Adding Team Members in Apple Developer & App Store Connect
Apple Developer and App Store Connect run on two separate role systems — a common source of confusion when someone gets added to one but can’t see the tools they need in the other. Here’s how to invite team members correctly and what each role actually permits.
Apple Developer Program vs App Store Connect: two different role systems
Important to understand before you start:
- Apple Developer Program — controls access to certificates, identifiers, agreements, and general membership settings.
- App Store Connect — controls app publishing, TestFlight, reviews, financial reports.
One person can hold different roles in each system, and you have to invite them separately to each — adding someone to Apple Developer Program doesn’t automatically grant App Store Connect access, and vice versa.
Roles in Apple Developer Program
| Role | Permissions |
|---|---|
| Account Holder | Full control, one per account, signs legal agreements, can’t be reassigned without a formal process |
| Admin | Nearly all Account Holder permissions except signing certain agreements and managing membership itself |
| Member | Access to certificates and identifiers, limited ability to change account settings |
Roles in App Store Connect
| Role | Permissions |
|---|---|
| Account Holder | Matches the Developer Program role, highest authority |
| Admin | Full control over apps, users, and metadata |
| App Manager | Manages specific apps, no access to financial data |
| Developer | Uploads builds, accesses TestFlight, no publishing rights |
| Marketing | Manages App Store metadata (description, screenshots) without build access |
| Finance | Access to financial reports and payouts |
| Sales | Access to sales reports |
| Customer Support | Views and responds to user reviews |
How to invite a team member
In Apple Developer Program
- Sign in at developer.apple.com/account as Account Holder or Admin.
- Go to the People section.
- Click “Invite People” and enter the invitee’s email.
- Choose a role (Admin or Member).
- The invitee receives an email with a link to accept — they’ll need their own Apple ID.
In App Store Connect
- Sign in to App Store Connect as Account Holder or Admin.
- Go to Users and Access.
- Click “+” to add a new user.
- Enter their email and name, and choose one or more roles.
- If needed, scope their access to specific apps rather than the whole account.
Common access-setup mistakes
- Handing out Admin “just in case” — minimize permissions to what’s actually needed: a designer updating screenshots only needs Marketing, not Admin.
- Forgetting Apple Developer Program when onboarding a new iOS developer — if they need to manage certificates and code signing, App Store Connect access alone isn’t enough; they need a separate Developer Program invite.
- Not removing access for former employees — audit your user list regularly, especially roles with financial data access.
- A single Account Holder with no backup Admin — if the sole responsible person loses access to their Apple ID, recovery can take significant time; always designate at least one Admin.
FAQ
Can an Admin remove or replace the Account Holder?
No — changing the Account Holder is a separate formal process through Apple, requiring confirmation from both the current and new holder.
Does an invited team member need their own paid Apple Developer account?
No — a free Apple ID is enough to join a team; paid membership is tied to the organization/account, not to each individual member.
Can I restrict a team member’s access to just one app out of several?
Yes — in App Store Connect, when adding a user you can scope access to specific apps instead of the whole account.
This article is independent and not affiliated with Apple Inc. For official role documentation, see developer.apple.com/support/roles.
Related: Apple Developer Team Roles and Permissions Explained · Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles: A Beginner’s Guide · Apple Developer Account Locked: How to Recover Access