Skip to Content

App Developers Can Now Offer Pre-Orders Up to 180 Days Before an App's Release

Apple today informed developers that they can offer pre-orders for apps up to 180 days prior to when it's released for download on the App Store, giving developers more time to build excitement for app features, services, and content.

apppreorder

Now you can let customers pre-order your app up to 180 days before it's released for download on the App Store. Take advantage of this longer lead time to build more excitement for your app's features, services, and content, and to encourage more pre-orders. Once your app is released, customers will be notified and it will automatically download to their device within 24 hours.

Apple has been allowing developers to offer ‌App Store‌ pre-orders since 2017, with the pre-order feature letting customers make a purchase ahead of an app's release date. Pre-orders are available for both free and paid apps.

Prior to today's change, pre-orders could only be made available for up to 90 days before an app's release. Once the release date for an app rolls around, the app that has been pre-ordered is automatically downloaded to the customer's device, with paid apps charged at release.

Popular Stories

Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Apple Accidentally Leaks 'MacBook Neo'

Tuesday March 3, 2026 7:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have prematurely revealed the name of its rumored lower-cost MacBook model, which is expected to be announced this Wednesday. A regulatory document for a "MacBook Neo" (Model A3404) has appeared on Apple's website. Unfortunately, there are no further details or images available yet. While the PDF file does not contain the "MacBook Neo" name, it briefly appeared in a link...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils Two New Products

Monday March 2, 2026 7:49 am PST by
Apple today introduced two new devices, including the iPhone 17e and an updated iPad Air. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the ...
Apple iPhone 17e feature

Apple Announces iPhone 17e With A19 Chip, MagSafe, and More

Monday March 2, 2026 6:07 am PST by
Apple today announced the iPhone 17e, featuring the A19 chip, MagSafe connectivity, faster charging, and more. The iPhone 17e contains the A19 chip introduced in iPhone 17. It features a 6-core GPU and a 4-core GPU. Apple pointed out that this makes it up to 2x faster than the iPhone 11. The new 16-core Neural Engine is optimized for large generative models. The iPhone 17e also contains...

Top Rated Comments

70 months ago
this is great news - i hate it when the apps i want are sold out.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
70 months ago
Now Apple needs to allow trials.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
70 months ago
Am I the only one who had no idea that Apple has allowed apps to be pre-ordered for the last 3 years?

I don't think there's been a single article on MR about any app being available for pre-order, but maybe I just missed it.

Games are the only category where you'd want to have pre-orders, I think... but we're talking about iOS, AKA, a platform nobody waits years for games to come to it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
btrach144 Avatar
70 months ago

Serious question, why does that really matter to you?
Considering it's being discussed by US regulators, yes.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bLackjackj Avatar
70 months ago
Thank goodness,..no more waiting up at Midnight & lining up for Apps outside my local Apple Store!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solomani Avatar
70 months ago
Pre-orders are certainly a nice feature (essential in most online stores, actually).... but did Apple ever implement DISCOUNT CODES before paying (downloading) an app? In most online stores (e.g. Amazon) this is a big selling point and a big marketing advantage for third party merchants.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)