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> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/104888) in GitLab 15.8 [with a flag](../../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `apple_app_store_integration`. Disabled by default.
FLAG:
On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is not available. To make it available, ask an administrator to [enable the feature flag](../../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `apple_app_store_integration`. On GitLab.com, this feature is not available.
The Apple App Store integration makes it easy to configure your CI/CD pipelines to connect to [App Store Connect](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com) to build and release apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.
The integration is designed to be able to work out of the box with [fastlane](http://fastlane.tools/), but can be used with other build tools as well.
## Prerequisites
An Apple ID enrolled in the [Apple Developer Program](https://developer.apple.com/programs/enroll/) is required to enable this integration.
## Configure GitLab
GitLab supports enabling the Apple App Store integration at the project level. Complete these steps in GitLab:
1. In the Apple App Store Connect portal, generate a new private key for your project by following [these instructions](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appstoreconnectapi/creating_api_keys_for_app_store_connect_api).
1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings > Integrations**.
1. Select **Apple App Store**.
1. Turn on the **Active** toggle under **Enable Integration**.
1. Provide the Apple App Store Connect configuration information:
- **Issuer ID**: The Apple App Store Connect Issuer ID can be found in the *Keys* section under *Users and Access* the Apple App Store Connect portal.
- **Key ID**: The Key ID of the new private key that was just generated.
- **Private Key**: The Private Key that was just generated. Note: you are only be able to download this key one time.
1. Select **Save changes**.
After the Apple App Store integration is activated:
- The global variables `$APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY_ISSUER_ID`, `$APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY_KEY_ID`, and `$APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY_KEY` are created for CI/CD use.
-`$APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY_KEY` contains the Base64 encoded Private Key.
## Security considerations
### CI/CD variable security
Malicious code pushed to your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file could compromise your variables, including
`$APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY_KEY`, and send them to a third-party server. For more details, see
Because this integration works out of the box with fastlane adding the code below to an app's `fastlane/Fastfile` activates the integration, and create the connection for any interactions with the Apple App Store uploading a Test Flight or public App Store release.