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Changelog entry template

A public changelog shows buyers and search engines that the product is alive, and it gives every release a page you can link. Write entries for users: what they can do now, not which files changed. Group changes so people can scan for what affects them.

Use it for

  • Every release, however small.
  • The launch itself (v1.0 is a changelog entry).
  • Store "What's New" fields, trimmed down.

Limits and rules

  • App Store "What's New" text can be up to 4,000 characters and is required for every version after the first.[1]

The template

Copy it, then replace everything in [BRACKETS]. Delete lines that don't apply rather than leaving them vague.

Changelog entry template
## [VERSION] - [YYYY-MM-DD]

[ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE]

### Added
- [NEW CAPABILITY, IN USER TERMS] ([LINK TO DOCS])

### Changed
- [WHAT BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY AND WHY]

### Fixed
- [BUG USERS SAW, DESCRIBED AS THEY SAW IT]

### Removed
- [WHAT'S GONE AND WHAT TO USE INSTEAD]

Thanks to [USERS WHO REPORTED OR REQUESTED, WITH PERMISSION].

How to fill it in

  1. [VERSION] - [DATE]

    ISO date so it sorts; semantic version if you use one.

  2. [SUMMARY]

    The one change most users care about.

  3. Removed

    Always say what to use instead.

Filled example

Fictional example. Paperlark is a fictional product we made up for these examples: an invoice-reminder tool for freelancers that sends polite follow-ups when a client pays late. Names, prices and details are invented to show the template filled in; they aren't a real company or real results.

Example (fictional product)
## 1.4.0 - 2026-09-23

You can now pick a "final notice" tone for invoices more than 30 days overdue.

### Added
- Final notice tone for invoices 30+ days overdue (docs: paperlark.example/docs/tones)
- CSV export of all reminders sent

### Changed
- Reminders now send at 9 a.m. in your client's time zone instead of yours

### Fixed
- Invoices with a comma in the amount (e.g. 1,200.00) now parse correctly

### Removed
- The weekly summary email; the same info is on your dashboard

Thanks to Dana and Luis for reporting the comma bug. (Fictional example.)

Do

  • Date every entry.
  • Write in user terms.
  • Link to docs for new features.
  • Give each release its own URL.

Don't

  • Don't paste commit messages.
  • Don't hide breaking changes.
  • Don't skip small releases; they show momentum.

FAQ

Does a public changelog help SEO?

It gives each release an indexable page and shows the product is maintained. Link new features to their docs.

How should I group changelog entries?

Added, Changed, Fixed and Removed is a widely used format that lets readers scan for what affects them.

Changelog or release notes?

A changelog is the running log; release notes are the fuller story for a notable release. Many teams use both.

Launch guides that use this template

Sources

  1. App Store Connect: Platform version information

Checked . Platforms change their rules; open the source before you rely on a number.

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