How to Publish an Unlisted App on the App Store - A step-by-step guide with screenshots

Martha Agu — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:14:50 +0000

Publishing an iOS app does not always mean putting it in front of the entire world. Sometimes your app is meant for a closed audience. Apple understands this need, which is why App Store Connect offers multiple ways to distribute apps beyond the public App Store listing.
One of the most powerful (yet least understood) options is Unlisted App Distribution. This allows you to publish an app on the App Store without making it discoverable to the public. Only users with your private link can access it.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through what Unlisted Apps are and how to publish your own step-by-step.

Types of App Distribution on App Store Connect
Apple offers two main distribution methods for iOS apps on App Store Connect: Public Apps and Private Apps.

Public Apps (Listed on the App Store)
These apps are publicly available on the App Store. Anyone can search for them, find them in categories, or download them directly from the App Store.
This is a default option for consumer-facing apps.

Examples:

Social Apps (Instagram, TikTok)
E-commerce (Amazon, Temu)
Learning Platforms (Coursera, Udemy)

Private Apps
These apps are restricted to a specific audience and not discoverable on the App Store. They don’t appear in searches, categories or recommendations. These apps are only available through a direct App Store link.

Private apps are best for:

Employees or company admins
Business partners
Universities or specialized institutions
Communities with limited access
Internal dashboards or admin apps

Example: An admin panel app for managing a custom e-commerce platform.

Publishing an Unlisted App on App Store Connect

Unlisted Apps are a type of Private App Distribution.
They still go through the standard App Review, but once approved, they’re hidden from the public App Store and accessible via a private link.

Deploy your App Ensure your app is built, tested and uploaded to App Store Connect using Xcode.

Complete all App Metadata Provide screenshots, description, keywords, app Privacy details and In-App purchase setup (if applicable)

Set your App’s Distribution Method to Private In App Store Connect:

Go to My Apps → select your app

Open Pricing and Availability (under Monetisation)
Scroll down to App Distribution Methods
Select Private Distribution

This helps Apple reviewers understand that your app is not intended for public release.

Submit the Unlisted App Request Form After submitting your app for review, complete the request here: [https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/unlisted-app/]

If you’re logged in with your developer account, your information will auto-fill.
Submit the form and wait for Apple’s response.
If your request is approved, Apple will send you an email.

Where to get your Unlisted App direct link

After both your app review and Unlisted App request are successfully approved, you will find your private App Store link inside your App Store Connect account.

This is the only way users can access your app

To find it on App Store Connect:

Open your App Store Connect account → My Apps
Select your app
Under the Distribution tab
Go to Pricing and Availability under Monetisation
Scroll to App Distribution Methods
Copy your Unlisted App URL

This link is safe to share only with your intended users.

Press Enter or click to view the image in full size

Final Thoughts

Unlisted Apps are the best option for businesses, private communities, and organisations that need App Store-hosted apps without exposing them to the general public.
They offer the security of App Store infrastructure while giving you full control over who can access your app.
If you are building internal tools, admin dashboards, or private community apps, Unlisted Distribution is often the best choice.

DEV Community: Martha Agu

How to Publish an Unlisted App on the App Store - A step-by-step guide with screenshots

Publishing an Unlisted App on App Store Connect

Where to get your Unlisted App direct link