01 05 checks
Make the first run work
A reviewer starts with a fresh install. Test that experience.
- Demonstrate one complete useful workflow
- Install the exact release on real devices
+ 3 more in the PDF →
Free PDF · First submission field guide
25 actions before
your first submit.
Finish an app, feel ready to ship, then get hit with a rejection. This field guide catches the easy-to-miss issues before Apple does — first run, purchases, privacy, listing, and a final rehearsal. Confirm your email and the PDF lands in your inbox.
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25 Actions
5 Field guides
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Why a list beats memory
Catch it before Apple does
First submissions stall on leftovers, broken purchases, and listings that do not match the installed build. Each check in the PDF has a PASS WHEN so you know it is actually done.
Development leftovers in the release
Localhost URLs, mock responses, debug shortcuts, and Test Store keys still ship. The uploaded build has to work outside your laptop.
A paywall that cannot take money
Products missing from the version, a Paid Apps Agreement that is not complete, or restore that only works in a local StoreKit simulation.
Deletion that only clears the device
Apple expects account deletion to hit the backend — including guest accounts. Clearing local storage is not the check.
A listing that does not match the app
Template names, stale screenshots, and promised features that are not on a working screen. Reviewers install what you submitted, then open the store page.
Inside the PDF
Five field guides, 25 actions
Two checks from each field guide. The PDF has all 25, with a PASS WHEN so you know each one is done.
02 05 checks
Make the money flow work
A beautiful paywall is not evidence of a working purchase.
- Check the payment route for each offer
- Verify agreements and product setup
+ 3 more in the PDF →
03 05 checks
Respect accounts and personal data
Inspect what actually happens after a tap, not just the UI.
- Test login and remove unnecessary gates
- Delete a test account completely
+ 3 more in the PDF →
04 05 checks
Make the listing match reality
Claims, content, and availability are part of the product.
- Compare the listing with the installed app
- Check rights and branding
+ 3 more in the PDF →
05 05 checks
Run the final submission rehearsal
The final five turn a finished build into a reviewable release.
- Open support and legal pages signed out
- Try crossing account boundaries
+ 3 more in the PDF →
Three steps
From inbox to Submit for Review
1
Drop your email
One field. No account, no card, no “book a call.”
2
Confirm the subscription
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3
Open the PDF and ship
Print it, keep it next to App Store Connect, or tick it beside the release.
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4.8/5 from 106 App Store reviews · the PDF is the first-submission field guide from the same team.
Want it inside the release?
LaunchBuddy turns checks like these into reusable App Store submission checklists on iPhone and Mac — tied to the version you are actually shipping. The PDF is the first-submission field guide and stands on its own. The app is there when you want the checks to follow every release.
Start shipping FAQ
Before you subscribe
Is the App Launch Checklist actually free?
Yes. Enter your email, confirm the subscription, and the PDF is sent to your inbox. No credit card and no LaunchBuddy account required.
What do I get when I subscribe?
A five-page first-submission field guide: 25 actions across first run, purchases, accounts and personal data, listing accuracy, and a final rehearsal. Every check includes what to do and a PASS WHEN so you know it is done. You will also hear from LaunchBuddy occasionally with shipping tips. Unsubscribe anytime.
Why do I have to confirm my email?
Kit (the email provider) uses double opt-in so nobody can subscribe you without permission. After you confirm, the checklist PDF is delivered automatically.
Is this for a first launch or an update?
It is written for your first App Store submission — a fresh install, the first purchases of a type, reviewer access, and the listing that ships with the app. If you are shipping an update, the same checks still catch leftovers, but the field guide assumes a first review.
How is this different from LaunchBuddy?
The PDF is a printable first-submission field guide you can keep next to App Store Connect. LaunchBuddy is the app that turns checks like these into reusable submission checklists on iPhone and Mac, tied to each release. Grab the PDF either way — you do not need the app to use it.
Want the long-form walkthrough? iOS app launch checklist and the App Store Connect release checklist.