The Complete App Store Launch Checklist for 2026
Everything you need before hitting publish — from screenshots and metadata to TestFlight builds and launch day marketing. A printable checklist for indie devs.
Launching an app involves hundreds of small decisions. Miss one and you risk rejection, poor conversion, or a rocky first week. This checklist covers every step — from store assets to launch day marketing.
Use this as a final pass before you hit submit. Items are grouped by phase so you can work through them in order without jumping around.
Store Listing
- ☐App icon at all required sizes (1024×1024 px for both stores)
- ☐Screenshots for all required device sizes (6.9", 6.7", 5.5" for iOS; portrait phone for Android)
- ☐Google Play Feature Graphic at 1024×500 px
- ☐App title — includes primary keyword, under 30 chars (iOS) / 50 chars (Android)
- ☐Subtitle / Short description — secondary keyword, benefit-led
- ☐Full description written with benefit-first structure
- ☐Keywords field filled (iOS only, 100 chars, no spaces after commas)
- ☐Category selected — primary and secondary where available
- ☐Content rating questionnaire completed
- ☐Age rating set correctly
- ☐Privacy policy URL added
App Build
- ☐Final build tested on a real device (not just simulator)
- ☐Crash-free rate above 99% on Firebase / Crashlytics
- ☐App launch time under 2 seconds on a mid-range device
- ☐In-app purchases tested end-to-end in sandbox environment
- ☐Push notification permissions handled gracefully (no immediate cold prompt)
- ☐App Store review prompt using SKStoreReviewRequest / Google In-App Review
- ☐Accessibility: VoiceOver / TalkBack basic pass completed
- ☐No debug logs or test data in the production build
Technical & Compliance
- ☐Privacy manifest (iOS 17+) submitted if using required APIs
- ☐App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt implemented if tracking users
- ☐GDPR / CCPA consent flow in place for EU / California users
- ☐Data Safety form completed on Google Play Console
- ☐App Sandbox entitlements removed if not needed
- ☐Export compliance answers completed (encryption questions)
Marketing & Launch
- ☐Landing page or website with App Store / Play Store links
- ☐App Store Connect analytics baseline captured (to measure post-launch)
- ☐Press kit prepared: icon, screenshots, short description, founder contact
- ☐Launch post drafted for Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and relevant Reddit communities
- ☐Product Hunt launch page prepared (schedule 12:01 AM PT for max visibility)
- ☐Email list or waitlist notified on launch day
- ☐3–5 friends or beta users primed to leave an early review on day one
Post-Launch
- ☐Monitor crash reports daily for the first week
- ☐Respond to all App Store and Google Play reviews within 48 hours
- ☐Check keyword rankings after 7 days
- ☐Set up a screenshot A/B test via Product Page Optimisation / Store Listing Experiments
- ☐Capture week-1 conversion rate as your ASO baseline
The screenshot shortcut
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