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Creating a Sandbox Apple Account

Set up an Apple Sandbox tester account so you can exercise Koard payment flows safely without charging real cards.

What You Learn

In this guide, you'll learn how to:

  • Create and manage Sandbox tester accounts in App Store Connect
  • Enable Developer Mode so your test devices can run Sandbox builds
  • Sign in to a dedicated test iPhone with the Sandbox Apple ID
  • Reset test data between sessions
Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • Apple Developer role access (Account Holder, Admin, App Manager, or Developer) in App Store Connect
  • Unique email addresses for every Sandbox tester you plan to create
  • A dedicated test iPhone running iOS 17 or later with Developer Mode enabled

Important: Always sign in to your Sandbox tester account on a dedicated test device. Production Apple IDs cannot make Sandbox purchases, and mixing test and production accounts on the same hardware regularly causes authentication issues.

Step 1: Enable Developer Mode on Your Test Device

  1. Connect the iPhone to your Mac and open Xcode.
  2. From the menubar, choose Window → Devices and Simulators.
  3. Select your device, then click Enable Developer Mode.
  4. Follow the on-device prompts to reboot and confirm Developer Mode.

Why this matters: Developer Mode is required before a physical device can run apps signed with a development profile or interact with Sandbox services.

Step 2: Create a Sandbox Tester in App Store Connect

  1. Sign in to App Store Connect.
  2. Navigate to Users and Access → Sandbox → Test Accounts.
  3. Click the Add button (+) and fill in the tester’s first and last name.
  4. Provide an email address that has never been used for an Apple ID purchase. Email subaddressing (tester+us@example.com) works well when supported by your provider.
    Apple will send all test purchase receipts and account notices to this address.
  5. Choose a strong password that meets Apple’s complexity requirements.
  6. Select the App Store country or region you want to test against.
  7. Click Create to save the tester.

Apple allows up to 10,000 Sandbox testers per team, so create regional variants as needed for localization or tax testing. Source.

Step 3: Sign In on the Test iPhone

  1. On the dedicated test device, open Settings → App Store.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sandbox Account.
  3. Sign in with the newly created Sandbox Apple ID.
  4. Confirm the Sandbox indicator appears when making in-app purchases.

When prompted inside the Koard demo app or your integration, always use the Sandbox credentials you signed into Settings with—never production Apple IDs.

Step 4: Reset or Remove Sandbox Testers

If you encounter inconsistent billing states or need a clean slate:

  • In App Store Connect, open the tester record and click Reset to clear purchase history.
  • To delete a tester, select it in the Sandbox list and choose Delete Account. You must remove the tester from any Sandbox Test Families first.
  • After deletion, the associated email can be re-used for a brand-new tester if necessary.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Purchase dialogs ask for payment details: Verify you’re signed in with the Sandbox account under Settings → App Store → Sandbox Account.
  • Device won’t install development build: Confirm Developer Mode is enabled and your provisioning profile includes the test device UDID.
  • Sandbox credential lockouts: Apple temporarily locks accounts after multiple bad password attempts. Wait 30 minutes before trying again, or delete and recreate the tester.
  • Test receipts missing: Check the tester’s email inbox (including spam) for Sandbox receipts, or reset the tester record and attempt the purchase again.

Next Steps