Transferring Apps That Use iCloud
Apps that use iCloud can now be transferred to another developer in the Apple Developer Program.
This is huge news.
Previously:
- App Store Small Business Program Now Allows Transfers
- Apps That Can’t Be Transferred
- Transferring App Ownership
Update (2022-06-24): Jordan Morgan:
The most impactful change to come out of W.W.D.C. had nothing to do with APIs, a new framework or any hardware announcement. Instead, it was a change I’ve been clamoring for the last several years - and it’s one that’s incredibly indie friendly.
[…]
When my last app, Spend Stack, was acquired - it took nearly four months to get settled. This was an experienced buyer who usually had things done and dusted in one week. Why did it take so long? Because I didn’t just sell Spend Stack, I had to sell my entire LLC, Dreaming In Binary, which I had owned for many years to that point. Instead of transferring the app, I had to manage a slew of logistical hurdles that neither I, or the acquirer, wanted to otherwise.
Now, there is no more creating an LLC per app.
[…]
The long and short of it is this - many of us would skip iCloud sync altogether because it meant we couldn’t transfer any app using it in the future.
Update (2025-12-15): Apple:
If your 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
When you transfer an app that shares a CloudKit container with other apps on your account, the transfer will impact those apps. Other apps will lose their ability to read or store data in the transferred CloudKit container. Additionally, the transferor will no longer have access to user data for the transferred app through the iCloud dashboard. Any app updates will disable the app’s ability to read or store data using the transferred CloudKit container.
Previously:
