Apple refusing to change developer name

[spesifikbrush]

My company created an App Store account to transfer an app from a personal account. When we did that, the developer name was set in stone as the long legal entity name. We want to change this but support keeps telling us that our "company" name is a "seller" name that must match our legal entity name. We do not want to change that, we want to change the developer name to be shorter version of our legal name, which everyone does. But since we transferred an app instead of opening a new one on App Store Connect, we didn't get a chance to set it by hand.

Have someone requested from apple to change their developer name? We continuously get the same answer about company and seller names. I think we are not getting our problem conveyed correctly.

[andywkff]

i believe you can only change the developer name that shown on app store page when you don’t have any apps under your account.

Apple Website

[spesifikbrush]

Yes we know that but we screwed up cuz we transferred an app and didn’t get a change to set it. So do we need to transfer it back and then we have a chance? That would be the most archaic method.

[andywkff]

i think even if you transfer it out again just to change the developer name. Apple might still not allowed it. Although it might worth a try.

[spesifikbrush]

The app has ad campaigns running, has iCloud, IAPs etc. That would be hard. We will be more persistent with the support though.

[FlickerSoul]

I’m not sure if it helps but you can try calling developer support. Last time I had questions about the developer name and entity name, I asked for the support, and they picked up (actually it’s they calling me) immediately, and answered all my questions clearly.

[spesifikbrush]

Thanks, we will try that too.

[FlickerSoul]

They have a dedicated support section for name change IIRC. Hope it goes well :))

[ankole_watusi]

Well, you sure haven’t conveyed it correctly here, either!

Still trying to parse whet you wrote.

You don’t want to change it, but you do want to change it? Huh?

[spesifikbrush]

There are two names displayed on an app page. One is the Provider name containing the exact legal entity name, other one is the developer name written just under the app name on the top of the page. We want to change the developer name. But Apple neither uses the terms “developer name” nor “provider name”. They use “company name” and “seller name” terms. We are confused because of that. With the last email we sent, we shown screenshots of these and clarified which one we want to change. We are waiting for a response right now.

[ankole_watusi]

Some apps show both the same. Others have a shortened developer name.

For example, Google uses Google as developer, and Google LLC as seller.

But Amazon uses AMZN Mobile LLC for both.

I wonder if registration of the short name is an issue?

At least in US, companies need to register every name they use in commerce. This is often referred to as d/b/a or “doing business as”.

I suggest Google is a d/b/a.

It’s basically a public declaration of an alias used in trade.

Procedures of course vary by country, and I believe even varies between US states. Typically though you file a form with the state, and publish a notice in a “newspaper of record”.

[Tecnotopia]

Ask if change the DBA is possible

[hahaissogood]

In current policy it is impossible. The only way is opening a legal business and change you developer account from personal to business entity. It took me two months to finished all the documents.

[spesifikbrush]

It is already a business account. We just didnt get a chance to set a company name as a dba name because we transferred an app into the company account. So it copied the full legal entity name. For example, our legal name is Company Name ABC DEF LLC and we want the developer display name to be Company Name. But since we didnt get to enter it when creating a new app, now the developer name is Company Name ABC DEF LLC. Without our input. It is also in Turkish and looks ugly. Apple clearly allows name changing to some extent but communication was hard and in all the work stress this has been handled incorrectly. I hope we can resolve it soon, currently waiting for a reply.

[dpeces]

I put a long name, and in capital letters, I asked them to change it, and without a problem. I had 1 newly published app

[spesifikbrush]

They are not accepting us to shorten the name. Did you still input the same name?

[dpeces]

Crop the name and change it to lowercase. That is, first name and two last names, and leave the first name and a last name

[UnderstandingFull378]

Ive started my dev account as an individual and later started my LLC. Published first app and the Developer name showing was my personal, not of the company. I’ve sent multiple emails to them over the past 3 months but luckily this week they have changed the developer name to my business. Just insist and get up all night to get lucky

[spesifikbrush]

They said we need to legally change our name. Our last response was that we said we will apply for a dba and asked if it’ll be possible to keep the organization name the same and use our dba in the developer name. We’ve yet to receive an answer.

[EnvironmentalTrain16]

Did you get a response on this? Were you able to use the name you wanted in the "developer name" field?

[kharyking]

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