Distribution options

You select various distribution options when you export your app depending on the distribution method you choose, the platform, the capabilities you enable, and other features you use.

Ad Hoc, Enterprise, and Development options

Option				Description
iCloud Environment				If the app uses iCloud Documents or CloudKit, choose either the Development or Production environment. If you choose Production, the app accesses the same environment as the version of your app sold on the App Store.
App Thinning				Choose whether to create one or more variants of the app for specific devices. None: Create a single app that runs on all supported devices, called the universal variant. All compatible device variants: Create variants for all compatible devices, and a universal variant. A specific device: Create variants for the selected device. To learn more, go to What is app thinning? (iOS, tvOS, watchOS).
On-Demand Resources				Choose how to handle on-demand resources: Embed in App: Places all the on-demand resources in the app bundle. Host on Server: You expect to host the on-demand resources yourself. If you choose this option, enter the URL for your server.
Rebuild from Bitcode				Creates the app from bitcode similar to how the App Store will create builds from bitcode.
Include manifest for over-the-air installation				If you want to host the resources yourself when distributing your app outside the App Store, select this option to include a manifest file.

Swift options

Option				Description
Strip Swift symbols				Reduces the app size by stripping symbols from the Swift standard libraries.

App Store options

Option	Description
Include bitcode for iOS content	Includes bitcode which allows the App Store to compile your app optimized for the target devices and operating system versions, and may recompile it later to take advantage of specific hardware, software, or compiler changes. This option appears for iOS targets only. tvOS and watchOS apps automatically include bitcode.
Upload your app’s symbols to receive symbolicated reports from Apple	Allows Apple to symbolicate crash logs and provide other diagnostic information. The symbol information is extracted from the debugging symbols (dSYM files) including in the archive, and is limited to function and methods (including inline functions), names and paths of source code files (for navigation), and line number information (for navigation).

Option

Description

Include bitcode for iOS content

Includes bitcode which allows the App Store to compile your app optimized for the target devices and operating system versions, and may recompile it later to take advantage of specific hardware, software, or compiler changes.

This option appears for iOS targets only. tvOS and watchOS apps automatically include bitcode.

Upload your app’s symbols to receive symbolicated reports from Apple

Allows Apple to symbolicate crash logs and provide other diagnostic information. The symbol information is extracted from the debugging symbols (dSYM files) including in the archive, and is limited to function and methods (including inline functions), names and paths of source code files (for navigation), and line number information (for navigation).