App Launch Readiness Checklist
36 items across 6 categories. Check off each task as you go — your progress is saved in this session.
App Store screenshots (6.7" & 6.1" for iOS, 1080×1920 for Android)
Lead with your strongest value prop. First 3 screenshots drive 80%+ of conversions.
Check screenshot sizes →App icon at 1024×1024 (iOS) and 512×512 (Android)
No transparency, no rounded corners on source file. Both platforms apply their own mask.
Preview icon sizes →Icon tested on light and dark wallpapers
Preview your icon on both backgrounds to ensure it stands out.
Google Play feature graphic (1024×500)
Required for Google Play. This banner appears at the top of your listing.
App preview video (optional but recommended)
App Store allows 15–30 sec videos. Google Play allows up to 30 sec YouTube links.
iPad screenshots (if applicable)
Required if your app supports iPad. 2048×2732 for iPad Pro 12.9".
App name finalized (30 char limit on both stores)
Include your primary keyword naturally. This is the #1 ASO ranking signal.
Check character limits →iOS subtitle (30 chars) / Android short description (80 chars)
Use secondary keywords that complement your app name.
iOS keyword field filled (100 chars, comma-separated)
No spaces after commas. Don't repeat words already in title/subtitle.
Full description written (4000 char limit)
iOS: write for humans, it's not indexed. Android: include keywords naturally.
Analyze keyword density →Primary and secondary category selected
Choose the most specific category. More niche = less competition.
Promotional text prepared (iOS, 170 chars)
Can be changed without a new review. Use for seasonal promos.
Privacy policy URL set and accessible
Required by both stores. Must be a live URL, not a PDF.
Generate privacy policy →Terms of service written (if applicable)
Required for apps with user accounts or subscriptions.
EULA added (if applicable)
Apple offers a default EULA, or you can provide your own.
Age rating questionnaire completed
Be honest — Apple manually reviews this and will reject inaccurate ratings.
Google Play Data Safety form completed
Must accurately describe what data you collect, even if it's analytics only.
App Tracking Transparency implemented (if tracking)
iOS 14.5+: you MUST prompt before tracking. Declare in Info.plist.
App is crash-free on target devices
Test on the oldest supported device. Apple often tests on SE or older iPads.
Deep links and universal links configured
Needed for marketing campaigns, social media, and referral flows.
Analytics SDK integrated (Firebase, Mixpanel, etc.)
You can't improve what you don't measure. Track key events from day 1.
Crash reporting enabled (Crashlytics, Sentry)
Essential for quick bug fixes post-launch.
Push notification certificates/keys configured
iOS: APNs key uploaded. Android: Firebase Cloud Messaging configured.
In-app purchases tested in sandbox
Both stores require sandbox testing before review. Test every purchase flow.
Landing page or website live
Link to it from your store listing. Helps with SEO and gives potential users more info.
Social media accounts set up
At minimum: Twitter/X for support, and one platform where your audience hangs out.
Press kit prepared (icon, screenshots, description)
Package downloadable assets for bloggers and journalists.
Launch day posts drafted
Pre-write your launch tweets, Reddit posts, and community announcements.
Beta testers notified about launch date
Your beta testers are your most engaged early users. Give them early access.
Product Hunt launch scheduled (optional)
Schedule for a Tuesday or Wednesday. Have friends ready to upvote and comment.
Bundle ID / package name finalized
Cannot be changed after first submission. Choose carefully.
Code signing certificates and profiles configured
iOS: Distribution certificate + provisioning profile. Android: Upload key.
Production build uploaded to store connect
iOS: via Xcode or Transporter. Android: via Play Console as AAB.
Review notes added (demo account if needed)
If your app requires login, provide test credentials for the reviewer.
Release type selected (automatic vs manual)
Choose "manual release" if you want to coordinate launch timing.
App submitted for review! 🎉
iOS review: typically 24–48 hours. Google Play: typically under 3 days.
📖 Need the full launch playbook?
Step-by-step guide covering everything from app store setup to post-launch growth.
What This Checklist Does
This tool tracks the 36 things Apple and Google actually check (or that trip up first-time submitters) before an app goes live: visual assets, store metadata, legal compliance, technical readiness, marketing prep, and the submission steps themselves. Check items off as you finish them and your progress is saved for the session, so you can work through it over several days without losing your place.
It is built for indie developers and small teams who are one to three weeks out from submitting their first app, or their fifth, and want a single source of truth instead of a scattered mix of sticky notes, half-remembered blog posts, and a Notes app draft titled "launch stuff." If you want the reasoning behind each item, not just the checkbox, read the full launch checklist guide, which walks through the same six categories in more depth.
Checklist Tool vs. Scattered Notes vs. a Launch Consultant
| Option | Cost | Coverage | Risk of missing something |
|---|---|---|---|
| This checklist | Free | 36 items, both stores, kept current for 2026 | Low, everything lives in one place |
| Scattered notes / memory | Free | Whatever you remember to write down | High, easy to forget a legal or ASO field |
| Launch consultant | $500–$3,000+ | Thorough, plus strategy advice | Low, but slow to schedule and expensive per launch |
How to Use It
Start three to four weeks out
Open the checklist as soon as your build is feature-complete. Legal and marketing items (privacy policy, landing page, beta testers) take the longest lead time.
Work section by section
Visual assets and metadata first, since they block everything else. Legal and technical readiness next. Marketing and submission last.
Use the linked tools
Several items link straight to a free tool, like the privacy policy generator or screenshot sizing reference, so you can complete the task without leaving the page.
Submit once every section is green
Aim for 100% before you upload your build. A missing privacy policy URL or an incomplete Data Safety form is one of the most common causes of an avoidable rejection.
App Store Connect vs. Google Play Console
The two stores share most requirements, but each has items unique to its own submission flow. Here is where they diverge.
App Store Connect (iOS)
- App Privacy Nutrition Label, filled out per data type collected
- App Tracking Transparency declaration if you use the IDFA or any ad SDK
- 1024×1024 icon with no transparency and no rounded corners baked in
- 6.7" and 6.1" display screenshots at minimum, plus iPad sizes if universal
- Age rating questionnaire, reviewed manually by Apple
- Demo account credentials in the review notes if login is required
- Typical review time: 24–48 hours
Google Play Console (Android)
- Data Safety form, which must match your privacy policy point-by-point
- 512×512 icon plus a 1024×500 feature graphic for the store listing
- Target API level requirements, updated most years by Google
- Signed app bundle (AAB), uploaded through Play Console rather than a direct binary
- Content rating questionnaire, self-reported through IARC
- Closed or open testing track recommended before a production release
- Typical review time: under 3 days, sometimes just a few hours
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I check before submitting my app?+
At minimum: app icon and screenshots in every required size, a hosted privacy policy URL, completed App Privacy / Data Safety declarations, working sign-in and account deletion flows if your app has accounts, and sandbox-tested in-app purchases. Those five categories cause the majority of first-time rejections.
How long before launch should I start marketing?+
Two to three weeks minimum. Landing pages, beta testers, and press outreach all need lead time. Press specifically wants five to seven days notice before it can publish anything on your launch date, so pitch early rather than on launch morning.
What is a good pre-launch checklist?+
One that covers all six areas: visual assets, metadata and ASO, legal and compliance, technical readiness, marketing, and store submission itself. A checklist that only covers assets and skips legal or technical items will still let you submit an app that gets bounced back.
Does this cover both iOS and Android?+
Yes. Items that apply to only one platform are labeled, and the sections above break down where App Store Connect and Google Play Console requirements differ.
Is this checklist actually free?+
Yes, no signup or account required. Your checkbox progress is stored in this browser session so it will reset if you clear site data or switch devices.
Common Mistakes
Starting the checklist the day of submission
Legal documents and marketing assets take days to weeks, not hours. Start three to four weeks out.
Treating "it compiles" as "it is ready"
Crash-free on your own device is not the same as crash-free on the oldest device Apple or Google reviewers test on.
Skipping the Data Safety form because analytics feels minor
Any SDK that collects device identifiers, including free analytics tools, counts as data collection and must be declared.
Writing marketing copy after the build is already submitted
Press, landing pages, and beta testers all need lead time your review window does not give you. Prepare them in parallel, not after.
Related Tools & Articles
Privacy Policy Generator
A hosted privacy policy URL is required by both stores. Generate one free in about two minutes.
Screenshot Generator
Create App Store and Google Play screenshots in the required sizes before you upload your build.
The Ultimate App Launch Readiness Checklist
The full guide behind this tool, with the reasoning behind every item across all four phases.
App Pre-Launch Marketing Playbook
Waitlist pages, referral mechanics, and press outreach for the weeks before you submit.
How to Launch an App
The general launch strategy and timeline, from four weeks out through the first 30 days.