Publishing Capacitor Apps to the Stores

Get a Capacitor build from "runs on my device" to "live in both stores" without avoidable upload or review failures.

When to Use

TRIGGER when:

• The user is preparing a first release or an update to App Store Connect or Google Play Console.
• Upload or processing fails (ITMS errors, Play Console version/target API errors).
• The user needs screenshot sizes, icon requirements, listing fields, privacy forms, or rollout options.
• The user asks which Xcode/SDK or target API level the stores require right now.

Do not use for:

• Auditing an app against App Review Guidelines or answering a rejection -> capacitor-apple-review-preflight.
• Writing GitHub Actions/GitLab/Fastlane pipelines -> capacitor-ci-cd.
• Building/signing in Capgo Cloud -> capgo-native-builds.
• Shipping web-only fixes after approval -> capgo-live-updates.

Live Project Snapshot

Capacitor packages and version: !node -e "const fs=require('fs');if(!fs.existsSync('package.json'))process.exit(0);const pkg=JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('package.json','utf8'));const out=['version='+(pkg.version||'')];for(const section of ['dependencies','devDependencies']){for(const [name,version] of Object.entries(pkg[section]||{})){if(name.startsWith('@capacitor/')||name==='@capgo/capacitor-updater'||name==='@capacitor/assets')out.push(section+'.'+name+'='+version)}}console.log(out.join('\n'))"

Native release files: !find . -maxdepth 5 -not -path '*/node_modules/*' \( -name 'Info.plist' -o -name 'PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy' -o -name '*.entitlements' -o -name 'SceneDelegate.swift' -o -name 'variables.gradle' -o -name 'build.gradle' -o -name 'ExportOptions.plist' -o -path './fastlane' \)

Current Store Requirements (October 2026)

| Requirement | Detail | Capacitor impact | |---|---|---| | Apple SDK minimum | Since April 28, 2026: built with Xcode 26+ and iOS 26 SDK. Starting April 2027: iOS 27 SDK (Xcode 27) | Capacitor 8 builds with Xcode 26; Xcode 27 needs Capacitor 8.5+ project changes | | UIScene lifecycle | Xcode 27 / iOS 27 SDK builds require the scene lifecycle | Capacitor 8.5+: add SceneDelegate.swift, UIApplicationSceneManifest, AppDelegate configurationForConnecting (see capacitor-app-upgrades) | | Privacy manifest | Required-reason APIs must be declared; listed third-party SDKs must ship their own signed manifests | Capacitor core and maintained plugins ship manifests; your app still needs its own PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy | | Apple age rating | New questionnaire with 13+, 16+, 18+ tiers; answers were due Jan 31, 2026 or updates are blocked | Answer in App Store Connect -> App Information -> Age Ratings | | Play target API | Since Aug 31, 2026 new apps and updates must target API 36 (extension to Nov 1, 2026 on request); existing apps below API 35 stop reaching new users on newer devices | Capacitor 8 templates use compile/target 36; Capacitor 9 uses 37 | | Play format | New apps must upload AAB with Play App Signing | ./gradlew bundleRelease | | 16 KB page size | Apps targeting Android 15+ with native .so libraries must be 16 KB aligned | Check SQLCipher, ML, media, and analytics SDKs | | Play closed testing | Personal accounts created after Nov 13, 2023: closed test with 12+ opted-in testers for 14 consecutive days before production | Start the test early |

Re-verify dates when the user is close to a deadline: Apple posts at developer.apple.com/news/upcoming-requirements, Google at developer.android.com/google/play/requirements/target-sdk.

Procedure

1. Read the snapshot. Confirm Capacitor version, iOS scene lifecycle (look for SceneDelegate.swift), variables.gradle SDK values, and whether a privacy manifest exists.
2. Decide the release path with the user: manual (Xcode Organizer + Play Console), CLI/CI (capacitor-ci-cd), or Capgo Cloud Build (capgo-native-builds).
3. Bump versions. User-visible version must match on both platforms; build numbers must strictly increase per upload:
   • iOS: MARKETING_VERSION (CFBundleShortVersionString) and CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION (CFBundleVersion) in the Xcode target build settings. Info.plist normally references $(MARKETING_VERSION)/$(CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION); edit build settings, not the plist literal.
   • Android: versionName and versionCode in android/app/build.gradle (versionCode max 2100000000).
4. Build web assets and sync: npm run build && npx cap sync.
5. Load the platform reference and follow it: references/ios-submission.md, references/android-submission.md.
6. Prepare listing assets with references/assets-and-metadata.md.
7. Before pressing submit on iOS, run capacitor-apple-review-preflight for anything beyond a trivial update.
8. Roll out: iOS phased release (7 days, pausable) or Play staged rollout percentages; watch crash rates before widening.

Verification

• iOS: Archive validates in Xcode Organizer ("Validate App") with no errors; build appears in TestFlight after processing; install from TestFlight on a real device and run the critical flows.
• Android: bundletool or Play internal testing install works; Play Console pre-launch report has no crashes; aapt2 dump badging app-release.aab or the Play Console shows the expected versionCode and targetSdkVersion.
• Both: the app launches cold from the store build (not a debug build), login with the reviewer demo account works, deep links and push work in release signing.

Error Handling

| Error | Fix | |---|---| | ITMS-4238 "Redundant Binary Upload" (build number already used) | Increase CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION | | ITMS-90062 CFBundleShortVersionString must be higher than the previously approved version | Increase MARKETING_VERSION | | ITMS-90186 "Invalid Pre-Release Train" (version train closed) | The marketing version was already released; increase MARKETING_VERSION | | ITMS-90725 "SDK Version Issue" (built with an older SDK) | Build with the required Xcode/SDK (Xcode 26+ now, Xcode 27 from April 2027) | | ITMS-91053 "Missing API declaration" | Add the required-reason API category and reason code to PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy | | ITMS-91061 "Missing privacy manifest" for a named SDK | Update that SDK/plugin to a version that bundles a privacy manifest; do not copy the SDK's practices into the app manifest | | ITMS-90683 "Missing purpose string in Info.plist" | Add the named NS...UsageDescription with a specific purpose | | App launches to a black screen or not at all when built with Xcode 27 | UIScene lifecycle not adopted; upgrade to Capacitor 8.5+ and apply the 8.5 project changes | | Play: Version code 45 has already been used. Try another version code. | Increase versionCode | | Play: target API level error on upload | Raise targetSdkVersion/compileSdkVersion in variables.gradle to the required level | | Play: You uploaded an APK or Android App Bundle that was signed in debug mode | Build bundleRelease with the upload key | | Play: Your Android App Bundle is signed with the wrong key | Sign with the registered upload key, or request an upload key reset in Play Console | | Play: production track unavailable | Complete the 12-tester / 14-day closed test (personal accounts) |

References

• references/ios-submission.md - signing, archive, upload options, TestFlight, App Privacy, export compliance, review notes, phased release.
• references/android-submission.md - release signing, AAB, Play App Signing, tracks, Data safety, target API and 16 KB checks, staged rollout.
• references/assets-and-metadata.md - icon generation, screenshot sizes, text field limits for both stores.

Related skills: capacitor-apple-review-preflight, capacitor-ci-cd, capgo-native-builds, capacitor-app-upgrades, capgo-live-updates.