According to Apple, all applications must be uploaded by the app's content provider utilizing their specific, individual Apple Developer Account; it also extends to current, already released applications.
Thankfully, transferring ownership of the application is easy and extremely simple.
The ultimate advantage of transferring an app from one Apple developer account to another account is that the application is not removed from the App store. Plus all the reviews and ratings will be preserved at the time & after the transition, and the users will have continued access to the upcoming upgrades & versions. You may transfer an unlimited number of applications, but each application must be moved separately.
Steps to follow to transfer an app from one Apple developer account to another
Step 1 - Check the below-mentioned to see whether you can transfer your app.
For iOS app transfer, you must fulfill the following requirements
- The Application should have had at least one version available on the App Store.
- iCloud entitlement must not be used by any version of the app
- Passbook entitlement must not be used by any version of the app
- Accounts for both the transferor account and the recipient account must not be in changing, pending state
- The most recent version of their free & paid agreements in the Agreements, Tax, & Banking part must be approved
The iOS app must be in the following states:
- Ready to sale
- Prepare for submission
- Ready for review
- Invalid binary
- Developer rejected
- Rejected
- The developer removed from sale
- TestFlight beta testing must be disabled for all the versions of the app
- Apps that use Apple’s sign-in can not be transferred
In-app purchases products must be in the following status:
- Approved
- Ready to submit
- The developer removed from sale
- Rejected
- You can initiate the transfer procedure after checking that your app satisfies all of the transfer requirements. You can click here to know more about the app transfer criteria.
Step 2 - Create the backup for all the app data/information.
This process is done to secure the app data in case an app is deleted from the app store following the transfer process.
Step 1 - Start the iOS app transfer process by obtaining the Apple ID & Team ID of the Apple account holder in which you want to transfer your app.
If the account holder is not aware of where to get the Team ID, here is the process to be followed:
- Log in to the app store and connect account
- Click on “Users and Access”
- Click on the Apple ID (The email address you see)
- If there are multiple Apple IDs or more than one user linked to the apple developer account, locate the recipient’s account Apple ID and click on the email address.
- You will now see the account page for that ID and here is your Team ID
Step 2 - Login to App Store Connect Account
Step 3 - Click on “My Apps”
Step 4 - Select the app that you want to transfer.
Step 5 - Scroll down to the "Additional Information" section and then choose "Transfer App."
Step 6 - Agree to Apple's terms & conditions and then click the "Request Transfer" button. After that, click "Done" to return to the App Information screen.
Step7 - Enter the recipient's Account Holder's Apple ID & Team ID
Step 8 - Agree to Apple's terms & conditions and then click the "Request Transfer" button. After that, click "Done" to return to the App Information screen.
Step 3 - Accept the Application Transfer Agreement by the recipient.
After submitting the transfer request from the original Apple Developer Account the recipient Account Holder must accept the iOS app transfer by taking the following steps:
- Login to the recipient’s app store and connect account
- Click on Agreement, Tax, and Banking
- Look for the app under the "App Transfers" section
- Complete all of the required Metadata
- Read Apple's terms and conditions before clicking "Accept."
💡 Note - The iOS app transfer might take up to 2 business days to complete, throughout which the app status will be “Processing App Transfer”
You will own it after the transfer is completed. The app is no longer available with the original App Store Connect account.
Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles page
Note - By following the steps outlined above, you must submit the following files to us at support@rentechdigital.com Except for the key Id, all of the certificates in the list will be in file format.
Apple Development Certificate
- Apple Distribution Certificate
- Ios App Development Certificate
- App Store Certificate
- App_Store_Profile_Certificate
- AuthKey_.p8 File
- Key ID
- Team ID
Apple Distribution Certificate
Step 1 - Login to your store's apple developer account and visit the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles page by clicking here.
- Click on the “Certificates” option you will see in the left panel and the certificates page will open. Click on the “+” sign and you will see beside the certificate title and all the options will appear in front of you.
- Select “Apple Distribution” and click on the continue button on the top right of the page.
- After that, Create a New Certificate page will open. In that Choose File → Certificate Signing Request and then click “Continue”
- Download CSR file
- The next page will open and you have to click the “Download Button” your certificate starts downloading, save that certificate, and share it with us.
iOS App Development Certificate
Step 2- Click on the “Certificates” option you will see in the left panel and the certificates page will open. Click on the “+” sign and you will see beside the certificate title and all the options will appear in front of you.
- Select “Apple Development” and click on the continue button on the top right of the page.
- After that, Create a New Certificate page will open. In that Choose File → Certificate Signing Request and then click “Continue”
- The next page will open and you have to click the “Download Button” your certificate starts downloading, save that certificate, and share it with us.
App Store Certificate
Step 3- Follow the steps for creating a profile
- Go back again to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profile page Click on the “Profiles” option you will see in the left panel and the profiles page will open. Click on the “+” sign and you will see beside the profile title and all the options will appear in front of you.
- Select the iOS App Development option and click on the “Continue” button
- After that Generate a Provisioning Profile page will open. On that page select the App ID from the drop-down and click on the “Continue” button.
- Generate a Provisioning Profile page will open. On that page click on the “Select All” checkbox and click the “Continue button”
- Select Devices again click on the “Select All” checkbox and click the “Continue button”
- In the Review, Name & Generate section put your name and then click the “Generate” button.
- Download and Install page will open click on the “Download” button your certificate starts downloading, save that certificate and share it with us.
- Click the ”All Profiles” hyperlink you will see on the page.
App_Store_Profile_Certificate
Step 4- Go back again to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profile page.
Click on the “Profiles” option you will see in the left panel and the profiles page will open. Click on the “+” sign and you will see beside the profile title and all the options will appear in front of you.
- Select the “App Store” option in the Distribution section below and click on and click on the “Continue” button
- After that Generate a Provisioning Profile page will open. On that page select the App ID from the drop-down and click on the “Continue” button.
- Click on the “Select All” checkbox and click the “Continue button”
- In the Review, Name & Generate section put your name and then click the “Generate” button.
- Download and Install page will open click on the “Download” button your certificate starts downloading, save that certificate and share it with us.
- Click the ”All Profiles” hyperlink you will see on the page.
Step 5- Go back to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profile page Click on the “Devices” option in the left panel, and the devices page will open. Click on the “+” sign and you will see beside the device's title and all the options will appear in front of you.
- Register a New Device page will open
- Please input the above value in these fields and click on the “Continue” button.
Device name: iPhone 8 plus
Device ID(UDID) : 47e47b1456d08c5f9959da5bfdfc94356fb78be1
- Click on the “Register” button to complete the process of adding a device.
Users and Access and App store connect key Id (AuthKey_.p8 File)
Step 6: Vist App Store Connect → then click on “Users and Access” on the top of the page → keys → App store connect API and then Click on the “+” sign and you will see beside the Active title and all the options will appear in front of you.
- A Generate API Key dialogue box will appear in which you have to Input the name of the Key.
- In the next drop-down menu select “Admin” and then click on the “Generate” button.
Key ID
- After that click on the Download API Key option, you will see on the page and copy the Key ID and then send this to us.
Step 7- Go back again to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profile page Click on the “Keys” option you will see in the left panel and the keys page will open. Click on the “+” sign and you will see beside the keys title and all the options will appear in front of you.
- Register a New Key page will appear on that page input the key Name—> Select Apple Push Notification Service (APN’s) and then click the “Continue” button.
- Click on the “Register” button
- Download the file Send this AuthKey_.p8 and Copy to Key Id us