Table of contents

What is it?What you needHow it worksHow to installTips for publishing Benefits of publishingTroubleshootingFAQsGetting startedAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Plugins → Apple News

Apple News WordPress plugin: How it works and how to get started

Want your content in front of millions of Apple users? Publishing to Apple News from WordPress is easier than you might think. With the official plugin and a quick setup, your posts can appear directly in the Apple News app.

Let’s look at how the plugin works, what you’ll need to get started, and how to maximize your visibility on Apple devices.

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What is the Apple News WordPress plugin?

The Apple News WordPress plugin is an official tool developed by Automattic in partnership with Apple. It lets you publish content from your WordPress site directly to your Apple News channel with minimal manual formatting.

Once installed, the plugin converts your posts into Apple News Format (a JSON-based markup) and sends them to Apple using the Apple News API. It supports rich media, custom typography, multi-author bylines, and section tagging—ensuring your stories display beautifully in the Apple News app.

This plugin is ideal for news publishers, bloggers, content creators, or digital magazines who want to reach Apple’s audience with native-format stories.

What you need before installing

Before jumping into the plugin, make sure you’ve completed these prerequisites:

Apple News Publisher account: You’ll need to apply and be approved via Apple News Publisher. It typically requires three sample articles and channel branding.
A WordPress site: The plugin works best with self-hosted WordPress installations (not WordPress.com).
Apple News API credentials: Once approved, Apple provides a Channel ID, API Key, and API Secret.
A few published articles: These can help with initial testing and verifying the plugin setup.

How the Apple News plugin works

Here’s what the plugin does under the hood:

Converts content: Your WordPress posts are automatically converted into Apple News Format when published.
Publishes via API: The plugin uses your Apple News credentials to send posts to your Apple News channel.
Customizable output: You can customize the default article template, section assignment, and enable or disable post types.
Manual control: You can preview and manually push articles if you don’t want everything published automatically.

The plugin keeps things simple and automated, but advanced users can override article formatting using custom JSON configurations or developer hooks.

How to install and set up the plugin

Ready to start publishing? Follow these steps:

Install the plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New and search for “Apple News.” Install and activate the plugin by Automattic.
Access plugin settings: Navigate to Settings > Apple News.
Enter your credentials: Fill in your Apple News Channel ID, API Key, and API Secret. You can find these in your Apple News Publisher account under API Access.
Choose post types: Select which content types (e.g. posts, pages, custom types) should be sent to Apple News.
Configure article options: Set a default section for new articles, define your byline behavior, and enable debug logs if needed.
Test it out: Publish a new post and check the status in your Apple News dashboard. You can also preview articles before pushing them live.

That’s it! From now on, new posts (based on your settings) will automatically be submitted to Apple News.

Tips for publishing successfully to Apple News

To make sure your articles perform well on Apple News:

Use compelling images: Featured images should be high-res and properly sized.
Keep content clean and structured: Avoid overly short posts or messy formatting.
Add bylines and categories: These help build trust and improve sorting in the Apple News system.
Write clear headlines: Short, engaging titles work best on mobile devices.
Review analytics: Apple provides basic performance data in your News Publisher dashboard.

Benefits of publishing to Apple News

Using Apple News can amplify your reach and brand authority:

Massive audience potential: Your content becomes accessible to millions of iOS and macOS users.
Faster reading experience: Articles load instantly in a native app environment.
Monetization opportunities: You can run ads and participate in Apple News monetization programs.
Editorial support: High-quality publishers may be featured in curated sections.
Brand recognition: Your channel becomes a trusted source users can follow.

Troubleshooting common issues

If something goes wrong, here are a few things to check:

Posts aren’t appearing in Apple News: Double-check your API credentials and inspect the plugin’s debug logs.
Formatting looks off: Consider adjusting your template or using manual JSON overrides.
Articles get stuck in review: Re-read Apple’s content guidelines. Make sure articles are original, substantial, and free of spammy links or formatting.

Apple News plugin FAQs

To get started on Apple News:

Go to publisher.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
Create your channel and submit three sample articles for review.
After approval, you’ll receive your API credentials (Channel ID, Key, and Secret).
Install and set up the Apple News WordPress plugin using those credentials.
Start publishing content directly from WordPress to Apple News.

You can add a latest news widget to your site like this:

Go to Appearance > Widgets (or use the Site Editor if your theme uses blocks).
Drag in the Latest Posts widget or block.
Configure it to display the number of recent posts, categories, dates, and thumbnails.
Click Save and preview your site.

Want more design control? Try the Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails plugin for additional customization.

Yes. Apple News and Apple News+ are two different services:

Apple News: A free app for iOS and macOS that offers selected articles from approved publishers.
Apple News+: A paid subscription tier that includes premium and paywalled content from magazines and newspapers.

Most WordPress publishers are added to the free Apple News channel. Getting into Apple News+ requires a separate partnership with Apple.

Yes, Apple News has a robust Content API. It allows you to:

Create and update articles
Organize them into sections
Retrieve analytics

The official Apple News WordPress plugin uses this API to push content directly from your site. You’ll need a valid Channel ID, API Key, and Secret to connect.

Next steps for using the Apple News WordPress plugin

Getting your WordPress site on Apple News can open the door to a large new audience of iOS and Mac users. The official plugin streamlines the process—just connect your API credentials and start publishing.

If you’re ready to share your content on Apple’s platform, start by applying for News Publisher access and setting up the plugin.

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