Creating a Single Universal App: A Guide to Uploading iPhone and iPad Versions Under the Same App ID

Understanding Universal Apps on the App Store

As a developer, it’s common to create apps that cater to multiple platforms, including iOS and iPadOS. While the process of creating a universal app can be straightforward, understanding how to upload and manage these apps under the same App ID can be confusing. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of universal apps on the App Store and explore how to upload and manage iPhone and iPad versions under the same App ID.

Introduction

To start with, let’s define what a universal app is. A universal app is an app that provides similar functionality across multiple platforms, including iOS and iPadOS. Unlike separate apps for each platform, which requires two distinct builds and distribution channels, a universal app can share a single codebase while still providing a unique user experience on each platform.

When creating a universal app, it’s essential to understand the App ID concept. An App ID is a unique identifier assigned to an app by Apple, used to identify the app in the App Store and iTunes Connect. In most cases, apps are associated with a single App ID, which can lead to confusion when trying to upload multiple versions of the same app.

The Problem: Uploading iPhone and iPad Versions under the Same App ID

The question you might be asking is whether it’s possible to upload both an iPhone and iPad version of an app under the same App ID. While it may seem like a convenient idea, Apple’s policies and guidelines suggest that this approach isn’t recommended.

In iTunes Connect, when creating a new app, developers can select the target platforms for their app, including iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. However, if a developer wants to upload both an iPhone and iPad version of the same app under the same App ID, they must follow specific guidelines.

Solution: Creating a Single Universal App

The recommended approach is to create a single universal app that includes both iPhone and iPad versions. To achieve this, developers need to update their existing iPhone app to be universal, incorporating features that will work seamlessly on both platforms.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a single universal app:

Step 1: Update the Existing iPhone App

To start, open your existing iPhone app project in Xcode and select the target platform. Make sure you’re using the latest Xcode version, as this will provide access to the new “Universal” template.

# Create a Universal App Template

In the Project Navigator, click on the “Editor” tab and then click on the “+” button at the top left corner of the editor window. Select “New File” and choose “Xcode Template” under the “Xcode Templates” section. In the template browser, search for the “Universal App” template.

Once you’ve created a new file with this template, select it in the Project Navigator and then click on the “File” menu at the top left corner of the Xcode window. Choose “Edit Scheme…” from the drop-down menu, and then switch to the “Editor” tab.

Under the “General” section of the scheme editor, change the “Bundle Identifier” to match your App ID, which should be used as the foundation for both iPhone and iPad versions of the app.

# Bundle Identifier

Step 2: Add iPad-Specific Code

Now that you’ve created a universal template, it’s time to add code specific to iPadOS. You can do this by creating an “iPad-specific” folder inside your project directory and adding new files for each iPad-related feature.

For example, if you’re using UIKit, you’ll need to import UIiPadViewController instead of just UIViewController. Here’s a basic example:

#import <UIKit/IPadViewController.h>
#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

@interface MyiPadViewController : IPadViewController

@end

Step 3: Configure the Universal App

In the “Editor” tab, select the “Universal” menu at the top left corner of the Xcode window. This will configure your app to be universal.

Under the “User Interface” section of the scheme editor, make sure you’ve set up any necessary iPad-specific user interface elements, such as a UIiPadViewController with a different layout than the iPhone version.

# User Interface

Step 4: Upload the Universal App

Now that your app is configured to be universal, it’s time to upload it to iTunes Connect. Here’s how:

In the iTunes Connect portal, navigate to the “Distribute Your App” section and select the “App Store Connect” tab.

Choose the same App ID for both iPhone and iPad versions of your app. Make sure you’ve updated the app’s description and screenshots to reflect the universal nature of the app.

# App Store Connect

Conclusion

Uploading an iPhone and iPad version of the same app under the same App ID requires careful planning, configuration, and testing. By creating a single universal app that includes both iPhone and iPad versions, developers can simplify their development workflow while still catering to diverse user needs.

Remember that each platform has its unique requirements, so make sure you’re aware of the differences between iOS and iPadOS before embarking on this project.

In our next article, we’ll explore more advanced topics in app development for iOS and iPadOS, including machine learning, augmented reality, and game development.

Last modified on 2023-11-26