iOS应用转移存疑：开发者索要我方开发者账号权限是否合理？

Let me break this down clearly for you—first, the developer’s request for your account’s Certificates and Provisions is not valid, and here’s why, plus the official, secure transfer workflow you should follow:

Is the Request for Certificates/Provisions Reasonable? #

Absolutely not. Sharing your Apple Developer account’s certificates and provisioning profiles is a major security risk—whoever has these can sign apps using your account’s identity, potentially publishing unapproved apps or tampering with your account assets. Worse, the official app transfer process doesn’t require any of this at all. This request suggests either the developer isn’t familiar with Apple’s standard transfer workflow, or they’re asking for unnecessary access to your account.

Correct Official iOS App Transfer Workflow #

The entire transfer happens through App Store Connect, no device-side operations or shared credentials needed. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:

• Pre-Transfer Checks (Both Parties)
  • Your (Recipient) Account: Ensure it’s an active Apple Developer Program account with no outstanding fees. Verify the target app’s Bundle ID isn’t already used in your account, and that your account hasn’t received a transfer for this app before (each app can only be transferred once).
  • Developer’s (Sender) Account: The app must be in a transfer-eligible state: no pending app reviews, no unresolved violations, and if there are in-app purchases/subscriptions, ensure they’re configured for transfer (for subscriptions, you may need to coordinate with Apple Support first).
• Initiate Transfer (Sender’s Side)
  • The developer logs into their App Store Connect account, navigates to the app’s page, goes to App Information, scrolls to the bottom, and selects Transfer App.
  • They’ll need your account’s Team ID (you can find this in your Apple Developer Account under "Membership")—provide that to them, then they confirm the transfer terms and submit the request.
• Accept Transfer (Your Side)
  • Log into your App Store Connect account. You’ll get a notification about the pending transfer, or you can find it under My Apps > Transfers Received.
  • Review the app details to confirm it’s the correct one, then accept the request. Follow any prompts to complete additional steps (like verifying tax information if required).
• Post-Transfer Setup
  • Once the transfer is complete, all app rights, data, in-app purchases, and reviews move to your account. You can then create your own certificates and provisioning profiles for future app updates—this is your responsibility, and the original developer doesn’t need access to your account for this.

If the developer pushes back on this workflow, share this breakdown with them. Apple’s official process is designed to be secure and credential-free for transfers, so there’s no need to compromise your account’s security.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Abed Al Rahman Hijazi