What are the effects of changing the bundle id, App Id and App name for an app live on the app store

Question

Suppose I have an iOS app live on the app store with an App Id (and app bundle Id) of com.mycompany.my-cool-app and an App Name of My Cool App.

Now I want to change my App Id to com.newcompany.my-interesting-app and App Name to My Interesting App.

I've never done this but I think the steps would be:

1. Change the bundle Id in Xcode.

2. Create a new App Id in developer.apple.com.

3. In the Apps Provisioning Profile on developer.apple.com change the App Id to the new App Id

4. Change the App name in Xcode, increment the version number and upload new App to iTunes connect where I can then change the App name in iTunes connect and submit the app for review.

My question is: What are the implications of doing this?

1. What happens to users who have the app currently installed on their phone? Would they have to re-download the app since so much underlyingly has changed or would they just get the new app with the new app name upon updating the app?

2. Since the bundle Id changed, would there be an issue in accessing files/photos saved in the documents directory from the previous version?

3. What else could go "wrong"?

Answer 1

You cannot change the bundle id of an existing app. The bundle id is the app. If you change the bundle id, that is a whole new and different app. So, do what you like, as long as you keep that basic fact in mind.

What I have seen done in a similar situation is that the developer issues a final version of the old app which knows how to export the data to the new app. Marvin and GoodReader are cases in point.