In this section you will:
- Enroll in the Apple Developer Program
- Ensure you have access to App Store Connect
- Invite Blackboard to both Apple Developer and Apple App Store Connect
Enroll in the Apple Developer Program
You must have a verifiable Apple ID to continue.
Why do I need an Apple ID? | I don’t have an Apple ID. | What does “verifiable” mean?
You must enroll in the Apple Developer Program as an organization, not as an individual and not in the Enterprise program. To learn more, see Apple Developer Program options.
- Go to the Apple Developer Enrollment Page and sign in with your Apple ID.
I can’t log in. | It’s asking for two-factor authentication. | The two-factor authentication is not working.
- Accept the Developer Agreement.
- Select Accredited Educational Institution for your entity type and select Continue.
Why not a different entity type?
- Identify whether you have the authority or have been given the authority to sign the legal agreement.
What is the difference between authority types?
- Fill out your Organization Information.
- Legal Entity Name: The name as it appears in relation to your D-U-N-S number.
- D-U-N-S number: Your D-U-N-S number
- Website: Your district/school website Headquarters
- Phone: Your district phone number
- Tax ID/National ID: Your tax ID
- Request the Membership Fee Waiver.
- Fill out the security question and select Continue.
- Verify the information and select Submit.
- Your application has now been submitted.
You must now wait until Apple has approved your application. You will receive the approval in an email. Apple may reach out for additional verification by phone or email. When you get the approval, move to the next step.
- There is a link in the approval email. Select the link and complete any last items Apple presents.
- You have now enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. With this enrollment you will have an account for both Apple Developer and App Store Connect.
What is the difference between Apple Developer and App Store Connect?
Ensure you have access to App Store Connect
- In Apple Developer, select App Store Connect. I'm not seeing the App Store Connect button in Apple Developer.
- Select Go to App Store Connect.
- Verify that you are automatically logged in to App Store Connect by comparing what you see to the screenshot below. I see something different.
- You have now verified you have access to App Store Connect.
Invite Blackboard to App Store Connect
- In App Store Connect, select Users and Access.
- Select the plus (+) button.
- Using your Bb Comm Domain gathered at the beginning of this process, fill out the invite and select Invite.
- First Name: Miteam
- Last Name: Blackboard
- Email: [Bb Comm Domain]@mobileapp.team
- Roles: Admin
Why am I giving you administrator access to App Store Connect?
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Select the box under Developer Resources
- You have now invited the Mobile App Team at Blackboard to your Apple App Store Connect account.
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Sometimes the invites will fail. If so, the Mobile App Team will reach out to you and ask you to re-invite. It will involve completely deleting out the existing invite and sending a new one, although with the same information used the first time.
FAQs
Apple Developer Program FAQs
Why do I have to have an Apple ID to enroll in the Apple Developer Program?
To enroll in the Apple Developer Program you must be a real person. Your Apple ID identifies you as a real person.
I don’t have a work Apple ID.
Using a personal Apple ID is appropriate for enrolling in the Apple Developer program. Apple requires actual individuals to be a part of an Apple Developer/App Store Connect team as opposed to generic accounts. As individuals come and go with an organization, they are to be added to/removed from the developer account. However, if you're uncomfortable using your personal Apple ID, consider creating another work-place Apple ID for yourself. Just remember that it needs to be your actual information.
What do you mean by “verifiable” for the Apple ID?
Apple requires that the Apple ID be tied to a real person. You can't create generic Apple IDs. Apple will verify who you are, including emailing or calling you to request additional verification information. Using generic information will result in a very lengthy and difficult process to correct with Apple. You can learn more on Apple’s Identity Verification page.
Apple Developer Program options
There are three different types of developer programs: Apple Developer Program for individuals, Apple Developer Program for organizations, and Apple’s Enterprise Developer Program. The Apple Developer Program for organizations is what you need to enroll in. Enrolling in the other options won't work, as the individual program can't invite others and the enterprise program is for in-house distribution only—no access to the App Store.
Why can’t I log in to Apple Developer?
This issue is most likely due to an issue with your Apple ID. Please visit Apple’s Apple ID Support page for help.
Apple is asking me for two-factor authentication. What do I do?
Ensure that you're signed up for two-factor authentication. Go to Apple’s Two-factor authentication for Apple ID page for instructions. If you're using two-step verification with Apple, you'll need to switch to two-factor authentication. Go to Apple’s Switch from two-step verification to two-factor authentication page for instructions.
The two-factor authentication isn't working.
Ensure that the Apple ID you're logging in to Apple Developer with is the same Apple ID that is on your trusted device. If you're attempting to use the trusted number, ensure that the number is listed as trusted on your Apple ID. If this is all correct, go to Apple’s If you can’t sign in with two-step verification using your Apple ID page and follow the steps. If none of this works, you'll need to contact Apple support directly.
If none of this works, you'll need to contact Apple support directly at 1-800-275-2273.
Why not a different entity type?
The entity type is associated with your D-U-N-S number. While the vast majority of school districts are identified as an accredited educational institution, some will be identified as Government. If you're told that your entity type is incorrect, either switch to Government or verify by looking at your D-U-N-S information.
What is the difference between authority types?
If you have the authority to sign, you'll be asked for your work email. If you've been given the authority to sign, you'll be asked for the contact information of the individual who gave you that authority. This other individual may be contacted by Apple for verification purposes.
What is the difference between Apple Developer and App Store Connect?
Apple developer and App Store Connect are two halves of the same whole. Apple Developer deals with back-end items such as certificates and files necessary for mobile app functionality. App Store Connect deals with front-end items such as screenshots, the name, and whether your app is available for download or not.
I'm not seeing the App Store Connect button in Apple Developer.
You're most likely enrolled in Apple’s enterprise developer program. This program is designed for in-house distribution only and doesn't allow access to the App Store. You'll need to enroll in the developer program with your Apple ID.
My App Store Connect doesn't look like the screenshot.
You're most likely enrolled in Apple’s enterprise developer program. This program is designed for in-house distribution only and doesn't allow access to the App Store. You'll need to enroll in the developer program with your Apple ID.
Why am I giving you Administrator access to App Store Connect?
This level of access is necessary for the app download report in your Bb Comms portal—where you manage your Mobile App. If you don't care about the app download report, you can use the App Manager permission level instead.
What is an Apple Developer Team ID?
This is the ID associated with your Apple Developer Team. It is necessary for transferring your app listing to you. It is typically an all-caps alpha-numeric string that will look like this: ABCD1EF2G3
Where can I find my Apple Developer Team ID?
Log in to Apple Developer, select Membership in the left-hand bar and look for Team ID on the page.
I can’t select Review to accept the transfer. It says I need to accept the agreement.
Use these instructions:
- Go to Apple Developer.
- When you log in you'll see a red bar at the top. Follow this red bar through to accept the agreement.
- Once completed, go back to App Store Connect.
- Go to Agreements, Tax, and Banking.
- You'll see a new agreement for your review.
- Accept this agreement.
- You'll then be able to accept your app transfer.
What is my Bb Comms Domain?
Your Bb Comms Portal is where you log in to manage your mobile app. The URL will be “example.parentlink.com.” The Bb Comm domain is the piece that comes after https:// and before .parentlink.com.