How to Publish an AI-Built App to the App Store (Lovable, Bolt, Replit)

To publish an AI-built app to the App Store you need an eligible Apple Developer account, an installable signed build, a completed App Store Connect record, and approved listing assets. The build route depends on the stack that produced the app. Apple's enrollment page and App Store Connect help are the current sources for fees, eligibility, and submission fields.

This is the store-submission half of launching. The marketing half, from OG images to Product Hunt, is covered in the AI-built app launch guide.

Step 1: The accounts

• Apple: enroll in the Apple Developer Program before the release window. Fees and verification steps vary by region and account type, so confirm them on Apple's enrollment page.
• Google Play: if you also ship Android, complete the current Play Console registration and verification flow separately.

Choose individual or organization enrollment deliberately because the seller name, verification documents, and any later account or app transfer follow Apple's rules.

Step 2: Get a build, per builder

Replit. Confirm whether the project is a native mobile app or a web app, then follow Replit's current deployment documentation. A hosted web deployment is not automatically an App Store build. Bolt.new. Mobile projects may use Expo and EAS for signing, building, and submission. Verify the current project export and Expo documentation because the available path depends on how the project was created. Lovable. A web project needs a supported native packaging approach before it can be submitted as an iOS binary. Capacitor is one possible route, but packaging does not guarantee that the resulting experience satisfies App Review.

Whichever route you take, test the signed build on supported real devices before submitting. Simulators may not expose every keyboard, safe-area, permission, network, or performance issue.

Step 3: The listing

App Store Connect asks for listing metadata such as the app name, subtitle, description, keywords, support URL, privacy information, age rating, categories, and availability. Limits and required fields can differ by platform and change over time, so use Apple's App information reference while completing the record. Privacy answers must match the app and its third-party SDKs.

Write an accurate name and plain-English subtitle that help customers understand the app. Avoid irrelevant search terms or an unsubstantiated ranking formula.

Step 4: Screenshots at the exact sizes

App Store Connect validates screenshots against accepted dimensions for the selected display class. 1320 × 2868 is one accepted 6.9-inch iPhone portrait size, not the only possible listing canvas. The current options and official source are collected in the App Store screenshot dimensions guide.

The App Store screenshot generator turns raw captures into framed, captioned assets using current presets. Select the outputs relevant to the devices the app supports, then run them through the size checker and verify the intended App Store Connect slot. Shipping Android too? The Play Store generator provides practical canvases within Google's documented ranges.

Use enough screenshots to explain the important workflow without padding the set. Lead with clear, representative product screens because some placements expose only the beginning of the gallery.

Step 5: Prepare for review

Review time varies and Apple reports current estimates through App Store Connect and its developer resources. Common preparation issues include:

• Guideline 4.2, minimum functionality. Apple's App Review Guidelines say an app should provide features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website. Native capabilities can help when they serve the product, but Apple does not publish the short checklist claimed by many wrapper guides.
• Placeholder or broken content. Remove “Lorem ipsum,” unintended test data, dead controls, and unfinished flows from the submitted build.
• Login walls without demo access. If the app needs an account, provide a working demo login in the review notes.
• Broken privacy answers. Saying you collect nothing while your analytics SDK says otherwise.

If Apple raises an issue, read the cited guideline and review note, correct the underlying problem, and explain the change clearly in the next submission. A resubmission is not guaranteed approval.

Step 6: Press publish, then launch properly

Approval provides store distribution, not a complete launch plan. Reuse current product captures as source material for applicable launch assets, then create and review the right composition for an OG image, Product Hunt gallery, or social card. That half of the job is covered in the launch checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I publish a Lovable app to the App Store?

It is possible to package a web project with a native wrapper such as Capacitor, but the resulting app must still satisfy signing, privacy, functionality, UI, and review requirements. Do not add arbitrary native features solely as a review workaround; build a coherent mobile experience and read guideline 4.2.

How does Replit publish to the App Store?

The route depends on whether the Replit project is native or web-based and on Replit's current product capabilities. Follow its current mobile deployment documentation, and expect to supply your own Apple developer access, listing, screenshots, and privacy details.

How much does it cost to publish an app?

Apple and Google publish their current enrollment or registration fees during sign-up, and amounts or requirements can vary by region and account type. Builder plans, signing services, hosting, and any legal or business setup are separate costs.

What screenshot sizes does the App Store require?

Apple accepts multiple display-class dimensions. For example, 1320 × 2868 is accepted for a 6.9-inch iPhone portrait asset. The dimensions guide links to Apple's current specification; choose and validate the outputs relevant to your app.

How long does App Store review take for a first submission?

There is no guaranteed review duration. Check Apple's current status and estimates, submit complete review notes, provide a working demo account when needed, and make privacy answers accurate.

Do I need different screenshots for the App Store and Google Play?

Keep the brand system consistent, but use platform-accurate UI, frames, and canvases. Google accepts a size range rather than Apple's display-class dimensions. Derive both sets from shared source material, then check each store separately.