> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.encorekit.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# App Store Subscription Product

> Connect your App Store Connect catalog and pick, or create, the subscription product Encore offers.

## Overview

When a user accepts an offer, Encore starts a real App Store subscription purchase of the product you configure here, and the App Store owns entitlement state from then on. This page is the store-console half of that setup: connect your App Store Connect catalog so Encore can auto-sync your subscriptions, then pick the product from a dropdown (or let Encore create one for you).

<Info>
  Connect your App Store Connect API key once, then pick your subscription from the auto-synced list. Manual Product ID entry remains available as a fallback if you don't connect a credential.
</Info>

***

## Connect your App Store Connect catalog (recommended)

Encore reads your subscription catalog and pricing through an **App Store Connect API key**. Generating the key takes three values: a **Key ID**, an **Issuer ID**, and a **.p8** private key file. You upload them in the **Entitlements** phase of the [Integration Progress](/quickstart#integration-progress) tracker (the step labelled **Connect store**).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Link your App Store ID first">
    Encore needs your app's numeric **App Store ID** before it will accept a credential. If you added your app by pasting its App Store URL during onboarding, this is already set. Otherwise, paste your App Store URL (e.g. `https://apps.apple.com/us/app/.../id123456789`) or the numeric ID when prompted.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate an API key in App Store Connect">
    Go to [App Store Connect → Users and Access → Integrations](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/access/users) and generate a new API key.

    Select the **App Manager** role with **single-app scope**, limited to the one app you're connecting. Encore only needs to read and manage that app's subscription catalog, so don't grant broader access than necessary.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy the Key ID and Issuer ID">
    After generating the key, copy:

    * The **Key ID**: a 10-character identifier (e.g. `ABCD1234EF`).
    * The **Issuer ID**: a UUID shown at the top of the Integrations page (e.g. `69a6de70-...`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download the .p8 file">
    Download the **.p8** private key file. Apple lets you download it **only once**, so store it securely.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload to Encore">
    In your app's **Entitlements** step, enter the **Key ID** and **Issuer ID**, choose the **.p8** file, and click **Upload and verify**. Encore verifies the key with Apple, then pulls your subscription catalog automatically and shows how many subscriptions and promotional offers it found. You can re-run the sync anytime with **Sync now**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick your subscription product">
    Once the catalog syncs, the **Subscription product** section shows a picker. Choose the product that gates entitlements. Encore reads its price and intro-offer details automatically, so there's nothing else to type.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Don't have a product yet? Let Encore create one">
    If you don't already have a suitable subscription, Encore can pre-fill a recommended annual product (priced from your existing catalog, with a free trial) and **create it in App Store Connect for you**. Review the auto-filled fields, confirm, and Encore writes the product as a draft.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Newly created products land in your App Store Connect catalog as a **draft**. Review the auto-filled display name, price tier, and introductory offer, then promote to **ACTIVE** before users can purchase.
</Note>

***

## Manual Product ID entry (fallback)

If you haven't connected a store credential, you can still enter a Product ID by hand. Create the subscription yourself in App Store Connect, then enter its ID in the Encore Dashboard.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create the subscription in App Store Connect">
    Go to [appstoreconnect.apple.com](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com) → **Your App → Subscriptions**.

    | Field                     | Value                                |
    | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
    | **Product Type**          | Auto-renewable subscription          |
    | **Reference Name**        | Encore Annual 1 Month Trial          |
    | **Subscription Duration** | 1 Year                               |
    | **Introductory Offer**    | Free Trial, 1 Month                  |
    | **Product ID**            | `com.yourapp.encore.annual.1m.trial` |

    Create a subscription group if you don't have one, add the subscription, set its duration and availability, then add a **Free** introductory offer. Save and submit for review.

    <Tip>
      Subscriptions can be approved independently of app updates.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the Product ID in Encore">
    In your app's **Entitlements** step, type the **Product ID** (e.g. `com.yourapp.encore.annual.1m.trial`) into the fallback input and save.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## How Encore stores your credential

<Note>
  Uploaded credentials are **encrypted at rest**. The **.p8** is encrypted with a domain-separated master key and is only ever decrypted inside Encore's credential-accessor, used to refresh your catalog and to create products you explicitly ask for. You can **remove** the credential at any time from the same Entitlements step.

  This catalog credential is **separate** from the In-App Purchase signing key used for [promotional offers](/publishers/ios/platform-setup/create-promotional-offer): the catalog key never signs offers.
</Note>

***

## Next step

<Card title="App Store Server Notifications" icon="bell" href="/publishers/ios/platform-setup/server-notifications">
  Forward Apple's subscription lifecycle events to Encore so your dashboard can measure offer impact.
</Card>