Why Is My App Gone From the App Store? How to Log In and Renew Your Apple Developer Membership

When an Apple Developer Program membership expires, Apple removes every app on that account from the App Store. Your BidWrangler iOS app no longer shows in App Store search, and new bidders cannot download it. To restore the app, sign in at developer.apple.com with the Apple ID that owns the membership, then renew the membership. After the renewal, your app returns to the App Store within 48 to 72 hours.

Your BidWrangler iOS app is published under an Apple Developer Program membership in your company's name. The membership costs $99 USD per year, and Apple bills it to the card on the account. If the payment fails, or if auto-renew is off, the membership expires on the renewal date.

Apple sends reminder emails to the email address on the developer account before the expiration date. Apple sends more emails if the membership was not renewed, and again after it expires. These emails often go to a dedicated address created for the developer account, for example a Gmail address that ends in ".developer". Forward every Apple email to helpdesk@bidwrangler.com so that we can help you act on it.

An expired membership does not stop the app for bidders who already installed it. Apple states that installed apps continue to work. The app only disappears from the App Store, so new bidders cannot find it and current bidders cannot get updates.

Your Android app is not affected. Google Play uses a separate developer account with its own requirements.

• The email address of the Apple ID that owns the membership. Apple sent the expiration email to that address.

• The password for that Apple ID. If you do not know the password, reset it at https://iforgot.apple.com.

• Access to the trusted device or phone number on the account, because Apple sends a verification code at sign-in.

• A credit or debit card for the $99 USD annual fee.

If BidWrangler created the developer account for you and you never had the login, contact helpdesk@bidwrangler.com. We will schedule a short sign-in session with you and send you the verification code when Apple asks for it. During that session, we make your phone a trusted device. After that, you own the login and can renew the membership yourself.

1. Go to https://developer.apple.com/account/.

2. Sign in with the email address and password of the Apple ID that owns the membership.

3. If Apple asks for a verification code, enter the code from your trusted device or phone.

4. On the account page, find the Membership details section.

5. Click Renew Membership.

6. Follow the on-screen prompts and enter your payment information.

7. If Apple shows an updated Apple Developer Program License Agreement, accept it.

8. In the Membership details section, turn on the Auto-renew toggle.

9. Wait for Apple to process the renewal. Your app returns to the App Store within 48 to 72 hours.

NOTE: The Auto-renew toggle is available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other regions. Apple charges the card on the account on each expiration date.

Some customers report that Apple declines a valid card during the renewal. Try these steps in order.

1. Sign in at https://account.apple.com and add the card in the Payments & Shipping section. Then try the renewal again.

2. If Apple declines the card again, examine the billing address. Change the format, for example "St" to "Street", and try again.

3. Try a different card. Apple sometimes needs the billing zip code on the card to match the company address.

4. Contact your bank. Some banks block the first payment to Apple until you approve it.

5. If the payment still fails, contact Apple Developer Support at https://developer.apple.com/contact/.

Does my app stop working for bidders who already installed it?

No. Apple states that installed apps continue to work after the membership expires. The app disappears from the App Store, so new bidders cannot download it and current bidders cannot get updates until you renew.

How much does the Apple Developer Program cost?

The Apple Developer Program costs $99 USD per membership year. Apple lists the price in local currency during the renewal, so the amount can be different outside the United States.

I don't know the login for my Apple Developer account. What do I do?

Look at the email address that received the Apple notice. That address is the Apple ID that owns the membership. If you do not know the password, reset it at https://iforgot.apple.com. If BidWrangler created the account for you, contact helpdesk@bidwrangler.com and we will schedule a sign-in session to transfer access to you.

How long after I renew will my app be back in the App Store?

Your app returns to the App Store within 48 to 72 hours after the renewal. If your app is not back after 72 hours, contact helpdesk@bidwrangler.com and we will examine the account with you.

Does an expired Apple membership affect my Android app?

No. Your Android app is published through a separate Google Play developer account. Google Play has its own renewal and policy requirements, and an Apple expiration does not change them.

Can BidWrangler renew the Apple membership for me?

No. The membership and the payment card belong to your company, and we do not keep payment information for our clients. We can help you with the renewal by email or by phone. If we created the account, we can also transfer the login to you.

Can I renew before the membership expires?

Yes. Apple lets you renew as early as 30 days before the expiration date. The new term starts when the current term ends, so you do not lose any time.

• How do I set up a Developer Account with Apple?

• How do I set up a Developer Account with Google?

• How to Add App Store & Google Play Download Links to Your Website

If you have questions about your app or your developer account, please contact us at helpdesk@bidwrangler.com. We are glad to help.