Deploying your Ionic app to app stores is a crucial step in making your application available to users. This process involves several steps, including preparing your app for production, creating necessary assets, configuring store-specific settings, and finally, submitting your app to the respective app stores. In this section, we will cover the following:

1. Preparing Your App for Production
2. Creating App Store Assets
3. Configuring App Store Settings
4. Submitting to the Apple App Store
5. Submitting to the Google Play Store

Before deploying your app, you need to ensure it is optimized for production. This involves building the app in production mode and making sure all necessary configurations are in place.

1. Update Environment Variables: Ensure that your environment variables are set correctly for production.
2. Build the App: Use the Ionic CLI to build your app for production.

3. Optimize Assets: Ensure that your assets (images, fonts, etc.) are optimized for performance.

Both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store require specific assets, such as icons and splash screens. These assets need to be created in various sizes to accommodate different devices.

• App Icon: A high-resolution icon that represents your app.
• Splash Screen: An image displayed while the app is loading.
• Screenshots: Screenshots of your app in use.
• App Preview (Optional): A short video demonstrating your app.

Ionic provides tools to help generate these assets. You can use the cordova-res tool to generate icons and splash screens.

1. Open Xcode: Open your project in Xcode.
2. Set App Version and Build Number: Update the version and build number in the General settings.
3. Configure App Capabilities: Enable necessary capabilities (e.g., Push Notifications, Background Modes).
4. Set App Icons and Launch Images: Ensure your app icons and launch images are correctly set.

1. Open Android Studio: Open your project in Android Studio.
2. Set App Version and Build Number: Update the version and build number in the build.gradle file.
3. Configure Permissions: Ensure all necessary permissions are declared in the AndroidManifest.xml file.
4. Set App Icons and Launch Images: Ensure your app icons and launch images are correctly set.

1. Create an App Store Connect Account: If you don't already have one, create an account at App Store Connect.
2. Create a New App: In App Store Connect, create a new app and fill in the required information (name, description, keywords, etc.).
3. Upload Your App: Use Xcode to archive and upload your app to App Store Connect.

4. Submit for Review: Once your app is uploaded, submit it for review. Apple will review your app and notify you of the approval status.

1. Create a Google Play Developer Account: If you don't already have one, create an account at Google Play Console.
2. Create a New App: In the Google Play Console, create a new app and fill in the required information (name, description, graphics, etc.).
3. Upload Your App: Generate a signed APK or AAB (Android App Bundle) and upload it to the Google Play Console.

4. Submit for Review: Once your app is uploaded, submit it for review. Google will review your app and notify you of the approval status.

Deploying your Ionic app to app stores involves several steps, from preparing your app for production to submitting it for review. By following the guidelines and steps outlined in this section, you can ensure a smooth deployment process. Once your app is live, you can monitor its performance and gather user feedback to make continuous improvements.