Apple now allows apps that use iCloud to be transferred to another developer

Earlier this year, Apple began allowing developers in its Small Business Program to transfer their apps. A few months later, the company is now expanding this feature for apps that use iCloud. The company announced Wednesday that apps using iCloud can now be transferred to another developer in the Apple Developer Program.

Apple said developers already could transfer an app when they’ve sold the app to another developer or they want to move it to another App Store Connect account or organization. They can also transfer the ownership of an app to another developer without removing the app from the App Store. 

“The app retains its reviews and ratings during and after the transfer, and users continue to have access to future updates. Additionally, when an app is transferred, it maintains its Bundle ID — it’s not possible to update the Bundle ID after a build has been uploaded for the app,” Apple said in a help page. 

The company said it is now easier for developers to transfer apps that use iCloud to another developer. If an app uses any of the following, it will be transferred to the transfer recipient after they accept the app transfer.

+ iCloud to store user data

+ iCloud containers

+ KVS identifiers associated with the app

“If multiple apps on your account share a CloudKit container, the transfer of one app will disable the other apps’ ability to read or store data using the transferred CloudKit container. Additionally, the transferor will no longer have access to user data for the transferred app via the iCloud dashboard. Any app updates will disable the app’s ability to read or store data using the transferred CloudKit container.

If your app uses iCloud Key-Value Storage (KVS), the full KVS value will be embedded in any new provisioning profiles you create for the transferred app. Update your entitlements plist with the full KVS value in your provisioning profile,” Apple said.