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Create an App Store Connect API key

You need a key only to read your hidden keyword field, fill new versions and read your search funnel. Research and tracking work without one.

Which role to pick

Role Lets VisualASO
App Manager Read your keyword fields and fill a new version. Enough for most people.
Admin All of the above, and turn on Apple's analytics reports once so VisualASO can show impressions, page views and downloads by source.

Apple lets only someone with the Admin role create team keys. If that is not you, send this page to your Admin.

Create the key

  1. Sign in to App Store Connect. Select Users and Access, then the Integrations tab.
  2. Select App Store Connect API in the left column and make sure Team Keys is selected.
  3. Click Generate API Key (or the + button). Name it “VisualASO”, choose the role under Access, and click Generate.
  4. Click Download API Key next to the new key. Apple lets you download the .p8 file once and keeps no copy. Copy the Issuer ID (top of the page) and the Key ID (in the key's row).
App Store Connect (simplified)
PeopleSandboxIntegrations
Issuer ID69a6de7e-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-5bc37c11a4d1
VisualASO · App ManagerKey ID 2X9R4HTXXX
Download API Key

A drawing, not Apple's screen. Menu names checked against Apple's documentation on 2026-10-27.

Add it to VisualASO

  1. Open VisualASO → Settings (⌘,) → App Store Connect.
  2. Paste the Issuer ID and the Key ID, press Choose .p8 to pick the file, then press Connect. The private key goes to your macOS Keychain; you can delete the .p8 file afterwards if you keep a safe copy elsewhere.
  3. Press Test on the new key to see which apps it can read, and Add every app this key sees to track them.

Good to know

  • The key is sent only to Apple, to sign requests. It is never written to VisualASO's database or log.
  • VisualASO writes to App Store Connect only when you press Create version, after a sheet that lists every change. It never submits a version for review.
  • To stop VisualASO using a key, remove it in Settings, or revoke it in App Store Connect.

Something unclear or out of date? Write to hello@musthaveappscorp.com.