In order to help users understand an app’s privacy practices before they download the app on any Apple platform, app owners must enter privacy details of their app within App Store Connect prior to being able to publish.
This article describes one of the steps you have to take to get your app published in the Apple App Store. Click here to see all of the steps.
With this information, users will be able to learn about some of the data types the app may collect, and whether that data is linked to them or used to track them. You’ll need to provide information about your app’s privacy practices, including the practices of third-party partners whose code you integrate into your app, in App Store Connect.
While answering the questions posed by Apple, please keep in mind that you are (or your client is) seen as the owner of the app, and that in that sense, AppMachine is seen as a third-party partner.
A. Open right page
The app privacy details can be provided through App Store Connect.
- Login on https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/ with your Apple Developer account.
Please make sure that the account you're logging in with has the Account Owner or Admin role. Any other role is insufficient to perform the required actions. - When logged in, open your app via the My Apps section.
B. Privacy Page
Once opened, you'll find the App Privacy page listed in the left-side menu.
Note: you don't need to fill in the Privacy Policy URL here. You can enter that data in AppMachine.
If you don't have a privacy policy yet, this article will explain to you how to create a privacy policy.
- Open this page and click the 'Get Started' button to start the app privacy questionnaire.
You will then be shown the following screen:
Select the option 'Yes, we collect data from this app' and continue by clicking the Next button. - On the next page, you will see this page where you need to scroll down
- You're prompted by Apple to check the boxes for all data types that the app collects.
We'll go over these one by one:- Contact Info
Whether or not you enable the checkboxes in this section depends on the functionality you've added to the app. For example, if your app contains a Contact Form through which personal information is provided, then enable the boxes for the information that the user can provide within the app. - Health & Fitness
Links to this API are not supported within the AppMachine platform. However, if you've created a custom (Pro) block which uses these APIs, then enable the checkboxes that apply. - Financial Info
The 'Payment Info' option in this section concerns payments which are handled through means other than a payment service.
For example, if your app contains a manual payment option, then the 'Payment Info' option has to be checked. If your app uses PayPal checkouts, then you do not have to check this box, because these payments are handled by PayPal without you ever seeing the users payment information.
If your app collects any other type of financial information from its users, then check the appropriate box(es) accordingly. - Location
You nee to enable the 'Precise Location' in order to show the location of a user on a map within your app. - Sensitive Info
Enable this option if your app collects data such as racial or ethnic data, sexual orientation, pregnancy or childbirth information, disability, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, political opinion, genetic information, or biometric data.
You don't need to NOT enable this if you are using Basic or Plus AppMachine blocks.
- Contacts
There is no module available in AppMachine that allows you to collect data via the device's contacts lists, so do NOT enable this. - User Content
The 'Customer Support' option is present within every AppMachine app by default due to the 'I need support' email option on the App Information page. Therefore, the Customer support option has to be enabled. Other options are enabled depending on the content that has been added to the app. - Browsing History
There is no module available in AppMachine that allows you to collect data related to the users' browsing history. - Search History
There is no module available in AppMachine that allows you to collect data related to the users' search history. - Identifiers
Enable both the User ID as well as the Device ID, as they are both collected by AppMachine. These IDs are used to be able to send push notifications to the app. - Purchases
Enable this option if your app collects data related to a users' purchases or purchase tendencies. - Usage Data
If you have enabled the Analytics tracking in your app, your app will collect analytical information via Firebase/Google Analytics and you have to enable Product interaction.
Therefore, the 'Product Interaction' option must be enabled. Other options can be enabled if applicable through the app's custom content. - Diagnostics
All AppMachine apps collect various diagnostics data. Enable All options in this section. - Other Data
Enable this option if you collect any other types of data through your app that has not been mentioned. This only applies if you have a PRO app and collect other data types not mentioned.
- Contact Info
5. Click Save
6. Click Ok in this screen:
C. Enter information per datatype
For each of the enabled options, you'll have to indicate how the collected data is used by you or your third-party partner(s), as displayed in the example screenshot below.
7. Click on each Set Up tile and answer three questions for each tile.
The app privacy options which are present in all AppMachine apps are listed in the table below.
For each of the options, we've indicated how the collected data is used by AppMachine. Indications for any other options that you may have enabled due to the functionality used in your app, will have to be provided by yourself.
You will need to go through steps A-C at least 8 times for the 8 topics which you have enabled in the step before.
A. How data is collected
| Data Types | Information Type |
| Precise Location | App Functionality |
| Customer Support | App Functionality |
| User ID | App Functionality |
| Device ID | App Functionality |
| Product interaction | App Functionality |
| Crash Data | App Functionality |
| Performance Data | App Functionality |
| Other Diagnostics Data | App Functionality |
B. Is the collected data is linked to the user's identity. This question can be answered with 'No' for each item.
C. Will the data be used for tracking purposes. This question can be answered with 'No' for each item.
The GIF below is an example of how you can set each one of the categories:
7. >> Don't forget to hit the 'Publish' button to submit the app privacy settings in App Store Connect <<
8. Again click Publish in the app privacy response modal
When you've provided the app privacy information for all of the data types that your app collects, your app can be updated with new store versions once again.
D. Go back to AppMachine
If you still see this wizard, the screen will refresh automatically and you should be able to see the app you just created in the list. Go to step 12.
9. Open the Appmachine new publish dashboard
10. In the Apple App Store tile choose the option Validate App Store Connect Connection
11. Click Link your app
12. Select the just created Apple App Store app
If you run into any errors during the process, please contact support@appmachine.com. Providing screenshots of the error or flagged fields will be very helpful.
Please note: When you add or remove content from your app which is defined within the app privacy settings, you will also have to update your app privacy settings in App Store Connect to reflect these changes.