First Submission (Launch Submission)
Your first submission to the App Store and Google Play is reviewed more thoroughly than future updates. For both platforms, allow 3 to 5 business days from the time Tapcart submits your app.
This timeline can vary depending on:
How quickly your Apple API key and Firebase project are set up
Whether Apple or Google request any additional information during review
How complete and accurate your App Listing is at the time of submission
To avoid delays, make sure the following are ready before notifying your Implementation Manager:
App Listing fully completed — app icon, launch screen, placeholder image, title, subtitle, keywords, description, and all business information URLs
Apple App Store Connect API key set up and verified in your Tapcart dashboard
Firebase project connected and both iOS and Android configuration files uploaded
Tapcart invited as an admin on both your Apple Developer account and Google Play Console
Once everything is in place, notify your Implementation Manager and they will handle the submission from there.
App Listing Updates After Launch
Any time you update your App Listing — including changes to your app icon, launch screen, placeholder image, app title, subtitle, keywords, or description — those changes require a new submission to Apple and Google. This is different from publishing a screen change in your Tapcart dashboard, which goes live immediately.
After your app is live, App Listing updates are submitted through the Release Manager in your Tapcart dashboard. Head to the Release Manager, click Create New Release, update your listing details, and submit. App Listing updates typically take 24 to 48 hours to process after submission.
For a full walkthrough of the Release Manager, see the Release Manager: Complete Guide.
App Version Updates
App version updates push a new build of your app to the App Store and Google Play — for example, when Tapcart releases new features or performance improvements. These are also submitted through the Release Manager and typically take 24 to 48 hours for both Apple and Google to review and publish.
When an app version update is available, our team will automatically update your app to the latest version.
Development Builds (TestFlight & APK)
Before pushing a version to production, you can distribute test builds to your team using the Release Manager:
iOS — TestFlight: Distribute builds to internal or external testers via TestFlight. You can manage beta groups and share public links directly from the Release Manager.
Android — APK: Generate a signed APK for manual distribution to testers. APK builds do not go to Google Play.
Development builds don't go through App Store or Google Play review, so there's no review period — they're available to testers as soon as the build completes, typically within 30 minutes.
See the Release Manager: Complete Guide to learn how to trigger your own Dev build
Quick Reference
Update Type | Who Submits | Typical Timeline |
First submission | Tapcart Implementation Manager | 3–5 business days |
App Listing update (icon, screenshots, description, etc.) | You via Release Manager | 24–48 hours |
App version update | You or Tapcart via Release Manager | 24–48 hours |
TestFlight / APK development build | You via Release Manager | ~20 minutes |
More Questions
Have questions about your submission timeline? Reach out through LiveChat in your Tapcart dashboard or email [email protected].