Change name of app

Question

I created an app id, I then registered that app id at iTunes, I then created the app, and have just been sent an email telling me the app has been approved.

I go to the app store to see if it's available and what do I find? an app with the same name already there! I thought this wasn't possible!!

What can I do? I don't want to delete my app and re-submit the app with a different name all over again (another 10 days of waiting) but I don't see how I can allow my app to be available for sale it there's an app on the app store with the exact same name! (how is this even possible?I thought when it was registered it would stop me from using that name if it was already on the app store??).

I need to change the name, can I do that without resubmitting?

I've been told to change the names (including bundle name) in the plist file in xcode and do an update, but how's that going to be a good thing? as then the bundle name will be different to the one that was registered on ITC, and even if I do do that, don't I have to register a new App ID on the developer portal? (which will then again be different to the one that I first set the app up with on ITC...)

Thanks for all the info so far everyone. I see that I can do an update and change the name, but will that also change the original App store name as well? (www.appstore.com/appname ?)

For anyone that's interested changing the name of your app via an update is a waste of time because the original app store URL stays the same, as described here

Will changing the product name cause problem?

So completely new build/bundle ID it is then.

Answer 1

Short answer : no, you can't change your app's name without re-submitting. You can change it when you set up an update in iTunes Connect, until your app goes in approval.

As Apple says :

Changing the Name of Your App. You can change the name of your existing app only when submitting an update of your app binary. If you submit an app name which is already in use within the same geography in which your app is sold, you will be prompted to enter another name.

Reaction to your edit : no need to change anything in Xcode. All you have to do is set a new name when submitting an update on iTunes Connect. What you can set in Xcode is the name appearing on the springboard. The name appearing in the AppStore is set in iTunes Connect.

In conclusion, setup iTunes Connect for an update, and change the app's name there.

Answer 2

No, you can't change your apps name without resubmitting. At least not without submitting an update.

You can change the name of the app every time you release a new update.

The information can get changed by clicking on "Metadata and Uploads" -> "Edit" on the version details page after creating a new version.

Answer 3

It is not possible to change the App Name when it is being submitted. The best way is to rename the app in the Next Version Release.

You don't require to do anything with your Xcode Project.