Samuel Axon
Apple has added a brand new characteristic for app builders that ought to show helpful for inner instruments and different kinds of functions which might be meant for a particular set of customers however not for the broader world: unlisted apps.
Making an app unlisted implies that it will not present up “in any App Retailer classes, suggestions, charts, search outcomes, or different listings,” based on Apple. The one approach to get to the app is with that hyperlink—or by way of Apple Enterprise Supervisor or Apple Faculty Supervisor.
Builders should submit a request to obtain a hyperlink that may level to their app. Apple’s documentation on the characteristic goes a little bit deeper for every of the doable instances:
In case your app hasn’t been submitted for assessment or was already authorized for public obtain on the App Retailer, merely full the request kind. In case your app was already authorized for personal obtain on Apple Enterprise Supervisor or Apple Faculty Supervisor, you’ll must create a brand new app document in App Retailer Join, add your binary, and set the distribution methodology to Public earlier than finishing the request kind.
It is price noting that this course of is not going to work as a substitute for TestFlight, as Apple will decline requests associated to apps which might be “in beta or a pre-release state.”
Past that, the corporate hasn’t gone into a lot element about which requests or apps will or will not be declined. It does specify that this unlisting and linking course of is right for apps for particular organizations, particular occasions, or analysis research. But it surely would not say whether or not Apple will decline requests for apps getting used for different functions, past the beta/pre-release instance.
The most effective now we have to go on there’s this paragraph on the high of the request kind:
Your app could qualify for unlisted App Retailer distribution if it’s designed for a restricted viewers. Examples embrace apps for workers, apps for particular occasions, gross sales apps, or analysis apps. Unlisted apps are distributed utilizing a direct hyperlink to the app’s product web page on the App Retailer, however they don’t seem in App Retailer classes, search outcomes, or different App Retailer listings.
For extra particulars and for hyperlinks to the kinds and steps within the course of, go to Apple’s developer documentation on the subject.
