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

M3 iPad Air

Apple's Next Two Products Are Coming Soon

Thursday February 12, 2026 11:17 am PST by
Apple plans to release an iPhone 17e and an iPad Air with an M4 chip "in the coming weeks," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple retail employees say that inventory of the iPhone 16e has basically dried out and the iPad Air is seeing shortages as well," said Gurman. "I've been expecting new versions of both (iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air) in the coming weeks."...
Apple Sales Coach App

Apple Launching New 'Sales Coach' App

Friday February 13, 2026 2:01 pm PST by
Apple plans to launch a rebranded "Sales Coach" app on the iPhone and iPad later this month, according to a source familiar with the matter. "Sales Coach" will arrive as an update to Apple's existing "SEED" app, and it will continue to provide sales tips and training resources to Apple Store and Apple Authorized Reseller employees around the world. For example, there are articles and videos...
m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock

Five iPhone 18 Pro Features Revealed in New Report

Friday February 13, 2026 8:43 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still seven months away, an analyst has revealed five new features the devices will allegedly have. Rumored color options for the iPhone 18 Pro models In a research note with investment firm GF Securities on Thursday, analyst Jeff Pu outlined the following upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro models: Smaller Dynamic Island: It has been rumored...
macbook air prime day 2025

M5 MacBook Air: Release Date, Features, and Performance Predictions

Wednesday February 11, 2026 3:36 am PST by
The MacBook Air is Apple's most popular laptop – a thin, fanless machine that wields quiet power thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon. While the M4 model isn't exactly old, attention is already turning to its successor. Apple doesn't telegraph new product launches ahead of time, but we can draw a surprisingly clear picture of what to expect by looking at Apple's silicon roadmap,...

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)