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AppReply connects to App Store Connect through Apple’s official API to read and reply to your app’s reviews. This integration requires an Individual API key with Customer Support permissions.

Prerequisites

AppReply only supports Individual API keys. Team API keys are not supported.
Before you begin, ensure you have:
  • Access to App Store Connect
  • A user with Customer Support role and permission to generate Individual API keys
  • Your app published on the Apple App Store

Integration overview

AppReply exclusively uses the Individual API key authentication method, which provides:
  • Improved security through limited access permissions
  • Access to only app ratings and reviews functionality
  • No exposure of broader admin privileges

Step-by-step integration

1

Configure Customer Support user

For an existing Customer Support user

If you have an existing Customer Support user without API key access:
  1. Go to the “Users & Access” page
The Users & Access page in App Store Connect
  1. Select the “People” tab
The People tab listing App Store Connect users and their roles
  1. Click on the email address of the Customer Support user
  2. Check the “Generate Individual API Keys” box
  3. Click “Save” in the top right corner

For a new Customer Support user

If you need to create a new Customer Support user:
  1. Go to the “Users & Access” page, then select the “People” tab
  2. Click the ”+” button
    Adding a new user in App Store Connect, with the Customer Support role and Individual API Key access selected
  3. Enter the First and Last Name and email address
  4. Under Roles, check “Customer Support”
  5. Under “Additional Resources” select “Generate Individual API Keys”
  6. Click “Next”
The new user will receive an email invitation to create an account. Once they’ve created their account, they’ll be able to generate an individual API key.
2

Generate the Individual API Key

Once your Customer Support user has API key permissions:
  1. Log in to App Store Connect as that user
  2. Click your username in the top right, then click “Edit Profile”
  3. Under “Individual API Key”, click “Generate Key”
  4. Make note of the “Key ID” (you’ll need this for AppReply)
  5. Click “Download API Key” to download the .p8 file
    • Important: This file can only be downloaded once
    • Store it securely; if lost, you’ll need to revoke and generate a new key
3

Complete integration in AppReply

  1. Log in to AppReply
  2. Go to “Applications”
  3. Click the three dots (⋮) next to your app and select “Integrate”
  4. Enter the Key ID you copied earlier
  5. Upload the .p8 file you downloaded
  6. Click Verify and connect

Verification

After completing the integration, AppReply will:
  1. Verify your API key credentials
  2. Test the connection to App Store Connect
  3. Begin syncing your reviews (usually within 5-15 minutes)

Connect your other apps in one step

This step is rolling out and may not appear in your workspace yet. Until it does, connect each App Store app on its own with the same key.
An App Store Connect key works for every app its user can manage. So after your first App Store app connects, AppReply asks Apple which other apps the same key can see and checks that it can read and answer each one’s reviews. Apps that are not released yet are listed too.
  1. Tick the apps you want and click Add and connect. AppReply adds the new ones, connects each with the same key, and confirms review access. No second upload is needed.
  2. An app marked No access is visible to the key but its user lacks the Customer Support role for it. Grant the role in App Store Connect, then open the list again.
You can open the same list later from the three dots on any connected App Store app: Find more apps this key can manage.

Connecting an app that is already in your workspace

When you click Integrate on an App Store app that is not connected yet, AppReply first checks whether a key you already use on another app can manage it. If it can, you choose between using that key and uploading a different one. Like the step above, this choice is rolling out and may not appear in your workspace yet.
The connect dialog offering the key another app already uses, or uploading a different key
Things to know:
  • Trial workspaces can hold a limited number of apps. AppReply adds as many as fit and tells you which ones were left out.
  • Disconnecting one app does not affect the others that share the key.
  • Replacing the key on one app does not update the others. Reconnect each app you want to move.
  • An app without a public App Store page shows a letter in place of its icon.

Understanding permissions

The Customer Support role with an Individual API Key provides AppReply with access to:
  • Read app ratings and reviews
  • Reply to customer reviews
This limits access to only what’s necessary for the review management functionality, maintaining the security of your App Store Connect account. AppReply supports only Individual API keys, not Team API keys, which grant broader administrative access than review management needs.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:
  • API not approved: Ensure Apple has approved API access for your account
  • Permission errors: Verify the user has Customer Support role with API key generation enabled
  • Invalid key: Make sure you’ve entered the correct Key ID and uploaded the proper .p8 file
  • Lost key file: The .p8 file can only be downloaded once; if lost, you’ll need to revoke and generate a new key
  • Using team key: AppReply only supports Individual API keys. Team API keys will not work.

API key limitations

  • Each user can only have one active API key at a time
  • If you need to generate a new key, you must first revoke the existing one
  • API keys cannot be edited after creation (name or access level)

Security notes

  • Store your .p8 file securely
  • Immediately revoke any compromised or lost API keys
  • Use only the minimum required permissions (Customer Support role)
  • Consider creating a dedicated user for the AppReply integration

Getting support

  • Click on the chat bubble in the bottom right corner of your dashboard
  • Email: help@appreply.co
  • Response time: usually within 24 hours during business hours
  • Include screenshots of your App Store Connect settings for faster assistance