How to submit a Bolt app to the App Store and Google Play
Bolt can produce web apps and Expo mobile projects. Both need work before the stores accept them. Here is what to do, what usually goes wrong and how to save yourself the trouble.
What Bolt gives you
Bolt can generate web apps and, for mobile, Expo (React Native) projects.
How people publish Bolt apps today
For an Expo project, Expo's own guide has you download the code, install Node.js, configure app.json, run npx testflight to build and send it to App Store Connect, test in TestFlight, then submit for review. You need an Apple Developer account and an Expo account. Web projects have to be wrapped instead.
Why submitting a Bolt app is harder than it looks
Review risk
The command line steps, certificates and provisioning profiles confuse many non-developers.
Tooling
Web projects wrapped for the stores run into guideline 4.2.
Details
Bundle IDs, versions and build numbers have to be right or the upload fails.
Step by step: submitting a Bolt app
Create your developer accounts
Enrol in the Apple Developer Program ($99 a year) and create a Google Play Console account ($25 one time). Organisations also need a D-U-N-S number for Apple. New personal Google accounts may need a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days before production, so check Google's current rules.
Get an app the stores can accept
Make sure the app is more than a website. Add native features such as push notifications, offline content or device features, and native navigation.
Prepare your icon and screenshots
Use a 1024 x 1024 icon with no transparency and screenshots at the required sizes. Our free icon generator and screenshot generator do this.
Write your listing
Name, subtitle, keywords, description and promotional text. Use the listing counter to stay within the limits.
Fill in the privacy forms
Add a privacy policy URL, complete Apple's App Privacy answers and Google's Data safety form, and add an in-app way to delete accounts if users can sign up.
Build, upload and test
Upload the build to App Store Connect and test it in TestFlight. Upload an app bundle to the Google Play Console and test it with real devices.
Submit with good review notes
Give reviewers a working demo account, explain the native features and say how to find them. Then submit for review.
Handle rejections
If you are rejected, read the guideline number, fix the exact issue and reply in App Store Connect. Our rejection decoder explains each one.
Common rejections for Bolt apps
Apple's guideline numbers, in plain English. See all of them in the rejection decoder.
| Guideline | Name | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 | Minimum functionality | The app is mostly a website or too thin. | Add native features and use native navigation. Explain them in the review notes. |
| 2.1 | App completeness | Crashes, broken links or no working login for the reviewer. | Test on real devices and add a demo account. |
| 5.1.1 | Privacy | Missing privacy policy, vague permission texts or no account deletion. | Add the policy, write clear permission texts and add Delete account. |
| 2.3 | Accurate metadata | Screenshots or text do not match the app. | Use real screenshots and an honest description. |
Skip the hard parts: we submit it for $49
Our team already submits apps to the App Store and Google Play every week. Send us your Bolt app and we set up the listing, certificates and Data Safety, submit it to your own developer accounts and support you through rejections, for a flat $49 per app.
Questions
Can Bolt publish directly to the App Store?
For an Expo project, Expo's own guide has you download the code, install Node.js, configure app.json, run npx testflight to build and send it to App Store Connect, test in TestFlight, then submit for review. You need an Apple Developer account and an Expo account. Web projects have to be wrapped instead.
Do I need Xcode to publish a Bolt app?
Some routes build in the cloud, and some need Xcode and Android Studio on your computer. Either way you need developer accounts and a complete store listing. Our submission service removes the tooling work.
How much does it cost to publish a Bolt app?
Apple charges $99 a year and Google charges a one-time $25. Our submission service is a flat $49 per app on top of that, if you want us to do the work.
Why was my Bolt app rejected?
The most common reasons are Apple guideline 4.2 (too much like a website), 2.1 (crashes or no working demo account) and 5.1.1 (privacy and account deletion). See the table above and our rejection decoder.
Can you submit my Bolt app for me?
Yes. Our app submission service handles the Apple and Google submissions for $49. You keep ownership because we submit to your own accounts.
Guides for other AI app builders
Last checked October 2026. Bolt's features change quickly, so confirm details in its own documentation. Bolt is a trademark of its owner. Appily is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bolt.
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