# Apple & Google App Stores

Note: to create native (iOS and Android) accounts you will need a minimum of a [Buzzy Medium Deployment](https://www.buzzy.buzz/pricing#deployment) plan or better. A Deployment is a prerequisite for app store publishing.

Currently, initial app store setup is handled by the Buzzy team; an automated flow is planned. Please contact <support@buzzy.buzz> to get started.

To publish apps on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, you'll need to follow specific steps for each platform.

{% hint style="success" %}
Use <https://icon.kitchen/> to generate your Android, iOS and web icons. Let it worry about dimensions, specs and formats.
{% endhint %}

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## Apple App Store&#x20;

### Assets

For Apple documentation on required assets and publishing to the app store, see <https://developer.apple.com/app-store/product-page/>

You'll need the following:

* App name (max 30 char)
* Icon (see <https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/configuring-your-app-icon>)
* Subtitle (max 30 char)
* Previews (optional video) (see <https://developer.apple.com/app-store/app-previews/>)
* Screenshots (max 10) (see <https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/screenshot-specifications/>)
* Description text
* Promotional text (max 170 char)
* Keywords
* Categories see <https://developer.apple.com/app-store/categories/>

### Publishing Steps

1. **Create an Apple Developer Account**:
   * Create an Apple ID if you don't have one.
   * Enrol in the Apple Developer Program as an individual or organization.
   * Provide necessary details like name, address, and, for organizations, a D-U-N-S Number.
   * Please follow instructions [here](https://developer.apple.com/programs/enroll/)&#x20;
2. **App Listing and Metadata**:
   * Prepare an engaging app title, description, keywords, and screenshots (see above).
   * Set pricing and availability regions in App Store Connect.
   * See instructions for creating your app listing [here](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/create-an-app-record/add-a-new-app/)
3. **Connecting Buzzy to your Apple App**:
   * Once you have your Apple Account and App set up, reach out to <support@buzzy.buzz> to provide access so Buzzy can publish your app to Apple TestFlight. This allows you to verify your app is working and ready for submission to Apple for approval.
4. **Publish the App**:
   * Once approved, your app will be available on the App Store.

***

## Google Play Store&#x20;

### Assets

For a simple reference article, check out <https://help.disciplemedia.com/hc/en-gb/articles/6937156513553-What-Assets-do-I-Need-for-the-Google-Play-Store>

You'll need the following:

* App name
* Description (The first 255 characters are immediately visible to users before they need to hit the More button)
* Video preview (YouTube, optional — use the full YouTube URL; up to \~2 minutes)
* Square icon (JPEG image, 512 × 512 pixels)
* Screenshots (JPEG images, 1242 × 2208 pixels, recommended 3–6 screenshots)
* Banner (JPEG, 1024 × 500 pixels)

### Publishing Steps

1. **Create a Google Play Developer Account**:
   * Visit the Google Play Developer Console and [create an account](https://play.google.com/console/signup)
2. **Prepare Your App**:
   * Ensure the app is stable and follows Google's Material Design guidelines.
   * Review content for compliance with Google Play policies.
3. **App Listing on Google Play Store**:
   * Log in to your Google Play Developer account.
   * Click on "Create App" and fill in the app's details, including title, description, and graphics.
   * Set pricing and distribution settings.
4. **Connecting Buzzy to your Google App**:
   * Build your app in release mode.
   * Once you have your Google Play Console account and App listing set up, reach out to <support@buzzy.buzz> to provide access so Buzzy can publish your app to the Internal Test Track. This allows you to verify your app is working and ready for submission to Google for approval.
5. **Publish Your App**:
   * Submit your app for review in the Google Play Console.
   * Once approved, your app will be available on the Google Play Store.

By following these steps for each platform, you can successfully publish your apps on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Ensure you adhere to each platform's guidelines to streamline approval and publication.