When searching through the Apple App Store you may stumble across a litany of apps the developer may not want visible to the general public.

These apps could likely be unlisted so they don’t clog up search results and that appears to be what Apple intends to do by allowing developers to unlist their apps.

As reported by MacRumors, Apple has outlined the procedure for distributing an unlisted app on its platform. Why would you want an app unlisted? In the case of a business, a company could want its customer relations management software available via the Apple App Store but may not necessarily want the general public to download it.

“Unlisted apps don’t appear in any App Store categories, recommendations, charts, search results, or other listings. They can also be accessed through Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager. Apps for specific organisations, special events, or research studies, or apps used as employee resources or sales tools are good candidates for unlisted distribution,” Apple explains on its developer website.

Developers will need to submit a request to have their app unlisted and even if the app is already approved for private download devs will need to create a new app record in App Store Connect.

Curiously, Apple says that the URL to the app will remain the same if the app was previously available on the app store. You will of course have to share that URL with anybody you want to be able to download your app once it has been unlisted.

While not groundbreaking, this is rather useful information for app devs and more information can be found here.