Changing existing App to In-App (IAP)

You create a new version with a 'build' value that is unique. The app checks its receipt for the value of the original_application_version which is the build number of the original purchase. If the value is not the current build then grant all IAPs.

Thank you for you suggestion. My developer would like you to elaborate if you would. "What does a build value have to do with the original application version if you dont know who is associated with that?"

Your developer needs to read and understand this document:

https://developer.apple.com/library/content/releasenotes/General/ValidateAppStoreReceipt/Chapters/ReceiptFields.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010573-CH106-SW2

Original Application Version

The version of the app that was originally purchased.

JSON Field Name original_application_version

This corresponds to the value of

CFBundleVersion

CFBundleShortVersionString

Info.plist

In the sandbox environment, the value of this field is always “1.0”.

The CFBundleVersion is the "Build" number for your app. Your code will need to grab the receipt and decode it or send it to apple for decoding. Then your code will identify from the value in this field whether the user purchased the free version or the paid version. If you do not know the CFBundleVersion of all earlier versions (the paid versions) then you can start using numbers that start with a, for example, "3". 3.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.4, etc. If the value in this field starts with a 3 then the user bought the free version.

Thanks very much for your time! I will pass on the information and get back to you.

This from my developer in response to your reply.

"The thing he is talking about is getting the receipt of the an inapp purchase. Not an app store purchase. These are two different things. He might be thinking you are asking about inapp purchases."

I think you do understand my question, but just to be clear... I have an app on the App Store and it presently does NOT have in-app purchases. It currently sells for $9.99. We want to release a new version that is free (or only $.99), but has most of the content listed as various in-app purchases. What we need is a way to unlock all of the content for users who purchased the app before it had IAP. It's been selling since 2009, and I don't want previous users to lose content that they paid for when it was just an app without IAP.

Thank you.

All apps have a receipt (but sometimes you may need to SKRefreshReceiptRequest if the app was loaded into the device certain ways). The field "original_application_version" is in all receipts. It's value will be equal to the CFBundleVersion (aka Build number) of the version that the user bought. If that version cost $9.99 then give him the rights that can be purchased under the IAP.

If your developer does not respond "oh, now I understand" then get a new developer.

Thank you for creating an aha moment. Will let you know when we implement if there are any further questions. I appreciate you taking the time to guide me through this.