From vibe-coded app to live on both stores. 10 essential steps covering metadata, screenshots, localization, privacy, credentials, and compliance. Built specifically for first-time publishers.
What We Check
Comprehensive coverage of everything needed before you submit.
Visual progress bar shows exactly where you stand. Complete items in any order and pick up where you left off.
Validate your title, subtitle, description, and keywords against store requirements and ASO best practices.
Verify you have screenshots for every required device size. Check format, resolution, and count requirements.
See which markets you are missing and get recommendations for high-impact localizations to add before launch.
Step-by-step guides for setting up App Store Connect and Google Play Console credentials correctly.
Privacy policy, content rating, age rating, and export compliance checks to prevent the most common rejections.
How It Works
Add your app to AppDrift and connect store accounts.
Work through 10 items with clear instructions for each.
Fix issues directly with linked AppDrift tools.
Hit submit knowing you have covered every requirement.
FAQ
The checklist is built specifically for first-time app publishers, especially those using tools like Cursor, Lovable, or Bolt to build their apps. It covers everything from metadata to compliance so you do not miss a step.
Yes. Every checklist item includes guidance for both Apple App Store and Google Play Store, noting where requirements differ between platforms.
Each item includes a clear explanation of what failed and a direct link to the AppDrift tool that can fix it. For example, a metadata quality failure links to the Metadata Generation tool.
The checklist is optimized for first-time launches, but many items like metadata quality, screenshot coverage, and compliance checks are valuable for updates as well.
Yes. The complete 10-item checklist is available on every plan, including the free tier. Some automated checks use tokens, but you can also complete items manually.
Follow the checklist and submit with confidence. Free for every account.
Publishing an app to the App Store or Google Play for the first time is deceptively complex. The build might be finished, but the journey from compiled code to live listing involves dozens of steps that are easy to overlook. A missing privacy policy, incorrect screenshot dimensions, or poorly optimized metadata can mean the difference between a smooth approval and a frustrating rejection that delays your launch by days or weeks.
The pre-launch phase is where most first-time publishers lose time. Your metadata needs to be more than just filled in. It needs to be optimized for search and conversion. Your app title should include your primary keyword, your subtitle or short description should highlight a clear benefit, and your keyword field should be filled with researched, high-volume terms that match what real users search for. Use AI metadata generation to create optimized titles, descriptions, and keywords in under 60 seconds, rather than spending hours manually crafting each field.
Screenshots are equally critical. Both stores have specific requirements for device sizes, file formats, and minimum counts. Apple requires screenshots for every device size you support, while Google Play needs a minimum set across phone and tablet formats. Beyond meeting requirements, your screenshots need to sell your app. The first two screenshots are what most users see before deciding to tap or scroll past. AppDrift's screenshot generator lets you create professional, store-compliant screenshots for every device size without design skills.
Launch day itself requires careful sequencing. Submit your app for review early enough to account for potential back-and-forth with the review team. Apple's review typically takes 24 to 48 hours, but rejections can add days. Have your marketing materials ready to go the moment your app goes live: social posts, email announcements, and any paid acquisition campaigns should be queued and waiting. Coordinate with automated store publishing to push your listing live across all target countries simultaneously, rather than manually updating each locale one at a time.
Post-launch is where sustained growth happens. Monitor your first reviews closely and respond to every piece of feedback, both positive and negative. Track your keyword rankings from day one to establish baselines. Pay attention to which keywords are driving installs and which are underperforming. Iterate on your metadata within the first two weeks based on real data, not assumptions. The apps that grow fastest after launch are the ones that treat their listing as a living document, not a one-time setup.
For the complete step-by-step process tailored to developers using AI coding tools, read our vibe coder's app store launch checklist. And for ongoing optimization after your app is live, the ASO checklist for 2026 covers every recurring task you need to stay competitive.