Apple Developer APIs

Complete guide for integrating Apple Developer APIs, including App Store Connect API, App Store Server API, Sign in with Apple, and App Store Server Notifications.

Quick Start Overview

Apple provides several REST APIs for managing apps, subscriptions, and authentication:

• App Store Connect API: Manage apps, TestFlight, certificates, and metadata
• App Store Server API: Manage transactions, subscriptions, and refunds
• App Store Server Notifications: Receive webhook events for subscription lifecycle
• Sign in with Apple REST API: Server-side authentication validation

All APIs use JWT (JSON Web Token) authentication with ES256 algorithm.

Authentication (All APIs)

Creating API Keys

1. Navigate to App Store Connect > Users and Access > Integrations
2. Generate Individual Key or Team Key
3. Download the .p8 private key file (only downloadable once)
4. Note the Key ID and Issuer ID

JWT Structure

// Header
{
  "alg": "ES256",
  "kid": "YOUR_KEY_ID",
  "typ": "JWT"
}

// Payload
{
  "iss": "YOUR_ISSUER_ID",
  "iat": 1623345678,  // Issued at timestamp
  "exp": 1623346878,  // Expiration (max 20 minutes)
  "aud": "appstoreconnect-v1",
  "bid": "com.yourcompany.yourapp"  // Required for Server API
}

Generate JWT (Node.js)

const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const fs = require('fs');

function generateJWT(issuerId, keyId, privateKeyPath, bundleId) {
  const privateKey = fs.readFileSync(privateKeyPath);

  return jwt.sign({
    bid: bundleId  // Include for App Store Server API
  }, privateKey, {
    algorithm: 'ES256',
    expiresIn: '20m',
    issuer: issuerId,
    audience: 'appstoreconnect-v1',
    header: { alg: 'ES256', kid: keyId, typ: 'JWT' }
  });
}

Generate JWT (Python)

import jwt
import time
from pathlib import Path

def generate_jwt(issuer_id: str, key_id: str, private_key_path: str, bundle_id: str = None) -> str:
    private_key = Path(private_key_path).read_text()

    payload = {
        "iss": issuer_id,
        "iat": int(time.time()),
        "exp": int(time.time()) + 1200,
        "aud": "appstoreconnect-v1"
    }

    if bundle_id:
        payload["bid"] = bundle_id

    return jwt.encode(payload, private_key, algorithm="ES256",
                     headers={"kid": key_id, "typ": "JWT"})

---

App Store Connect API

Base URL: https://api.appstoreconnect.apple.com/v1

REST API for automating App Store Connect tasks.

Key Endpoints

Apps

GET  /v1/apps                          # List all apps
GET  /v1/apps/{id}                     # Get specific app
GET  /v1/apps/{id}/builds              # List builds for app

TestFlight

GET  /v1/builds                        # List all builds
POST /v1/betaTesters                   # Add beta tester
GET  /v1/betaGroups                    # List beta groups

Certificates & Profiles

GET  /v1/certificates                  # List certificates
POST /v1/certificates                  # Create certificate
GET  /v1/profiles                      # List provisioning profiles

In-App Purchases

GET  /v1/apps/{id}/inAppPurchases      # List IAPs
POST /v1/inAppPurchases                # Create IAP
GET  /v1/subscriptionGroups            # List subscription groups

Request Example

async function listApps(jwt) {
  const response = await fetch(
    'https://api.appstoreconnect.apple.com/v1/apps?fields[apps]=name,bundleId&limit=10',
    {
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${jwt}`,
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
      }
    }
  );
  return response.json();
}

---

App Store Server API

Base URL (Production): https://api.storekit.itunes.apple.com Base URL (Sandbox): https://api.storekit-sandbox.itunes.apple.com

REST API for managing customer transactions and subscriptions. Replaces deprecated verifyReceipt.

Key Endpoints

Transaction History

GET /inApps/v1/history/{transactionId}

Returns complete purchase history for a customer.

Query Parameters:

• revision - Pagination token
• sort - ASCENDING or DESCENDING
• productType - AUTO_RENEWABLE, NON_RENEWABLE, CONSUMABLE, NON_CONSUMABLE

Subscription Status

GET /inApps/v1/subscriptions/{transactionId}

Returns current status of all subscriptions.

Refund History

GET /inApps/v2/refund/lookup/{transactionId}

Order Lookup

POST /inApps/v1/lookup/{orderId}

Consumption Information

PUT /inApps/v1/transactions/consumption/{transactionId}

Send consumption data for consumable IAPs.

Test Notification

POST /inApps/v1/notifications/test

Response Structure

All responses contain signed JWS data:

{
  "signedTransactions": ["eyJhbGciOiJFUzI1NiIsIng1YyI6Wy..."],
  "revision": "next_page_token"
}

Official Libraries

Apple provides official libraries:

# Node.js
npm install @apple/app-store-server-library

# Python
pip install app-store-server-library

Verify signed data:

const { SignedDataVerifier } = require('@apple/app-store-server-library');

const verifier = new SignedDataVerifier(
  [appleRootCertificate],
  true,  // Enable online checks
  'Production',
  'com.yourcompany.yourapp',
  YOUR_APP_ID
);

const transaction = await verifier.verifyAndDecodeTransaction(signedTransaction);

---

App Store Server Notifications V2

Webhooks for subscription lifecycle events.

Setup

1. Configure server URL in App Store Connect > App > App Information
2. Implement endpoint to receive POST requests

Notification Types

Type	Description
SUBSCRIBED	Initial subscription purchase
DID_RENEW	Subscription renewed
DID_FAIL_TO_RENEW	Renewal failed
EXPIRED	Subscription expired
REFUND	Transaction refunded
DID_CHANGE_RENEWAL_STATUS	Auto-renew toggled
DID_CHANGE_RENEWAL_PREF	Plan changed
GRACE_PERIOD_EXPIRED	Billing grace period ended
OFFER_REDEEMED	Promotional offer applied
CONSUMPTION_REQUEST	Apple requests consumption data
REVOKE	Family sharing revoked

Subtypes

• INITIAL_BUY / RESUBSCRIBE
• DOWNGRADE / UPGRADE
• AUTO_RENEW_ENABLED / AUTO_RENEW_DISABLED
• VOLUNTARY / BILLING_RETRY / PRICE_INCREASE

Payload Structure

{
  "signedPayload": "eyJhbGciOiJFUzI1NiIsIng1YyI6Wy..."
}

Decoded Payload

{
  "notificationType": "DID_RENEW",
  "subtype": "BILLING_RECOVERY",
  "notificationUUID": "unique-id",
  "data": {
    "appAppleId": 123456789,
    "bundleId": "com.yourcompany.yourapp",
    "environment": "Production",
    "signedTransactionInfo": "...",
    "signedRenewalInfo": "..."
  },
  "version": "2.0",
  "signedDate": 1679529600000
}

Webhook Handler (Node.js)

const express = require('express');
const { SignedDataVerifier } = require('@apple/app-store-server-library');

app.post('/apple/notifications', async (req, res) => {
  const { signedPayload } = req.body;

  const verifier = new SignedDataVerifier(
    [appleRootCert], true, 'Production', bundleId, appId
  );

  const notification = await verifier.verifyAndDecodeNotification(signedPayload);

  switch (notification.notificationType) {
    case 'DID_RENEW':
      await handleRenewal(notification);
      break;
    case 'REFUND':
      await handleRefund(notification);
      break;
    case 'EXPIRED':
      await handleExpiration(notification);
      break;
  }

  res.status(200).send();
});

---

Sign in with Apple REST API

Base URL: https://appleid.apple.com

Endpoints

POST /auth/token      # Exchange code for tokens
POST /auth/revoke     # Revoke tokens
GET  /auth/keys       # Get JWKS for validation

Authentication Flow

1. Client authenticates via Apple
2. Server receives authorization code
3. Exchange code for tokens at /auth/token
4. Validate identity token
5. Store refresh token securely

Generate Client Secret

function generateClientSecret(teamId, clientId, keyId, privateKey) {
  return jwt.sign({}, privateKey, {
    algorithm: 'ES256',
    expiresIn: '180d',  // Max 6 months
    audience: 'https://appleid.apple.com',
    issuer: teamId,
    subject: clientId,
    header: { alg: 'ES256', kid: keyId }
  });
}

Token Exchange

async function exchangeAuthCode(code, clientSecret, clientId, redirectUri) {
  const params = new URLSearchParams({
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    code: code,
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    redirect_uri: redirectUri
  });

  const response = await fetch('https://appleid.apple.com/auth/token', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
    body: params.toString()
  });

  return response.json();
}

Token Response

{
  "access_token": "...",
  "token_type": "Bearer",
  "expires_in": 3600,
  "refresh_token": "...",
  "id_token": "eyJraWQiOiJXNldjT0..."
}

Validate Identity Token

const jwksClient = require('jwks-rsa');

const client = jwksClient({ jwksUri: 'https://appleid.apple.com/auth/keys' });

async function validateIdentityToken(idToken, audience) {
  const decoded = jwt.decode(idToken, { complete: true });
  const key = await client.getSigningKey(decoded.header.kid);

  return jwt.verify(idToken, key.getPublicKey(), {
    algorithms: ['RS256'],
    issuer: 'https://appleid.apple.com',
    audience: audience
  });
}

Revoke Token (Required for Account Deletion)

async function revokeToken(token, clientSecret, clientId) {
  const params = new URLSearchParams({
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    token: token,
    token_type_hint: 'refresh_token'
  });

  await fetch('https://appleid.apple.com/auth/revoke', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
    body: params.toString()
  });
}

---

App Intents Framework

Framework for exposing app functionality to Siri and Shortcuts.

App Intent Example (Swift)

import AppIntents

struct OrderCoffeeIntent: AppIntent {
    static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Order Coffee"

    @Parameter(title: "Size")
    var size: CoffeeSize

    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
        let order = try await CoffeeService.order(size: size)
        return .result(value: order.id)
    }
}

struct CoffeeShortcuts: AppShortcutsProvider {
    static var appShortcuts: [AppShortcut] {
        AppShortcut(
            intent: OrderCoffeeIntent(),
            phrases: ["Order coffee with \(.applicationName)"],
            shortTitle: "Order Coffee",
            systemImageName: "cup.and.saucer.fill"
        )
    }
}

---

Error Handling

Common Status Codes

Code	Description
401	Invalid or expired JWT
403	Insufficient permissions
404	Resource not found
429	Rate limit exceeded
500	Apple server error

Rate Limits

• App Store Connect API: ~1000 requests/hour per key
• App Store Server API: Varies by endpoint
• Sign in with Apple: ~20 requests/second

Retry Strategy

async function apiCallWithRetry(fn, maxRetries = 3) {
  for (let i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++) {
    try {
      return await fn();
    } catch (error) {
      if (error.status === 429 && i < maxRetries - 1) {
        await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, Math.pow(2, i) * 1000));
        continue;
      }
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

---

Security Best Practices

1. Never expose private keys - Store in secure vault
2. Validate all signed data - Always verify JWS signatures
3. Use short-lived tokens - JWT should expire in 20 minutes
4. Implement webhook verification - Validate all incoming notifications
5. Store refresh tokens securely - Encrypt at rest
6. Use environment-specific endpoints - Separate sandbox/production
7. Regenerate client secrets - Sign in with Apple expires in 6 months

---

Environment Variables

# App Store Connect / Server API
APP_STORE_ISSUER_ID=your-issuer-id
APP_STORE_KEY_ID=your-key-id
APP_STORE_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH=./AuthKey_XXXXX.p8
APP_BUNDLE_ID=com.yourcompany.yourapp
APP_STORE_ENVIRONMENT=Sandbox

# Sign in with Apple
APPLE_TEAM_ID=your-team-id
APPLE_CLIENT_ID=com.yourcompany.yourapp
APPLE_KEY_ID=your-key-id
APPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH=./AuthKey_XXXXX.p8

---

Additional Resources

For detailed API specifications:

• See references/app-store-connect-api.md - Complete endpoint reference
• See references/app-store-server-api.md - Server API endpoints
• See references/sign-in-with-apple.md - Authentication flow details
• See references/server-notifications.md - Webhook event structures
• See assets/templates/ - Ready-to-use code templates

Documentation Links

• App Store Connect API
• App Store Server API
• App Store Server Notifications
• Sign in with Apple REST API
• App Intents
• Advanced Commerce API