Great question—this is a common pain point for developers who don’t own Apple hardware, but the good news is it’s totally doable. Let’s break down exactly how to handle both the two-factor authentication (2FA) requirement and the app upload process without an iPhone or MacBook:

First: Get 2FA Set Up for Your Apple ID #

Apple requires 2FA for all App Store Connect actions, but you don’t need an Apple device to enable it. Here are your best options:

• Windows iCloud Client: Download the official iCloud for Windows app, sign in with your Apple ID, and head to account settings to turn on 2FA. You can choose to receive verification codes via text message or phone call (any phone works, not just an iPhone). This is the most reliable method, as it mirrors the experience on Apple devices.
• Apple ID Web Portal: If you can’t install the Windows app, go to the Apple ID website. When prompted to set up 2FA, select the option to get codes via SMS/phone call. In rare cases, Apple might push you to use an Apple device—if that happens, reach out to Apple Support and explain your situation; they can help you complete the setup.

Second: Build & Upload Your iOS App #

Uploading an iOS app requires a macOS environment (since Xcode is the only official tool to build iOS binaries), but you don’t need to own a Mac. Here are three solid workarounds:

• Cloud CI/CD Services: Use tools like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Bitrise. These services host macOS runners that let you automate building and uploading. For example, with GitHub Actions, you can set up a workflow that:
  1. Uses actions/setup-xcode to install the right Xcode version
  2. Runs xcodebuild to build your app into an .ipa file
  3. Uses xcrun altool to upload the .ipa to App Store Connect (you’ll need to store your Apple ID credentials and 2FA codes securely in the service’s secret manager)
• Remote Mac Servers: Rent a remote macOS machine from providers like MacStadium, AWS Mac EC2, or DigitalOcean Mac Droplets. Connect via SSH or remote desktop, install Xcode, and build/upload your app just like you would on a local Mac. This gives you full control over the environment.
• Cross-Platform Cloud Builds: If you’re using a cross-platform framework like Flutter or React Native, many of these tools offer cloud build services that generate iOS binaries for you. Once you have the .ipa file, you can use a CI service or remote Mac to run the upload command (since the official Transporter app is Mac-only, xcrun altool is the command-line alternative).

Quick Tips to Avoid Headaches #

• Make sure your Apple Developer Account is active (you’ll need the $99 annual subscription to upload apps).
• Handle code signing entirely through App Store Connect’s web portal—you can create provisioning profiles and certificates without any Apple device.
• When storing credentials for CI/CD, use the service’s built-in secret management to keep your Apple ID and 2FA codes secure.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Omar Diaa