Overview
An app transfer moves an existing iOS or Android app from a partner's developer account into Lunchbox's developer account. Once transferred, Lunchbox manages ongoing app store compliance, builds, updates, and releases. The partner retains access to their app data, user accounts, reviews, and ratings.
This guide covers what's required to complete a transfer for iOS, Android, or both. The process includes:
Confirming the app meets platform and Lunchbox criteria
Gathering the Lunchbox account details listed in each section below
Providing the Android keystore file (for Android transfers)
If both iOS and Android apps need to be transferred, follow the relevant section for each platform.
Lunchbox Requirements
Before initiating a transfer, gather the following:
For iOS:
Access to the partner's Apple Developer account
Confirmation that the app meets Apple's transfer criteria and Lunchbox's iOS criteria
For Android:
Access to the Google Play Store owner's Gmail account
The Play Console Registration Transaction ID
The Android Keystore File, alias, alias password, and keystore password (requested from the existing app provider)
Apple Store Guide & Requirements
Before initiating an iOS app transfer to Lunchbox, please verify that the iOS app can be transferred. To do so, please review the following steps:
Apple Criteria
Please review the following article to confirm the app and store have met Apple's minimum criteria requirements → App Transfer Criteria
Lunchbox Criteria
Confirm that no version of the app can use iCloud entitlement.
Confirm that no version of the app can use the Passbook entitlement.
TestFlight Beta testing should be turned off for all Beta versions of the iOS app.
Sandboxed Mac apps that share the Application Group Container Directory with other Mac apps cannot be transferred.
Initiating the iOS App Transfer
Please follow the App Transfer documentation located here:
Lunchbox Recipient’s Account Holder Apple ID: [email protected]
Lunchbox Apple Team ID: 9KSN6KP2P8
Google Play Store Guide & Requirements
Before initiating an Android app transfer to Lunchbox, please review the Android Documentation located here:
Lunchbox Android Account ID: 8583115850092725430
Step 1: Log in to the Google Play Store owner’s Gmail account.
Step 2: Find your Play Console Registration Transaction ID.
Step 2. A: Navigate to your Activity Page
Step 2. B: Find the purchase from “Google Play Apps” for “Developer Registration Fee” with a $25 fee.
Step 2. C: From there, open the purchase and scroll down to copy the value for the Transaction ID. The Transaction ID will be in one of the following forms:
01234567890123456789.token.0123456789012345
OR AS 0.G.123456789012345
OR AS PDS.1234-5678-9012-3456
OR AS Registration-1234ab56-7c89-12d3-4567-8e91234567f8
Step 3: Navigate to the App Transfer Page.
Step 4: Complete the App Transfer form:
Full Name Field: Owner’s Full Name
Transaction ID Field: Add this in from Step Two
Target Account Email Address Field: [email protected]
Order ID Field: PDS.8000-5420-8815-15720
This is for the target Play Console account's registration
Step 5: Choose the Android app to transfer to Lunchbox.
Step 6: Click Submit
Provide the Android Keystore File
If the Android app has a previously published version, the partner must provide Lunchbox with the following:
Keystore File (typically a
.keystoreor.jksfile),an alias,
alias password, and
Keystore password (sometimes the same as the alias password).
The keystore file allows Lunchbox to launch the app as an update. This information must be requested from the partner's existing app provider. The keystore file must be provided a minimum of 7 business days prior to the scheduled launch.
FAQs
Q: If I transfer my app(s) to Lunchbox, will I lose my access to my app account(s)?
A: No. Transferring app(s) to Lunchbox does not remove client access to the app account(s). Clients retain user access and access to all app data (reports, usage, analytics, etc.)
Q: Will ‘Lunchbox’ show up anywhere on my app(s) that customers can see?
A: Since apps are built within the Lunchbox developer account, Lunchbox is listed as the developer of the app(s). This is only visible on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store listings, not within the downloaded app itself.
