Should I include spaces in App Store keywords?

Skip spaces after commas in the keyword field. Spaces within a keyword phrase are allowed: those are different decisions.

Separate entries without padding

Apple limits the keyword field to 100 characters and says to separate terms with commas, without spaces. For example, reading,phonics,stories avoids the separator padding in reading, phonics, stories. The shorter version saves room; that does not establish a ranking boost. This advice concerns the hidden keyword field in App Store Connect, not the visible subtitle or description. [1]

Spaces inside phrases are not forbidden

Apple explicitly permits spaces between words within keyword phrases. A hypothetical entry such as bedtime stories,phonics therefore differs from adding a blank after each comma. Do not turn bedtime stories into bedtimestories merely to remove whitespace: that changes the expression. Apple’s guidance does not establish that every rearrangement or combination of separate words will rank identically. Treat universal claims about automatic combinations as unproven, not as a formatting rule. [1]

Audit meaning before filling the limit

Remove duplicates and terms already covered by the app name, subtitle or category, following Apple’s guidance. Exclude irrelevant terms and unauthorized competitor names. Check spelling and natural wording for each localization; languages do not all separate words like English. Validate the final field in App Store Connect. Save the previous version and record which queries you changed. Track their observed positions and search conversion after publication, keeping other changes documented. More words are not useful if they describe the wrong app. [2]

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