How to Renew Your Apple Developer Account Membership

Have you received that email from Apple reminding you about your developer account renewal? If you're like most iOS developers, this annual task is one you can't afford to miss. Keeping your Apple Developer membership active ensures your apps remain available to users worldwide and maintains your access to critical development tools and resources.

Let's walk through everything you need to know about renewing your Apple Developer Account, what happens if you miss the deadline, and how to manage your membership effectively.

Option 1: Set Up Automatic Renewal

If you enrolled on the web, setting up automatic renewal is the most convenient way to maintain your membership:

1. Sign in to your Apple Developer account as the account holder

2. Select "Membership details" 
   

3. Toggle on the "Auto-renew" option

With automatic renewal enabled, Apple will charge the default credit or debit card associated with your Apple ID on your expiration date. No further action is required from you to maintain your membership.

Note: Automatic renewal isn't available in all regions, so check if this option appears in your account.

Option 2: Renew Manually

If you prefer to renew manually or automatic renewal isn't available in your region:

1. Sign in to your Apple Developer account as the account holder

2. Look for your expiration date in your account dashboard

3. Click the "Renew Membership" button (becomes available 30 days before expiration)

4. Follow the payment instructions to complete the process

You can renew manually anytime within 30 days before your expiration date or even after it expires. If your membership is still active when you renew, your new membership period will begin as soon as your current one ends.

What Happens When Apple Membership Expires?

Missing your renewal deadline can have immediate consequences for your business. Your apps will no longer be available for download on the App Store, which means potential customers can't find or purchase them. Existing users who already have your apps installed can continue to use them, but they won't receive any updates you release after expiration.

You'll also lose the ability to submit new apps or updates to existing ones. This severely limits your capacity to improve your products or respond to user feedback and bug reports. Access to beta versions of iOS, macOS, and other Apple operating systems will be restricted, leaving you unable to test compatibility with upcoming software releases.

The good news is that once you renew your expired membership, Apple will automatically restore your apps to the App Store within a few hours. However, this gap in availability could impact user trust and potentially harm your revenue stream. To maintain a professional presence and continuous service to your users, it's always best to renew before the expiration date arrives.

What is the Annual Fee for Apple Developer Account?

The standard Apple Developer Program membership fee is $99 per year. However, certain organizations may be eligible for a fee waiver. To qualify, the organization must be a nonprofit organization, an accredited educational institution, or a government entity. Additional requirements and details on the application process can be found here.

If your membership fee was previously waived due to nonprofit status, you won't be charged for renewal. 

How Do I Update my Apple Developer Account?

Keeping your developer account information current is just as important as renewing your membership. Here's how to update your account details:

1. Sign in to your Apple Developer account

2. Select "Membership details" to review your current information
   

3. Click "Update your information" and provide the updated information.

How Do I Disable Apple Developer Auto-Renewal?

If You Enrolled via the Apple Developer Website:

1. Visit the Apple Developer Account page and log in as the account holder

2. Select "Membership details"

3. Under "Membership details," locate the "Auto-Renewal" option. If auto-renewal is enabled, you'll see a checkbox indicating this status.

4. Uncheck the "Auto-Renewal" box to turn off automatic renewal.

If You Enrolled via the Apple Developer App:

1. Open Settings: On your iOS device, open the Settings app.

2. Access Subscriptions: Tap on your name at the top to access Apple ID settings, then select "Subscriptions."

3. Locate Subscription: Find and tap on the "Apple Developer Program" subscription.

4. Cancel Subscription: Tap "Cancel Subscription" to disable auto-renewal. Your membership will remain active until the current expiration date.
   
   

If you cancel your subscription, you can resubscribe at any time for up to one year after your membership expiration date. 

For more detailed information, refer to Apple's official Program Renewal Support Page.