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)

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

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.