Submitting apps to the Apple and Google Stores

A new build (version) will be required if the app wasn't connected to Stripe before we start creating the app. 

Sending the app to Apple Store or Google Store

We suggest you and your team test your app using App Center before submitting it to Apple and Google. See Testing an app - App Center guide for more information.

1. Go to Redbox Management.

2. Find the marketplace.

3. Navigate to Apps.

4. Select 'Start build'.

5. Fill in the form, see below for details:
   a. Device - You will need to select the device, please note you need to do the same steps for iOS and Android separately.
   b. Version - It will usually be the latest version.
   c. Action - Selecting ‘Build and upload app to Stores for manual release’ will send the app to App Center for testing, selecting ‘Build and upload app to Stores for manual release’ will send the app to the live stores such as Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store.

6. Select 'Build and deploy'.

7. Once the build status is marked as COMPLETED you can proceed to the next steps below. For Google first time submissions, the build status will be marked as FAILED, see below steps.

If the Start Build button isn't available, it means that the app hasn't been imported yet. Please contact your Product Specialist for more information.

Once you have built and deployed the app, it will take 30 minutes to be available to the Stores. Please note that there is a different process for submitting the apps on App Store and Google Play.

Submitting an app to Apple’s App Store

1. Go to App Store.

2. Search the app you want to submit.

3. Select 'TestFlight'.

4. The latest version you uploaded via Redbox Management will appear under ‘Builds’ on the left side and it will be marked as ' Missing Compliance', this is because you will need to fill in some details before it's ready to complete the submission. If the status is still ‘Processing’, please wait a little bit longer. 

5. Select ‘App Store’. Most of these details would have already been filled in when we setup the Apple & Play Store for the app.

6. Under ‘Version Information’ you first need to add a description under ‘What's New in This Version’. If there are no major changes you can use 'Improvements to user experience and minor bug fixes'.

7. If you haven't done already, you need to upload the app screenshots:

   1. iPhone 6.7'' display (this is optional)

   2. iPhone 6.5'' display (1242_x_2688)

   3. iPhone 5.5'' display (1242_x_2208)

   4. iPad Pro 12.9'' display (2048_x_2732)

   5. iPad Prod 12.9'' display (2048_x_2732)

8. Make sure you check the below details have been filled in:

   1. Keywords.

   2. Support URL - This needs to be the www.marketplacename/help URL, for example https://www.redbox.co.uk/help/

   3. Description.

9. Under Build:

   1. Select a build.

   2. Once you have uploaded the build if the Status is marked ‘ Missing Compliance’, select ‘Manage’.

   3. Select ‘None of the algorithms mentioned above’ for the Export Compliance Information.

   4. Select ‘Save’.

10. App review information:

    1. Sign-in required - Please provide the login details for the test user.

    2. Notes - You need to include instructions for the tester on how to use the app. Make sure you provide a postcode that will show open outlets for them to test, you can use existing apps for example. You can also upload a file with a demo video showing how to use Apple Pay. 

11. Select ‘Save’.

12. Before submitting an app you need to make sure you have reviewed the below:

    1. App Information - These should have been filled in already.

    2. Price and Availability - This should always be GBP 0.0 (Free). If your app is available in the UK as well as NI/other countries too, you won’t get this option.

    3. Pricing and Availability - Select ‘Public’ under ‘App Distribution Methods’, and untick ‘'Offer a reduced price on the Apple School Manager for volume purchases’'.

    4. App Privacy

       1. Select ‘Edit’.

       2. Add the privacy policy URL, you don't need to add anything under User privacy choices URL.

       3. Select ‘Publish’.

13. Select ‘Prepare for Submission’ under iOS App on the left navigation, select ‘Add for Review’ and then ‘Submit for Review’. 

Submitting a New app to Googles Play Store (first time submission)

First time app submission to Google’s Play Store will always result in a FAILED status. Follow the below steps to resolve the issue.

1. Once the status in Redbox is marked as FAILED, you will get the option to click and download a file so you can upload the build manually. The file will include the bundle, app icon, and feature image required to complete the submission.

2. Go to Google Play.

3. Search for the app you want to submit, under ‘Dashboard’ you will get a checklist of what needs to be done in order to submit your app i.e. ‘App access’, ‘Target audience’ and ‘Setup your store listing’.

4. Select ‘App access'.

5. Select ‘All or some functionality is restricted’, then fill in the details and add instructions, you can use the same details from the Apple submission.

6. Select ‘Save’.

7. Go to the Dashboard and select ‘Target audience’.
   a. Select ‘16-17 and 18 and over’, select ‘Next’.
   b. You will then get a popup for ‘Appeal to children’, select ‘No’ and select ‘Next’.

8. Go to the Dashboard and select ‘Set up your store listing'.
   a. You will need to fill in the details - You can copy the description from the Apple submission.
   b. Scroll down and upload the branding assets and select 'Save’.

9. Go to ‘Production’ on the left side.

10. Under ‘Countries/religions’ select the country your marketplace is available and select ‘Save’.

11. Select ‘Create new release’ and then ‘Continue’.

12. Upload the app bundle (if it fails, please refresh the page and click 'upload from library').

13. Add the release name.

14. Under Release notes, make sure you only update the text between <en-GB> and </en-GB>, you can use the first sentence from the description we used to submit the app to Apple i.e. 'The long awaited Redbox app is here!'

15. Select ‘Save’.

16. Go to 'Publishing Overview'.

17. Check all the changes made, if you are happy select ‘Send Changes’.

Submitting New app versions to Googles Play Store

1. Once the status in Redbox is marked as COMPLETED , go to Google Play.

2. Search for the app.

3. Go to ‘Production’ and under ‘Release Dashboard’ it will show you the latest version that's available to the public (under Release: Most recent).

On Publishing Mobile 4.0.32+, you may be presented with an Advertising ID Error, if so:

1. Select ‘Update Declaration’.

2. Under ‘Does your app use advertising ID?’ select ‘Yes’.

3. Under ‘Why does your app need to use advertising ID?’ This includes any SDKs your app imports that use advertising IDs.

4. Select ‘Analytics’.

5. Select ‘Save’.