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App Store Connect – In-App Products Setup Guide

This document explains how to add in-app products in Apple App Store Connect for your app

Written by Zenler Support

👉 Supported product types in this app:

  • ✅ One-time purchases (Non-Consumable)

  • ✅ Subscriptions

  • ❌ Consumable products are NOT supported (do not create them)

Step 1: Log in to App Store Connect

  1. Open a browser and go to App Store Connect

  2. Sign in using your Apple ID

  3. On the home screen, click Apps

  4. Select your app from the list

Step 2: Open Monetization Section

  1. Inside your app dashboard, click MONETIZATION (left menu)

  2. You will see:

    1. In-App Purchases (for one-time purchases)

    2. Subscriptions (for recurring plans)

PART A: Creating a One-Time Purchase (Non-Consumable)

Use this for lifetime access.

Step A1: Create New Product

  1. In MONETIZATION, click In-App Purchases

  2. Click In-App Purchases (➕ button)

Step A2: Fill Basic Product Information

Fill the following fields carefully:

  • Type

    • Select Non-Consumable

  • Reference Name

    • Internal name (users will NOT see this)

    • You can enter the course title here.

  • Product ID ⚠️ (Very Important)

    • Must copy from the Store ID field of Course Details in the Courses tab/section on your school site.

    • You can't change or reuse a product ID after the product has been created

Click Create when done.

Step A3: Add Availability

  1. Click Set Up Availability

  1. Select which countries or regions you want to make your in-app purchase available in.

Click Done.

Step A4: Price Schedule

  1. Click Add Pricing.

  1. Select a Base Country / Region.

    1. This is the main country where you set the price.

    2. Apple may automatically adjust prices in other countries due to taxes or currency changes.

  2. Enter or select the price for the product.

  1. Click Next.

  2. Apple will show the prices for other countries and regions.

    1. You can change prices for specific countries if needed, or leave them as suggested.

  1. Click Next.

  1. Review the prices and click Confirm if everything looks correct.

Step A5: Offer Codes

Offer code functionality is currently unavailable. Please skip this step.

Step A5: Add Localization (Customer-Visible Text)

  1. Click Add Localization

  1. Select language (usually English)

  2. Enter:

    • Display Name (shown to users)

    • Description (short explanation)

Example:

  • Display Name: You can enter the course title here

  • Description: You can enter the course subtitle here

Click Create.

Please find below where the above information appears on the App Purchase page UI.

Step A6: Review Information (Required)

Apple requires a screenshot so their review team can understand how this in-app purchase is used inside the app.

  1. Go to the Review Information section.

  2. Upload one screenshot of the course purchase screen .

    • It is only for Apple reviewers, not shown to users.

📌 Important notes:

  • The product cannot be approved without this screenshot.

  • The screenshot is used only during app review.

  • One clear screenshot is usually enough.

Click Save at the top of the page when done.

Step A7: Save and Review Status

  • Make sure the product status is Ready to Submit

  • Do NOT submit it separately

  • It will be reviewed along with the app update

  • Go back and check the Draft section. The product should be listed as Ready to Submit.

PART B: Creating a Subscription

Use this for weekly / monthly / yearly plans for recurring access.

⚠️ Subscriptions have multiple steps, so follow carefully.

Step B1: Create a Subscription Group

  1. In MONETIZATION, click Subscriptions

  2. Click Subscription Groups (➕ button)

  1. Enter:

    • Reference Name (internal only)

    • Example: You can enter the course title here

Click Create.

Step B2: Create Subscription

  1. In Subscriptions Section

    1. Click Create

Fill the following:

  • Reference Name (internal)

    • Example: You can enter the course title here

  • Product ID ⚠️ (Cannot be changed)

    • Must copy from the Store ID field of Course Details in the Courses tab/section on your school site.

You can't change or reuse a product ID after the product has been created

Click Create.

Step B3: Set Subscription Duration

  • Duration

    • Weekly / Monthly / Yearly (as required)

Step B4: Set Up Availability

  1. Click the Set Up Availability button

  1. Select which countries or regions you want to make your subscriptions available in.

Click Done.

Step B5: Set Subscription Pricing

  1. Click the button Add Subscription Price

  1. Choose the country or region

  2. Choose the price

Click Next

  1. Review the automatically converted prices

ClickNext

  1. Confirm the price

Click Confirm.

Step B6: Add Localization (Visible to Users)

  1. Click Add Localization

  1. Choose language

  2. Enter:

    • Display Name (You can enter the course title here )

    • Description (You can enter the course subtitle here)

Step B7: Review Information (Required)

Apple requires a screenshot so their review team can understand how this in-app purchase is used inside the app.

  1. Go to the Review Information section.

  1. Upload one screenshot of the course purchase screen .

    • It is only for Apple reviewers, not shown to users.

📌 Important notes:

  • The product cannot be approved without this screenshot.

  • The screenshot is used only during app review.

  • One clear screenshot is usually enough.

Click Save when done.

Step B8: Add Localization (Subscription Group)

  1. Go back to subscriptions

  1. Click Create in the Localization section

  1. Enter:

    1. Subscription Display Name (You can enter the course title here)

  2. Enter:

    1. App Name Display Options (choose Use App Name <your app name>

Click Create.

Step B6: Review Subscription Status

  • Ensure Subscriptions status shows Ready to Submit

  • Ensure Localization status shows Prepare for Submission

  • Subscription will be reviewed with the app submission

Important Rules & Tips

  • ❌ Do NOT create Consumable products

  • ⚠️ Product IDs cannot be edited later

  • Product IDs must be exactly the same as shared by the app team

  • Products will NOT work until:

    • The app is submitted for review

    • Apple approves both app and products

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Creating wrong product type (Consumable instead of Non-Consumable)

  • Typos in Product ID

  • Forgetting to add Localization

  • Expecting products to work before app approval

Final Checklist Before Submission

✔ Product created

✔ Pricing added

✔ Localization added

✔ Status shows Ready to Submit

✔ Product IDs shared with app team

Next Step

Once this is done, the Zenler mobile team will handle testing and activation.

👉 Do not submit products alone.

Purchase Information Availability

At present, detailed purchase information for in-app purchases and subscriptions made through the mobile app is not displayed in the Web UI. To view complete purchase and subscription details—such as transaction history, renewal status, cancellations, refunds, pricing, and regional information—please refer to the respective store dashboards: Google Play Console for Android purchases and App Store Connect for iOS purchases.

The Web UI currently reflects only the user’s course access and enrollment status. Store-specific financial and transaction-level details remain managed and reported directly by the app stores.

⚠️ To sell a course on both Android and iOS, the course needs to be added separately in each store. After purchase on one platform, the user can access the course on both platforms.

Important: Store ID & In-App Purchases (Please Read Carefully)

Each course has a Store ID shown in the Courses > Course > Course Details tab.

This Store ID is mandatory for selling the course in the mobile app.

✅ What you must do

  • If you want a course to be paid in the mobile app, you must create a one-time purchase or subscription product in App Store Connect.

  • The Product ID must be exactly the same as the Store ID shown for the course.

  • Do not create or use any other Product ID.

❌ What happens if you use a different Product ID

  • The app will not recognize the product.

  • The course will still appear in the app, but it will be treated as a FREE course.

  • Users will be able to access it without payment.

One-Time Setup Rule (Very Important)

  • Once you create a product in the store (App Store Connect) using a Store ID:

    • That Store ID cannot be reused for another course

    • That Store ID cannot be changed later

Subscription vs One-Time Purchase

  • If you create a subscription for a course:

    • You cannot later change it to a one-time purchase.

  • If you create a one-time purchase:

    • You cannot later change it to a subscription.

  • This is due to the current app implementation and store limitations.

Please Decide Carefully Before Creating the Product

Before creating the in-app product, make sure you have finalized:

  • Whether the course should be FREE or PAID

  • If paid, whether it should be:

    • One-time purchase, or

    • Subscription

Once created, this choice cannot be reversed for the same course.

Summary

  • ✅ Always use the Store ID as the Product ID

  • ❌ Do not reuse or invent Product IDs

  • ⚠️ Product type (one-time vs subscription) is final

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