Registration connects the account. Customers also need a working support experience. Prepare the people, routing and conversation flows alongside the business profile so review covers a complete service.

## What do I need before registration?

Choose an [Apple-approved provider](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct). Prepare a business Apple Account using [your corporate email](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct).

The provider connects Apple Messages to your agent software and helps implement the channel. Select your provider before account setup, as Apple's [registration guide](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) requires.

Prepare your [technical contact details and the Apple Accounts your testers use](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) on their devices. You also need administrator access to Apple Business Register to manage the account.

Agree on the support use cases with your provider. That choice determines which conversation flows your team needs to build and test.

## How do I connect the test account?

Connect your provider to an [internal test account](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) in Apple Business Register.

1. [Create the organization profile and select **Internal test account** as the account type](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct).
2. [Select the provider under **Apple Authorized Commercial Messaging Platform**](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct).
3. [Use **Advanced** only if your provider supplies a custom configuration](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct).
4. Add the testers' Apple Accounts and [submit the form](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) so Apple saves them.
5. [Open **Test your Messaging Service Provider connection** and complete the provider's linking process](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct).

[Return to Apple Business Register](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) after your provider confirms the connection. Send test conversations from the approved tester accounts before submitting the experience for review.

## Which brand assets should I prepare?

Prepare the customer-facing business name, logos, response hours and account type.

Use the brand name customers recognize. Apple excludes [location names and legal designations](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) from that name. Franchisees need to work through their brand owner.

The square logo needs at least 1024 × 1024 pixels in PNG or JPEG format. Keep the file within 2 MB. These dimensions, formats and size limit meet Apple's [square-logo upload requirements](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct).

Supply a wide logo for device contexts that require it. Use a transparent PNG at least 256 pixels high and no more than 1706 pixels wide, following Apple’s [asset requirements](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct).

Check the [asset requirements](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) before exporting files, including padding, color space and supported logo contexts.

Supply your [staffed support hours and estimated response time](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct). Customers need that information when deciding when to expect a person to answer.

## What does Apple review before launch?

Apple reviews the [customer experience](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/xp-review) first. It then reviews the [commercial account assets](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct). The final review covers the [request to go live](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/go-live).

For the [Experience Review](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/xp-review), complete the flows. Test them on a real Apple device. Your provider submits an [iPhone screen recording](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/xp-review) covering the experience.

Apple expects most accounts to need [one to three review rounds](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/xp-review). Leave time for feedback and corrections before committing to a launch date.

After that review passes, Apple [transitions the test account to a commercial account](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/xp-review). Complete the commercial details. Submit them for approval.

Apple describes the [commercial submission review](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/register-your-acct) as typically taking one to three business days. This estimate does not include building the experience or completing its earlier review.

## How do I put this into practice with Bird?

Create your [business record in Bird](/docs/guides/apple-messages/registration) after confirming access and the provider connection. Set `display_name` to the brand name shown inside Bird, using 1 to 100 characters.

Supply the nonempty `apple_business_id` issued by Apple when you have it. Including this field creates the Bird record as `submitted`. Omit it to create a `draft`. Add the ID while the record is still in that state. Adding the ID moves the record to `submitted`. Apple reviews and approves the account separately.

Prepare one [complete customer conversation](/products/apple-messages/getting-started). Verify the customer’s response and human handoff before submitting the experience for review.

## When should I click Go Online?

Click **Go Online** after the account is ready and the live-agent team is staffed to receive messages.

Apple's [go-live instructions](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/go-live) say the button submits the account for a final review. Coordinate the launch date with your provider rather than treating the click as instant activation.

Test entry points, routing and out-of-hours responses before enabling customer traffic. Your business must provide [live-agent access during regular business hours](https://register.apple.com/resources/messages/messaging-documentation/policies), so automation alone cannot staff the channel.

## Related resources

- [Apple Messages for Business](/products/apple-messages) (product)
- [Integrate an Apple Messages customer journey](/docs/guides/apple-messages/api) (docs)
- [What is Apple Messages for Business?](/explained/apple-messages/what-is-apple-messages-for-business) (answer)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=apple-messages)