version ID:
asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version-id "VERSION_ID" \
  --build "BUILD_ID" \
  --confirm
For macOS, tvOS, or visionOS apps, specify the platform:
asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build "BUILD_ID" \
  --platform MAC_OS \
  --confirm

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Monitoring Submission Status

1

Check submission status

Using submission ID:
asc submit status --id "SUBMISSION_ID"
Using version ID:
asc submit status --version-id "VERSION_ID"
2

Check version state

View detailed version information:
asc app-versions get --id "VERSION_ID"
The version state indicates the current stage:
  • PREPARE_FOR_SUBMISSION: Metadata incomplete
  • WAITING_FOR_REVIEW: Submitted, awaiting review
  • IN_REVIEW: Currently being reviewed
  • PENDING_DEVELOPER_RELEASE: Approved, awaiting your release
  • READY_FOR_SALE: Live on the App Store
  • REJECTED: Rejected by review team

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Managing Submissions

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Cancel a Submission

If you need to cancel a submission before review: 
asc submit cancel --id "SUBMISSION_ID" --confirm
Or cancel using version ID: 
asc submit cancel --version-id "VERSION_ID" --confirm
You can only cancel submissions that are in WAITING_FOR_REVIEW state. Once review begins, you cannot cancel.

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Resubmit After Changes

If you need to make changes after submitting:
1

Cancel the current submission

asc submit cancel --version-id "VERSION_ID" --confirm
2

Make your changes

Update metadata, upload new screenshots, or attach a different build as needed.
3

Resubmit

asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version-id "VERSION_ID" \
  --build "NEW_BUILD_ID" \
  --confirm

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Complete Example: iOS App Submission

Here’s a complete workflow for submitting an iOS app: 
#!/bin/bash
set -e

# Configuration
export ASC_APP_ID="YOUR_APP_ID"
VERSION="1.0.0"
PLATFORM="IOS"

# 1. Find or create the app version
echo "Creating version $VERSION..."
VERSION_RESPONSE=$(asc app-versions create \
  --app "$ASC_APP_ID" \
  --version "$VERSION" \
  --platform "$PLATFORM" \
  --output json 2>/dev/null || true)

# Extract version ID (adjust based on actual JSON structure)
VERSION_ID=$(echo "$VERSION_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.data.id')

if [ -z "$VERSION_ID" ]; then
  echo "Version already exists, fetching ID..."
  VERSION_ID=$(asc app-versions list \
    --app "$ASC_APP_ID" \
    --platform "$PLATFORM" \
    --output json | jq -r '.data[] | select(.attributes.versionString == "'$VERSION'") | .id' | head -1)
fi

echo "Version ID: $VERSION_ID"

# 2. Get the latest build
echo "Finding latest build..."
BUILD_ID=$(asc builds list \
  --app "$ASC_APP_ID" \
  --sort "-uploadedDate" \
  --limit 1 \
  --output json | jq -r '.data[0].id')

echo "Build ID: $BUILD_ID"

# 3. Update localizations (example for en-US)
echo "Updating localizations..."
asc localizations update \
  --version "$VERSION_ID" \
  --locale "en-US" \
  --description "Your app description here" \
  --keywords "productivity,tools" \
  --whats-new "Bug fixes and performance improvements"

# 4. Submit for review
echo "Submitting for review..."
asc submit create \
  --app "$ASC_APP_ID" \
  --version-id "$VERSION_ID" \
  --build "$BUILD_ID" \
  --platform "$PLATFORM" \
  --confirm

echo "Submission complete!"

# 5. Check status
asc submit status --version-id "$VERSION_ID"

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Preflight Validation

The CLI performs automatic preflight checks before submission:

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Localization Validation

Checks that all required fields are present for each localization:
  • Description
  • Keywords
  • What’s New text (for updates)
If any fields are missing, the submission will fail with a detailed error: 
Submit preflight failed: submission-blocking localization fields are missing:
  - en-US: description, keywords
  - es-ES: whats-new
Fix these with `asc app-info set` (optionally using --copy-from-locale) before retrying submit create.

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Fixing Validation Errors

Copy complete localization from one locale to another: 
asc app-info set \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --locale "es-ES" \
  --copy-from-locale "en-US"
Then update locale-specific fields: 
asc localizations update \
  --version "VERSION_ID" \
  --locale "es-ES" \
  --description "Descripción de la aplicación" \
  --keywords "productividad,herramientas"

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Troubleshooting

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”No app store version localizations found”

Problem: The version has no localizations configured. Solution: Add at least one localization: 
asc localizations update \
  --version "VERSION_ID" \
  --locale "en-US" \
  --description "App description" \
  --keywords "keyword1,keyword2" \
  --whats-new "What's new in this version"

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“Failed to attach build”

Problem: The build may not be compatible with the version or is still processing. Solution: Verify build status: 
asc builds get --build "BUILD_ID"
Ensure the build:
  • Has finished processing
  • Matches the app ID
  • Supports the correct platform
  • Has passed automatic checks

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”Stale review submission found”

Problem: A previous submission attempt left an orphaned submission. Solution: The CLI automatically cancels stale submissions. If you see this warning, it’s informational and the new submission will proceed.

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Submission Rejected

If your submission is rejected:
  1. Check rejection details in App Store Connect web interface
  2. Address the issues mentioned in the rejection
  3. Upload a new build if code changes are needed, or just update metadata
  4. Resubmit:
asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version-id "VERSION_ID" \
  --build "FIXED_BUILD_ID" \
  --confirm

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Platform-Specific Considerations

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macOS Apps

For macOS apps, specify the MAC_OS platform: 
asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build "BUILD_ID" \
  --platform MAC_OS \
  --confirm

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tvOS Apps

For tvOS apps, use the TV_OS platform: 
asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build "BUILD_ID" \
  --platform TV_OS \
  --confirm

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visionOS Apps

For visionOS apps, use the VISION_OS platform: 
asc submit create \
  --app "YOUR_APP_ID" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build "BUILD_ID" \
  --platform VISION_OS \
  --confirm

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Best Practices

  1. Always use --confirm flag: Prevents accidental submissions
  2. Test with TestFlight first: Distribute to internal testers before submitting to the App Store
  3. Validate metadata beforehand: Use asc localizations list to verify all required fields are present
  4. Monitor submission status: Check status regularly during the review process
  5. Keep builds ready: Have builds processed and ready before starting the submission workflow
  6. Use version IDs for automation: Version IDs are more reliable than version strings in scripts
  7. Handle stale submissions: The CLI automatically cleans up orphaned submissions, but verify in case of errors