Launch your courses on your branded android or iOS apps with Knorish to offer the complete online learning experience to your learners. In this article, you’ll learn how to make your course available for users via deploying your own Android or iOS apps.

Important notes

• The Google Play Store and Apple App Store have specific guidelines for app launches. It is crucial to follow the provided instructions when submitting your app. Ensure that privacy policies, app reviewer credentials, and other checklist items (outlined on this page) remain accurate and accessible throughout the lifecycle of your Knorish mobile app.
• Before submitting your app details, please review them carefully as changes will not be possible once the app is live. Once you submit the app request, reach out to support@knorish.com for review and consideration. Google Play Store and Apple App Store require a one-time configuration for any new app going live. Any further updates in the app, whether for bug fixes or new features, will be automatically published to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
• If your Knorish plan has expired and you have a mobile app, you will need to resubmit the app request from the beginning. We recommend renewing your plan within the specified dunning period to avoid any disruptions.
• Currently, the release, updates, upgrades, and bug fixes for Knorish apps are fully automated through our build and release engines. This automation ensures a seamless and efficient process for all users. However, modifying the app name, icon, logo, or developer name requires rebuilding the app. Such changes can disrupt the automation process and impact the smooth functioning of our system. If these changes are necessary, a one-time fee may apply.
• Power Annual plan users can request the publication of mobile apps on their own Google Play Store and Apple App Store accounts. Users on different plans have the option to acquire an add-on service to have their app released on their personal Google Play Store and Apple App Store accounts. If you already have an app built by another developer or team, we can assist in updating it to transform it into your Knorish mobile app. If you need assistance with this, please don't hesitate to reach out to Knorish support by sending an email to support@knorish.com.
• If the app is suspended or blocked or removed by the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for any reason, we will be unable to publish it. In such cases, the only option available to you will be to purchase a recurring add-on for app publishing using your own Google Play Store or Apple App Store accounts. If you'd like to make a request, please send an email to support@knorish.com.
  
• Due to the volume of app requests being handled, currently it takes about 1-2 weeks to take your app live after the above details are furnished in full.

Prerequisites checklist

• The website design and content should be completed, and the site should be live.
• The home page of the website must be active and fully functional, with no placeholder sections or incomplete content.
• The domain must be connected and working properly. Test the domain to ensure there are no accessibility or loading issues.
• The privacy policy page must be published and accessible. Learn how to publish your privacy policy page here: https://knorishsupport.zohodesk.in/portal/en/kb/articles/how-to-add-a-privacy-policy-to-my-knorish-site
• The privacy policy should be on the default URL using the 'privacy-policy' slug. While the content can be customized, it must comply with standard policy requirements, including data security measures, cookies policy, user account deletion policy, and a statement on the app's purpose and how user data will be used.
• Update the privacy policy to reflect both website and mobile app usage and provide accurate, up-to-date information.
• The app icon should be uploaded under the 'App icon' section. The icon must be in PNG format with dimensions of 512x512 pixels, include a solid background color without gradient, avoid using text on the icon, and effectively represent the brand. Refer to branded apps like Airtel, LinkedIn, Facebook etc on the Play Store for design inspiration.
• The company logo must be uploaded to the app home screen section. Ensure the logo is high-quality, properly aligned, include a solid background color without gradient, avoid using text and reflects the brand identity.
• Assign a published course and bundle (without access expiry) to a sample user (aka app reviewer user) for Google Play Store or Apple App Store team review. Go to the "Users" tab in the admin dashboard, select a user, click on their name, navigate to settings, assign a course and bundle, set a password, and save the details. Use these credentials during app review submissions. Ensure the credentials remain consistent throughout the lifecycle of your mobile app, as the Google Play Store or Apple App Store team may use them at any time to verify app compliance.
• Consider creating a new course and a new bundle specifically for app reviews by Google Play Store and Apple App Store teams. Ensure all sections and chapters in the assigned course are properly named, avoiding placeholders such as "Untitled Chapter" or similar labels.
• Do not use promotional thumbnails on course images. Use a professional, high-quality image relevant to the course or the default thumbnails provided in the dashboard.
• Videos uploaded inside the assigned course must be uploaded video. Avoid embedding videos from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, and ensure the content does not include any promotional or course-selling material.
• Write a short and long description for the app that clearly explains its purpose. Ensure the descriptions meet the standards set by other apps available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The short and long descriptions should highlight the app's value to encourage users to download it. However, including inappropriate or misleading details could result in the app being permanently suspended if published against the guidelines.
• If the Spotlight feature is not in use, remove it or if the Spotlight feature is enabled, ensure the buttons and links within it are actionable and properly connected. Test them to confirm they redirect to the correct pages or content.

Details to be submitted for your Android/iOS App

Only once the above prerequisites are met, please visit your Dashboard> Settings> App Builder> App settings (Android) & (Apple) as applicable in your subscription.

For an Android app, update the following information:

• App Name (30 characters)
• Email
• Privacy Policy Page URL
• Website URL
• App Short Description (80 characters):
• Description (4000 characters)
• Android/ iOS App Icons
• Splash screen and logo background color
• Android App Icon (consider using icon without text - PNG | 512*512 pixels | 1024KB max size)

For an iOS app, update the following information:

• Subtitle (30 characters)
• Promotional text (170 characters)
• Support URL
• Marketing URL
• iOS App Icon (consider using icon without text - PNG | 512*512 pixels | 1024KB max size)

Once everything is done, please send an email to support@knorish.com to process the app request.

App Preview

You can also switch to the App Preview tab under App Builder and catch a glimpse of how the app icon/logo appears on different screens i.e. on the device, splash and Home screen.

App theme personalization

You can customize the theme for your user’s delightful experience as per your brand colors. Read here how :  https://support.knorish.com/user-theme

Request for getting Google Play Store or Apple App Store access

The apps are launched and the architecture is maintained by Knorish. However, to get access to respond to reviews, update information and make changes to the content listed on the stores, we would require a gmail email id for Google Play Store account access and Apple ID enabled email for Apple App Store account access. If you'd like to make a request, please send an email to support@knorish.com.

Request for publishing the app under your account

If you are on the Power Annual Plan or have purchased an store publishing add-on, you can request the publication of mobile apps on your own Play Store (Android) and App Store(iOS) accounts, ensuring that they are listed under your brand name.

To publish apps under your own account, you need to purchase a DUNS number (available at https://www.dnb.co.in/) and pay the associated fees for either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store or both.

For iOS apps, you may be required to subscribe to the Apple Developer Program, which costs 99 USD per year. For more details, please refer to the documentation at https://developer.apple.com/support/enrollment/.

For the Google Play Store, you may be required to pay a one-time 25 USD fee.

If you'd like to make a request, please send an email to support@knorish.com.

Important considerations

• To test the Android/iOS app, search for the "Knorish Academy App" on the Play Store/App Store and install it. You can use the credentials Email: AppReviewer@knorish.training, Password: hellodemo to experience the app.
• Your app will reflect the design of the above app, including your brand and logo. Currently, further customization options are not available. However, you can manage the content within the app and access real-time dynamic data.
• Slider images can be changed at any time (real-time basis); however, they should reflect the purpose of the app and not create confusion for users. Otherwise, the Play Store or App Store may reject the app.
• Changes to the app, including the name, brand icons, etc., require rebuilding the app, and such requests may incur a one-time applicable fee. The changes may take approximately 1-2 weeks to be released. If you'd like to make a request, please send an email to support@knorish.com.
• In-app purchases are charged a 15 - 30% commission by the stores. Refer: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10281818?hl=en
• All published courses and bundles will be visible on Android apps (if selected to be displayed on the app). On the Android app, clicking the 'Learn More' button will launch a browser and direct learners to the specific course page, where users can purchase the product. However, the iOS app will be for content consumption only (new users cannot sign up) due to restrictions on launching external browsers, in-app purchases, and signup form fields. Additionally, iOS policies are complex to align with dynamic signup forms. We recommend downloading the iOS sample app 'Knorish Academy App' and giving it a try.
• The 'Learn More' buttons on the course and bundles tab will redirect to the respective course/bundle landing page. Hence, ensure the landing page of the course/bundle is created. Else, the 'Learn More' buttons will redirect the user(s) to the homepage.
• The browse-for-free option is currently available on the Android app only.
• If the user is logged into the Android app, clicking the 'Learn More' button will launch the browser and automatically log in the same user.