MWM
Contact salesMWM AI
App Store Optimization

Bundle ID

Also known asBundle IdentifierApplication IDPackage Name

The unique reverse-DNS identifier for an app (for example com.company.app) that the operating system and app stores use to distinguish it — fixed once the app is published.

Key takeaways

  1. 01A bundle ID is an app’s unique identifier in reverse-DNS form, e.g. com.company.app.
  2. 02iOS calls it the bundle ID; Android calls it the applicationId (or package name) — same concept.
  3. 03It is effectively immutable after publishing — changing it creates a NEW app listing that loses all ranking, reviews, and installs.
  4. 04It anchors provisioning, deep links, universal links, and install attribution, so it has to be right from day one.

A bundle ID is the unique string that identifies your app to the operating system and the app stores, written in reverse-DNS notation — for example `com.company.appname`. iOS refers to it as the bundle ID; Android calls it the applicationId (historically the package name). It's the canonical identity of the app: two apps can share a display name, but never a bundle ID.

The critical property is immutability. Once an app is published under a bundle ID, that ID is locked — you cannot change it on the existing listing. Shipping a different bundle ID means creating a brand-new app in the store, which starts from zero: no [[keyword-ranking]], no reviews, no install history. This is why the bundle ID is a day-one decision, not something to revisit later.

Beyond identity, the bundle ID anchors a lot of plumbing: code-signing and provisioning, [[deep-linking]] and [[universal-link]] configuration, push credentials, and [[install-attribution]] (MMPs and ad networks key on it). Get it wrong or change it carelessly and deep links, attribution, and entitlements break together.

Quick answers

What is a bundle ID?

A bundle ID is the unique identifier for an app, written in reverse-DNS format such as com.company.app. The OS and app stores use it to tell apps apart. On iOS it is called the bundle ID; on Android the equivalent is the applicationId or package name.

Can you change an app’s bundle ID after launch?

Not on the existing listing — it is effectively immutable once published. Using a new bundle ID creates a separate app in the store that starts with no ranking, reviews, or installs. Treat the bundle ID as a permanent, day-one decision.

What is the difference between a bundle ID and an app name?

The app name is the human-facing title shown in the store and on the home screen, and it can change. The bundle ID is the machine identifier the OS and stores use, in reverse-DNS form, and it is fixed. Many apps can share a name; none can share a bundle ID.

Next reads

Back to glossary