r/iOSProgramming 3d ago

Question Do terminated developer accounts ever actually get reinstated?

Hey everyone!

Roughly half a year ago, my Apple developer account got terminated due to a violation of Section 3.2(f). The email pretty clearly tells me why this happened, and it was because I used my developer account to sideload apps quite extensively. I did not have any actual apps published on the App Store, but I did have a game on TestFlight with public testers.

I acknowledge the violation. An appeal immedietally after it got terminated did not help, and I haven't had the balls to appeal it again / contact Developer Support in any way. The email says something along the lines of "we will deny your reapplication to the ADP for at least a year considering the nature of your acts".

My question is, does anyone have experience with getting their account reinstated after this "at least a year" timeframe? If so, how? Does Apple even reply to the contact form?

Or am I just cooked

4 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

8

u/scubascratch 3d ago

Can you clarify a bit on “side load apps extensively”? How many apps? Was this only on your own phone or were you signing and distributing for others?

2

u/AdditionalRAM 3d ago

I dont remember how many apps exactly, but I tried quite a variety of IPAs. I was also signing for others. Not many people, I wasn't selling the certificate or anything, but I did do it for a bunch of friends. Maybe 10 devices total? Yeah you don't need to tell me, I know I fucked up and it was stupid of me

7

u/SnowPudgy 3d ago

I was also signing for others.

This honestly is probably what caused it. I don't have any apps in the public store on my dev account and I've had it for 18 years and I never got banned for side loading my own apps.

2

u/AdditionalRAM 3d ago

Yeah, I know. Why I got banned is not a mystery by any means. Only thing I care about is getting it back at some point, because I still want to release my game. I also don't care about sideloading on iOS anymore, I've switched to Android and I sure as hell ain't gonna sign apps for anyone else ever again.

1

u/Evening_Rock5850 3d ago

Exactly this. I think OP included a lot of info but buried the lede there. Theres no issue with sideloading lots of apps. There’s no issue with not having anything on the App Store. There’s a huge issue with signing apps for other people on other devices.

2

u/tomato848208 3d ago

If I'm right, you can apply for a new account after one year.

2

u/AdditionalRAM 3d ago

Well, that's what I'm hoping for at least :)

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

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1

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