App Transfer: transferring an app between developer accounts
App Transfer is a mechanism for transferring an app between developer accounts in the App Store and Google Play while preserving ratings, reviews, and download history. The procedure is in demand when selling digital products, reorganizing a company, or transferring a project from a contractor to a client. According to Apple App Transfer Documentation, 2025, transfer is only possible for versions 1.0 and above if a set of conditions is met. The process takes from 1 to 7 business days depending on the platform and the complexity of verification.
Key Takeaways
- App Transfer is the procedure of transferring an app from one developer to another in the App Store and Google Play without losing user data.
- Apple App Store requires version 1.0+, no pending updates, settled debts, and the recipient's agreement to the Apple Developer Program terms.
- Google Play allows transferring apps between accounts via Transfer Ownership with APK/AAB, ratings, and reviews migrated.
- After transfer, version history, ratings, reviews, and subscriptions are preserved. The app identifier (bundle ID) remains the same.
- Restrictions — the app must not use push notification certificates or Apple Pay from the old account. Services need to be reconfigured.
What is App Transfer?
App Transfer is the official procedure for changing the owner of an app in a digital distribution store. Unlike deleting and republishing, App Transfer preserves all accumulated metrics: rating, number of reviews, version history, download data, and active subscriptions. The app identifier (bundle ID for iOS, package name for Android) remains unchanged, which is critical for existing users. The procedure is governed by the Apple Developer Program License Agreement and the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement.
What is preserved during transfer
During App Transfer, the following are transferred to the new owner: all app versions, ratings and user reviews, sales and download data for the entire period, active and completed subscriptions, In-App Purchase information, Game Center settings (for iOS), and Google Play Console statistics. Push notification tokens, Apple Pay certificates, and CloudKit settings are not transferred — they must be reconfigured on the recipient's account.
What is not transferred
The following are not transferred during App Transfer: banking information and tax data of the old account, payout history and reports, developer's personal data, third-party contracts, and code signing certificates. The receiving developer must set up certificates, provisioning profiles (for iOS), and signing keys (for Android) anew. Apple recommends completing all financial transactions before initiating the transfer.
Why transfer an app between accounts
Main scenarios for App Transfer include selling a finished app to a new owner, reorganizing a studio with asset reassignment to a new legal entity, transferring a project from a contractor company to the client after development completion, and merging multiple developer accounts into one. Each scenario requires documents confirming the change of ownership: a sale and purchase agreement, an acceptance certificate, or a founders' decision on reorganization.
Selling an app
Selling a mobile app is the most common reason for App Transfer. The market for buying and selling ready-made apps is valued in billions of dollars. The buyer receives a finished product with an audience and revenue, the seller receives a one-time payment. Transfer through the official procedure guarantees the legal purity of the transaction. The platforms do not charge a fee for App Transfer but require confirmation of rights to the transferred content and trademarks.
Transfer from contractor to client
Many companies outsource app development, and after the work is completed, the app must be transferred to the client. Using App Transfer from the contractor's account to the client's account is the standard procedure. It is important to include a transfer clause in the contract and prepare the app for transfer in advance: remove test data, disable third-party services linked to the contractor's account, and create backups.
Conditions for transfer in the App Store
Apple sets strict requirements for App Transfer. The app must have a version no lower than 1.0, be published in the App Store, have no pending updates or rejected builds. The sender account must have Individual or Organization status, and the recipient must be registered in the Apple Developer Program. Both accounts must be active, without blocks, and with settled financial obligations. Transfer is not possible for apps with the status Developer Removed From Sale.
Apple technical restrictions
App Transfer in the App Store is prohibited for apps using certain technologies: Apple Pay (requires reconfiguration), CloudKit (data is not transferred), iCloud Containers (requires migration), Passbook, and VPN configurations. The app must not contain DRM-protected content or use third-party push notification certificates linked to the sender's account. All existing push and iCloud certificates must be removed from the App ID before starting the procedure.
Recipient's role
The recipient of an app in the App Store must have an active Apple Developer Program account, accept the license agreement, and confirm they are familiar with the transfer terms. After the transfer is complete, the recipient becomes the owner of all app metadata, including pricing, localizations, and ratings. Apple sends a notification of successful transfer to both participants' emails. The transfer cannot be undone — after completion, the app is permanently tied to the recipient's account.
Transferring an app in Google Play
Google Play implements App Transfer through the Transfer Ownership feature in the Google Play Console. The process is more flexible than in the App Store: it allows transferring both individual apps and all apps of an account at once. The recipient must have a Google Play developer account (registration fee of $25). After transfer, APK/AAB files, ratings, reviews, sales ratings, and Google Play Games Services data are preserved. Revenue reports remain in the sender's account.
Transfer Ownership process
For App Transfer in Google Play, the sender opens the app page in the console, goes to Account details — Transfer ownership, and enters the recipient's account email. The recipient receives a confirmation email and must accept the invitation within 30 days. After confirmation, Google checks the app for policy compliance and completes the transfer. The entire process takes 1–3 business days. Google does not block the app during the transfer — it remains available to users.
Google Play specifics
The key difference of Google Play is the possibility of partial transfer. A developer can transfer one app while keeping others on their account. When transferring all apps, the sender's account must remain active for access to financial reports. Google does not support reverse transfer — after the transfer, the recipient becomes the owner. Google Play Console Analytics data is transferred partially: statistics for past periods remain with the sender, new data accumulates with the recipient.
Step-by-step transfer procedure
The App Transfer process consists of five stages: preparation, initiating the transfer, recipient confirmation, platform verification, and completion. Preparation includes disabling services linked to the sender's account (push certificates, Apple Pay, CloudKit), checking for no pending updates, and settling financial obligations. Apple recommends taking screenshots of current App Store Connect settings for restoration after transfer.
Stage 1: Preparation
During preparation, the sender checks the app for compliance with requirements. For Apple App Store: version 1.0+, no pending or rejected builds, removal of push certificates from App ID, disabling iCloud and Apple Pay, completing all financial transactions. For Google Play: the app must be published, have no policy violations, and both the sender and recipient accounts must be active. It is recommended to export sales reports and statistics before transfer.
Stages 2–4: Initiation, confirmation, verification
Initiation in the App Store is done through App Store Connect — the App Information section, the Transfer App button. The sender enters the recipient's Apple ID. The recipient receives an email and confirms their desire to accept the app. Apple checks compliance with conditions within 1–7 days. In Google Play, initiation occurs through Transfer Ownership, the recipient confirms the invitation, and Google checks policies. At all stages, the transfer status is displayed in the console.
Limitations and possible issues
App Transfer has a number of limitations that the developer must consider before starting the procedure. In the App Store, an app cannot be transferred if it uses Apple Pay, Passbook, VPN configuration, or iCloud containers without prior reconfiguration. Google Play does not allow transferring apps with active policy violations. After transfer, the sender loses all rights to the app with no possibility of reversal. Issues most often arise due to services that were not disabled or unpaid bills.
Common issues and solutions
The most common issue is Apple's refusal due to active push notification certificates. The solution is to remove the certificates from the Apple Developer Center before initiating the transfer. The second most common issue is the app using third-party SDKs tied to the sender's account (Firebase, Crashlytics, Adjust). Reconfiguring these services for the recipient's account is mandatory. The third issue is the difference in account types: Individual cannot transfer an app to Organization and vice versa. The solution requires changing the account type or consulting Apple support.
Service migration after transfer
After completing App Transfer, the recipient must reconfigure push notifications (APNs for iOS, FCM for Android), update API keys in third-party service consoles (Firebase, Google Maps, Facebook SDK), verify In-App Purchases and subscriptions, update code signing certificates, and release a new build with updated keys. Apple recommends releasing an app update within 30 days after transfer to update provisioning profiles. Google Play allows using the existing signing key through App Signing by Google Play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can App Transfer be undone after completion?
No, App Transfer is irreversible. After the transfer is complete, the app is permanently tied to the recipient's account. The only way to return the app is to initiate a reverse transfer, which follows the same rules and requires the recipient's consent.
How long does an app transfer take?
Apple processes App Transfer in 1 to 7 business days. Google Play completes the transfer in 1–3 business days. The time depends on support workload and app complexity. Preparation for transfer may take 1–2 days.
What happens to user subscriptions after the transfer?
Subscriptions are preserved and continue to be active. The new owner receives revenue from renewals. However, push notification certificates must be reconfigured so that subscription notifications reach users. Old subscription reports remain with the sender.
Can an app be transferred to an account from another country?
Apple requires that the sender and recipient accounts be in the same region. Google Play allows transfer between accounts from different countries, but may require updating the recipient's tax information and bank details.
What documents are needed for App Transfer?
Apple may request documents confirming the right to transfer the app: a sale and purchase agreement, an acceptance certificate, or a reorganization decision. Google Play requests documents only in disputed situations. It is recommended to prepare a package of documents in advance.
Summary
- App Transfer is the official procedure for transferring an app between developer accounts while preserving ratings, reviews, and subscriptions.
- Apple App Store requires version 1.0+, no pending updates, and removal of push certificates before transfer. Review period — up to 7 days.
- Google Play implements Transfer Ownership with APK/AAB and data migration. The process takes 1–3 days and does not block the app.
- Not transferred are push notification certificates, CloudKit and Apple Pay data, banking information, and payout history. These elements are reconfigured by the recipient.
- After transfer, the recipient must update certificates, third-party SDK keys, and release a new build. Apple recommends doing this within 30 days.
- The process is irreversible — after App Transfer is complete, the sender loses access to app management. A reverse transfer requires initiating a new procedure.
- It is recommended to disable linked services in advance, export sales reports, and prepare documents confirming the change of ownership.
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