Overview
Apple TV subscriptions are managed in App Store Connect, the same platform used for iOS. You create an auto-renewable subscription under your tvOS app, then paste the Product ID into the Strimm dashboard. This guide walks through the full setup and how to test before going live.
Step 1 — Create a subscription in App Store Connect
1.1 Sign in to App Store Connect
Go to appstoreconnect.apple.com and sign in with your Apple Developer account.
1.2 Open your Apple TV app
In the main menu, click Apps, then select your Apple TV (tvOS) app.
1.3 Go to Subscriptions
In the left sidebar, under Monetization, click Subscriptions.
1.4 Create a Subscription Group
If this is your first subscription, click Create next to Subscription Groups. Enter a group name (e.g. "Premium Access") and click Create.
1.5 Add a new subscription
Inside the subscription group, click the + button to add a new subscription. Fill in:
- Reference Name — an internal label only you see (e.g. "Monthly Premium")
- Product ID — a unique reverse-domain identifier you choose (e.g.
com.yourbrand.appletv.monthly). Write this down — you will paste it into Strimm.
Click Create.
1.6 Configure the subscription
On the subscription detail page, set:
- Subscription Duration — e.g. 1 Month, 3 Months, 1 Year
- Subscription Prices — click Add Subscription Price, choose a price tier and territories, then save
- Localizations — add at least one language with a display name and description visible to buyers on the Apple TV App Store
- Review Information — add a screenshot of the paywall or subscription screen in your app (required for App Store review)
Click Save.
1.7 Note your Product ID
The Product ID from step 1.5 is what you enter in the Strimm dashboard (e.g. com.yourbrand.appletv.monthly).
Step 2 — Add the Product ID in the Strimm Dashboard
- In Strimm Studio, go to App Settings and open your Apple TV app (click the gear icon)
- Scroll to Paid Subscription and check Require subscription to watch
- Enter the Product ID in the Apple App Store Product ID field
- Click Update to save
Step 3 — Testing before release
Apple provides a Sandbox environment for testing subscriptions without real charges.
3.1 Create a Sandbox Apple ID
- In App Store Connect, go to Users and Access in the top menu
- Click Sandbox in the left sidebar, then Testers
- Click + to create a new sandbox tester — use a fresh email address (it does not need to be a real email) and set the region to US or your target market
3.2 Install the app via TestFlight
- On your Apple TV, open the App Store, search for TestFlight, and install it
- Open TestFlight and sign in with the Apple ID that was added as a tester in App Store Connect
- Your app will appear in the TestFlight list — tap Install
3.3 Test the subscription
- On Apple TV, go to Settings → Users and Accounts → [your account] → Sign Out
- Open your app from TestFlight
- When the subscription screen appears, tap Subscribe
- When prompted to sign in to the App Store, use your Sandbox Apple ID (created in step 3.1)
- The purchase will complete instantly with no real charge — sandbox transactions are free
To reset and test again, you can cancel the sandbox subscription: on the Apple TV go to Settings → Users and Accounts → Subscriptions and cancel the test subscription.
Important notes
- The Product ID in Strimm must exactly match what you created in App Store Connect — including capitalization.
- You must set a price for the subscription in App Store Connect before it can be tested or go live.
- Apple requires at least one localization (display name + description) and a review screenshot before approving the subscription.
- Subscriptions only go live after your app is submitted and approved by Apple App Store review.
- Sandbox purchases renew much faster than real subscriptions (e.g. a monthly subscription renews every 5 minutes in sandbox) so you can test renewal flows quickly.