Publish iOS app to App Store on behalf of client

Question

I have

• An apple id
• The source code
• A Distribution Certificate generated for my apple id using client's developer portal
• A Provisioning profile for the newly created App ID and my distribution certificate

My client dont want to share his apple id credentials with me. I am able to archive the product in Xcode, but am not able to submit it to App Store.

Can i directly submit it to the store with the above details i've got?

Or Can i build IPA file and share it with client, so he can submit to App Store?

Is there any other alternative ways we can submit the app to store (other than sharing his credentials)

Kindly explain the answer (with step by step guide if possible).

Thanks

Answer 1

For those who needs to do the same on behalf of clients, here are the steps i've followed...

What i had

1. An apple developer account (with no Developer Program Enrollment)

What client had

1. An apple developer account (with Apple Developer Program Enrollment for Company)

As far as app distribution is concerned, apple have 2 systems: Member Center (for Certificates, Profiles, App IDs etc) and ITunes Connect (for publishing your app to app store and further management of the app).

I need access to both ITunes Connect & Member center for distributing on behalf of client.

1. In Member Center, client should give you Team Admin Role. [steps]
2. In ITunes connect, client should give you Developer Role / Admin Role for the app. If Developer Role, given u can only upload the build, to submit app for review you'll need to ask the client. If Admin role, basically you can do almost everything upto Submitting the app for review. [steps]
3. Now you can create certificates, profiles, app ids through Member Center (you can create certificates & profiles in Xcode also. But App IDS should be created through Member Center).
4. Create App Record in ITunes Connect using the same bundle ID used for App ID creation.
5. Upload your build through Xcode
6. Submit for review through Itunes Connect

This is what i did for submitting the app. If you find any mistakes/better alternatives, pls comment below, so i'll update the answer.

Answer 2

You'll need to do the following:

1. Build the app using the distribution cert of the client
2. Archive the app using XCode (it's in the same menu as the build options)
3. When the archive is done it will open the Archive Organizer
4. Select the newly created archive and export it. The first option in exporting is the 'Save for iOS App Store Deployment'.
5. This will create a directory on your mac that contains the bits and pieces your client will need to upload it.
6. Zip that directory and transfer to your client. They should be able to use the web-interface in iTunes connect to upload the app and complete the app submission process.