What app maintenance services cover
App maintenance is the work that keeps a published app running and accepted by Apple. It covers platform updates, fixes, security and small improvements.
At Carvalho Karsten, the monthly scope can include:
- testing the app on each new iOS and macOS beta and release;
- rebuilding the app with the Xcode version Apple requires;
- fixing crashes and bugs that users report;
- updating third-party SDKs and their privacy manifests;
- keeping privacy details, account deletion and the store listing in line with the guidelines;
- small new features from a list you prioritize.
Why apps need maintenance every year
Apple releases a new major version of iOS and macOS every year. Screens, permissions and system behavior change, and an app that worked last year can break.
Apple also raises the minimum tools for new uploads. Since April 28, 2026, apps uploaded to App Store Connect must be built with Xcode 26 or later, using the iOS 26 SDK. An app that sits for a year may need project updates before you can ship even a one-line fix.
Third-party code adds its own deadlines. Since May 2024, apps must declare approved reasons for certain system APIs in a privacy manifest, and listed third-party SDKs must include their own manifests.
What happens without maintenance
An app without maintenance does not fail all at once. It slips, one release at a time.
| Without maintenance | What you see |
|---|---|
| No testing on the new iOS | Layout breaks or crashes after users update their iPhones |
| Outdated Xcode project | You can’t upload a fix when you need one |
| Old SDKs | Upload warnings, security issues, broken logins or payments |
| Expired TestFlight builds | Testers lose access after 90 days |
| Lapsed developer membership | You can’t submit updates and the app stops being available |
A small update every few months costs less than a rescue after a year without changes.
How a maintenance plan works
The plan starts with a review and turns into a monthly routine.
- Code and account review. The team checks the code, the libraries, the backend connections and the App Store Connect account.
- List of risks. You get a written list of what could break, ordered by urgency.
- Monthly scope. You agree on the hours and the tasks for each month.
- Release cycle. Each update goes to TestFlight first, so you test it on your own device before it reaches the App Store.
- Annual iOS update. Each year, the team tests the app on Apple’s new betas and prepares the update before the public release.
Price after review. The monthly price depends on the size of the app, its integrations and how often it changes. The review shows it before any work starts.
Maintenance for apps you did not build with Carvalho Karsten
Many apps lose their developer after launch. Carvalho Karsten takes over native iPhone and Mac apps written in Swift, including apps started with AI tools such as Cursor.
The first step is a code review. It shows what can stay, what needs an update and whether any part should be rewritten. If the app came from an AI tool, the page on AI-built apps on the App Store explains the usual gaps.
Fixes after an App Store rejection
Maintenance updates go through App Review like any other submission. If Apple rejects an update, the team reads the message, fixes the issue and replies in App Store Connect.
For bug-fix updates, Apple may let you resolve new issues in the next submission, as long as there are no legal or safety concerns. The App Store rejection guide covers replies and appeals.
Who maintains your app
Gustavo Henrique Karsten, CTO of Carvalho Karsten, is an engineer with more than 20 years in technology. He leads the code of every app the studio builds and maintains.
The team builds its own Mac apps in Swift and SwiftUI, and Devbelt passed Apple’s App Store review. The same routine of TestFlight builds and written change notes applies to your app.
What Carvalho Karsten does for your app
Send the App Store link or the repository of your app. Carvalho Karsten replies with what the code review covers and when it can start.
If you are still planning the app, see how iOS and Mac app development works and what app development costs, including the recurring costs.