What App Store review actually costs teams

Showing all 51 stories.

1. 

   4.3(a) Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

   A whole portfolio flagged at once

   What happened

   A developer with several apps built from the same starter project received the identical 4.3 notice on every one of them: the apps shared a similar binary, metadata or concept with only minor differences. They decided to work through the apps one at a time.

   Resolution

   Still in progress at the time of posting.

   Lesson

   4.3(a) also covers overlap between your own apps. If several apps grew from one template, each needs a genuinely distinct core, not just a new icon and name.

2. 

   4.3(a) Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

   The same letter twice in one week

   What happened

   A small single purpose photography helper app was rejected under 4.3(a) in the middle of the night, a week after receiving the exact same rejection text for an earlier build.

   Resolution

   Not stated.

   Lesson

   Resubmitting with cosmetic changes rarely moves a 4.3 decision. Change the concept or explain clearly in review notes what makes the app different.

3. 

   4.3 Design / Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

   Building in a crowded category

   What happened

   A solo builder documenting a daily build challenge got a 4.3 Design / Spam rejection on day four and started questioning whether picking a saturated category had been a mistake.

   Resolution

   Not stated.

   Lesson

   Categories Apple lists as saturated get extra scrutiny. Validate what makes your app different before you build, not after review.

5. 

   2.1 Information Needed iOS Guideline 2.1

   Seven questions for a new account

   What happened

   A team's first ever submission came back under 2.1 Information Needed: seven questions, a request for a screen recording and a demo account. Answering honestly surfaced four things they had missed.

   Resolution

   They fixed the issues and replied.

   Lesson

   New developer accounts should expect this. Prepare a demo account, a recording and clear review notes before you submit.

6. 

   2.1 App Completeness iOS Guideline 2.1

   The reviewer could not follow the app

   What happened

   A first time developer was rejected twice before going live. The first rejection, under 2.1, came because the reviewer could not work out how the app was meant to be used.

   Resolution

   Approved after adding a demo video recorded on a real device and step by step review notes.

   Lesson

   Reviewers have minutes, not context. Tell them exactly what to tap and what they should see.

7. 

   Metadata and in app purchase setup iOS Metadata and IAP

   Two rejections for known checkboxes

   What happened

   An indie developer was rejected twice for things they already knew. First, the build went in without its in app purchases attached and the description did not link the terms of use. Weeks later, a screenshot described the app as free.

   Resolution

   Fixed and resubmitted each time.

   Lesson

   Keep a pre submission checklist for metadata, subscriptions and legal links. Most metadata rejections are avoidable.

8. 

   Review queue timing iOS Endless review

   9 days waiting, then 8 days in review

   What happened

   A developer waited nine days for the status to move from Waiting for Review to In Review, then sat in review for eight more days with no update.

   Resolution

   None at the time of posting.

   Lesson

   Review times are not guaranteed. Never tie a launch date, press or creator campaign to an expected approval date.

9. 

   Review queue timing iOS Endless review

   20 days in the reject, fix, wait loop

   What happened

   Over 20 days, a developer went through rejection, fix, Waiting for Review, rejection, fix, and was still waiting at the time of posting.

   Resolution

   Pending.

   Lesson

   Every round trip can cost days. Batch every fix from a rejection note into a single build.

10. 

    Account termination iOS Account termination

    Closed before the first review

    What happened

    A developer with ten years of experience had their developer account terminated, with a fraud accusation that did not say what they had done, while a language learning game was still waiting for its very first review. Their existing apps disappeared and customers started asking why.

    Resolution

    None reported.

    Lesson

    An account termination removes every app at once. Keep your own channel to users (email, website) so you can reach them if the store disappears.

11. 

    Account termination warning iOS Account termination

    Too many rejected versions

    What happened

    A prolific indie developer received a notice that their account would be terminated in ten days. Apple indicated the number of rejected versions was part of the reason. After public attention and an appeal, the account was not terminated.

    Resolution

    Account kept after appeal.

    Lesson

    Rejections add up. Avoid same day resubmits with one word changes and near identical clones of your own apps.

12. 

    Login requirement (guideline number not stated) iOS Login requirement

    Sign up required: you are not that big app

    What happened

    A developer's social app was rejected because it required people to create an account before reaching the home feed. When the developer explained that every user needs a handle for the app to work at all, and pointed to a major photo sharing network that does the same, the reviewer replied, in effect, that their app was not that network.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    What big apps get away with is not a precedent you can cite. If you require sign up, explain in review notes why the core feature cannot work without an account, and consider letting reviewers or guests see some content first.

13. 

    4.3 Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

    From no review at all to almost everything rejected

    What happened

    A developer saw none of their apps get reviewed for days. Over about a week, while waiting, they created more submissions. When review finally moved, almost all of them came back rejected under guideline 4.3 spam.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    A stalled queue is not a signal to submit more. Piling up submissions while nothing is being reviewed can make your account look like a spam pattern once a reviewer finally sees them together.

14. 

    4.3 Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

    Unrelated apps rejected together

    What happened

    A developer had several apps, built over months and unrelated to each other, all rejected as spam at the same moment. They asked publicly whether that was normal.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    4.3 can be applied at the account level, not app by app. If several apps are rejected at once, answer each one separately and spell out in review notes what makes each app distinct.

15. 

    Review queue timing iOS Endless review

    One rejection, then two months of silence

    What happened

    After a single rejection, a developer's app sat in review for around two months, with each review cycle taking roughly a month. They suspected long cycles had become a way to keep new apps out.

    Resolution

    Still stuck at the time of posting.

    Lesson

    After a rejection, the next cycle can be far slower than the first. Make your resubmission complete and well documented so you do not spend another month on a second round trip.

16. 

    Objectionable content iOS Objectionable content

    Rejected for resubmitting without a fix

    What happened

    An AI photo editing app was rejected because it had been resubmitted several times without fixing the issue Apple flagged, which was objectionable content.

    Resolution

    Rejected.

    Lesson

    Resubmitting the same build hoping for a different reviewer can count against you. Fix the flagged issue, or ask for clarification through the Resolution Center, before you resubmit. For generative AI features, add filters for content Apple considers objectionable.

17. 

    4.3 Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

    Rejected the same minute review started

    What happened

    A developer spent weeks building an app and it was rejected under 4.3 spam in the very same minute it entered review. They believed the reviewer judged the niche, not the app.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    In crowded niches a fast 4.3 can come before anyone looks closely. Lead your review notes with what is unique and point the reviewer straight to it.

18. 

    4.2.6 Template iOS Guideline 4.2.6

    Flagged for a template that was never used

    What happened

    A team was rejected under guideline 4.2.6, which covers apps created from a commercialized template or app generation service, even though they used no template or generation service at all.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    4.2.6 can be a false positive. Reply in the Resolution Center stating plainly that the app is custom built and who built it, and offer to show the source or development history.

19. 

    3.1.2 Subscriptions iOS Guideline 3.1.2

    The monthly price was bigger than the billed price

    What happened

    A developer's paywall was rejected because it showed the calculated monthly price of a longer subscription more prominently than the amount actually billed. The same paywall had passed earlier reviews without comment. They agreed with the rule but were frustrated it was flagged only now, and redesigned the paywall to lead with the billed amount.

    Resolution

    Resubmitted with the new design.

    Lesson

    A paywall that passed before can still be rejected later. Always make the billed amount and period the most prominent price; show any per month breakdown smaller and secondary.

20. 

    Enrollment (not an App Review guideline) Apple Developer Program Enrollment and account

    Two months, then a refusal with no reason

    What happened

    A developer spent over two months trying to enroll, with multiple support calls and emails, identity verification, device details and even video evidence. Apple then rejected the enrollment without giving a specific reason.

    Resolution

    None at the time of posting.

    Lesson

    Enrollment can take far longer than building the app. Start enrollment early, before your launch plan depends on it, and keep a record of every support exchange.

21. 

    5.1.2 Data use and sharing iOS Guideline 5.1.2

    An App Tracking Transparency rejection that threatened a startup

    What happened

    After a few months of fast shipping and strong user feedback, a startup's app was rejected in late autumn over App Tracking Transparency, the iOS privacy rule that requires user permission before tracking across apps and websites. The founder later described it as a rejection that put the whole company at risk.

    Resolution

    Not stated in the post.

    Lesson

    Audit every SDK in your app for tracking before you submit. If anything links user data with other companies' data, you need the tracking permission prompt and matching privacy labels, even if the tracking comes from a third party library.

22. 

    Login (guideline number not stated) iOS Login

    Reviewer could not sign in with Apple or Google

    What happened

    To stop bot signups, a developer removed email and password login and kept only Sign in with Apple and Google sign in. It worked on their own iPhone and iPad, and even for the previous reviewer, who had rejected the app for a different reason. The next reviewer rejected it because they could not log in.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    If your app only offers social login, reviewers can still get stuck. Give them a working path in the review notes, such as a demo account or a review only login, and test sign in on a fresh device and account before each submission.

23. 

    Simulated gambling (guideline number not stated) iOS Simulated gambling

    An in game staking feature on an individual account

    What happened

    A game was rejected for including simulated gambling: players could stake in game items against each other, a mechanic common in classic online role playing games. Because the developer published under an individual account rather than a company, they decided to remove the feature for now.

    Resolution

    Removing the feature and resubmitting.

    Lesson

    Gambling style mechanics get extra scrutiny even without real money, and some of what Apple allows depends on your account type and documentation. Check the gambling rules before building staking, loot or wager features, and plan your developer account type around them.

24. 

    Fake documents (guideline number not stated) iOS Fake documents

    A PDF editor blamed for what users might do

    What happened

    A PDF editor app was rejected because Apple said it let users create fake IDs and fake documents. The developer argued that by the same logic any banking or messaging app could be rejected for what bad actors might do with it.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    General purpose tools can be judged by their worst possible use. Avoid templates or marketing that look like official IDs or certificates, and explain in review notes what the app is for and what it does not support.

25. 

    AI data sharing (guideline number not stated) iOS AI data sharing

    No consent screen for third party AI data sharing

    What happened

    A team got their first rejection for sharing user data with a third party AI provider. Apple required explicit permission from users plus clear disclosure of what data is sent and to which AI provider. The team's worry was building a consent screen that passes review without hurting conversion.

    Resolution

    In progress.

    Lesson

    If your app sends user content to an outside AI service, ask for consent before the first request and name the provider and the data involved. Build that screen before submission, not after the rejection.

26. 

    Family Controls entitlement (guideline number not clearly stated) iOS Metadata and IAP

    Five rejections for one unchecked box

    What happened

    A developer shipping a screen time style app was rejected five times. Vague review notes led them to believe the design itself was the problem. The real cause was a single unchecked Family Controls setting in their developer setup. Once they checked it, the app passed.

    Resolution

    Approved after enabling the Family Controls setting and resubmitting.

    Lesson

    When rejection notes stay vague, audit entitlements and certificates before redesigning the product. Screen Time and Family Controls apps need the matching capability enabled in the developer portal, not only in Xcode.

27. 

    Guideline 5.1.1(v) iOS Guideline 5.1.1 Login requirement

    Account required for a paid feature that runs on device

    What happened

    A developer coming from web apps was rejected under guideline 5.1.1(v). On the web they always tied purchases to an account. On iOS Apple owns the purchase, so buyers can pay without signing up. Their paid tier unlocked on device filters that ran only on the phone, but both unlocking that tier and Restore purchases still forced account creation first.

    Resolution

    Rebuilding so a purchase made without an account still finds its owner after optional sign up. In progress at the time of posting.

    Lesson

    If a paid feature runs on the device and does not need a server identity, let people buy and restore it without an account. Keep sign up only for features that truly need one, such as cloud backup.

28. 

    Guideline 1.4.2 Physical Harm iOS Guideline 1.4.2

    Live dosage calculator apps pulled in a rule crackdown

    What happened

    A developer woke up to find two of their apps flagged under guideline 1.4.2, even though neither had anything in review. Both were already live: a standalone peptide dosage calculator and a tracker with the same calculator built in, which together had become their first real revenue success. Other developers in the same niche reported the same notice at the same time. It said apps that calculate medication doses, including peptide dosage and reconstitution, must be published by the drug maker or a recognized institution such as a hospital, insurer, pharmacy or university.

    Resolution

    None. The developer said they understood the safety concern and treated it as the end of those apps.

    Lesson

    Approval is not permanent. Apple can re-evaluate a live app when it tightens a rule. If your app calculates doses or gives health guidance that could hurt someone, read guideline 1.4 before you build, and plan to publish through a qualified institution or leave the calculation out.

29. 

    Guidelines 4.3 Spam and 4.2.6 App Generation Services iOS Guideline 4.3 Guideline 4.2.6

    An offline ticketing app called spam, again

    What happened

    A developer built a small app that turns a spreadsheet into a ticketing and check-in system that runs fully offline, with no account and no subscription. It had already handled entry at a local event with several hundred attendees over the summer. Apple rejected it again with a combined 4.3 and 4.2.6 notice, saying it might duplicate apps already on the store, be an opportunistic variant of a crowded category, or come from a template or app generation service. The developer said they knew of no other app that did the same thing, and the Android version had been live for about a week.

    Resolution

    Still rejected at the time of posting. The developer said they were not trying to make money from the App Store anyway.

    Lesson

    A 4.3 reviewer sees your listing and a few minutes of the app, not your real users. If the app is genuinely different, say exactly how in the review notes and the first screenshots, mention the real world use, and state plainly that you did not use a template or app generator.

30. 

    Guideline 5.6.4 App Quality Apple Developer Program Guideline 5.6.4

    Payouts frozen over a rising refund rate

    What happened

    A developer running a fast growing subscription app woke up to a warning from Apple saying their developer account broke the Developer Code of Conduct under guideline 5.6.4, App Quality. The notice pointed to excessive refund requests and customer complaints, warned that the account could be terminated, and said all earnings payments were paused and app transfers were disabled. The refund rate had roughly doubled over the previous two months. When the developer dug into the data, most refund requests were labeled as unintended purchases, which they believed came mainly from people forgetting to cancel a 3 day free trial that rolled into an annual plan. The warning landed while a large redesign of the app was already in testing.

    Resolution

    Still open at the time of posting. The developer added more reminders during the trial, made the upcoming charge more obvious, added a way to manage and cancel the subscription inside the app, finished the redesign with more testing, and paused all paid creator marketing while waiting.

    Lesson

    Apple looks at refund rates and complaints, not just your binary. A free trial that quietly converts into a yearly charge can turn into an unintended purchase problem at scale. Remind people before the trial ends, show the real price clearly, make cancelling easy, and treat a rising refund rate as an account risk long before Apple does.

31. 

    Metadata and in app purchase setup iOS Metadata and IAP

    Rejected three times over an image the console would not delete

    What happened

    A developer added a promotional image to a subscription in App Store Connect and accidentally ended up with the same image added twice. After that, the image could not be deleted or replaced, and every attempt failed with a generic error asking them to try again later. The app was rejected three times over that subscription setup. Each time, the developer replied with a screen recording of the delete attempt and the error, and each time it felt like the reviewer ignored it. The developer believed the root cause was a bug in App Store Connect itself.

    Resolution

    Still stuck at the time of posting, with no fix from Apple.

    Lesson

    When App Store Connect itself blocks the fix, a reply in the rejection thread may not reach anyone who can solve it. Upload subscription images carefully and only once, and if the console breaks, contact Apple developer support separately about the bug while you reply to App Review.

32. 

    Guideline 4.3 Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

    Three rejections for an app built to run one gym

    What happened

    A developer built an iOS app to run their own gym, roughly one hundred seventy six commits of work. Apple rejected it on September 29, rejected it again on October 7, and on October 13 rejected it under guideline 4.3 Spam. The same day they answered all nine questions App Review sent them. Six days later, on October 19, they had heard nothing back. Their App Store Connect apps list showed several other apps on the same account also sitting in a rejected state at the same time, on both iOS and macOS.

    Resolution

    Still open at the time of posting, with no reply from App Review after the answers were sent.

    Lesson

    Effort and commit count are not what 4.3 measures. If an app is really built for one business, an unlisted app can stay out of search while remaining accessible to anyone with its direct link; Custom App distribution restricts availability to specified organizations. Choose the option that matches the required access control. For a public listing, make what is different from existing apps obvious in the first screens, screenshots, and review notes.

33. 

    Guidelines 5.6 Developer Code of Conduct and 2.5.19 Hidden Features iOS Guideline 5.6 Developer Code of Conduct Guideline 2.5.19 Hidden Features

    Rejected as fraud for leftover testing switches

    What happened

    In September 2026 a developer had an iOS app rejected under guideline 5.6 Developer Code of Conduct. Apple said it had found a pattern of behavior it associates with fraud, specifically features that looked like they had been deliberately hidden during review. The developer traced it to three testing switches they had left in the release build: a mode for taking store screenshots, a switch that simulated a slow entitlement check, and a switch that unlocked mock purchases. None of them could be reached by normal users of the App Store version. In Apple's October 16 App Review Guidelines update, hidden, dormant, or undocumented features became their own guideline, 2.5.19, and Apple says breaking it can put the whole developer account at risk.

    Resolution

    The developer now inspects the strings inside every release archive before uploading. Whether that specific build was later approved was not stated.

    Lesson

    Keep test-only code out of release builds at compile time, for example with DEBUG flags, rather than behind a runtime check. Check what actually ships in the archived binary, and list any switch that stays in the App Review notes.

34. 

    2.1 Information Needed iOS Guideline 2.1

    Review paused until Apple knew who the app was for

    What happened

    A developer submitted version 1.0 of an iPad app and review stopped under Guideline 2.1, Information Needed. There was no crash report, no broken feature, and no requested binary fix. Apple only wanted a detailed answer to one question before review could continue: who would use this app.

    Resolution

    Apple asked for a target user explanation before continuing review.

    Lesson

    Treat audience and use case as review inputs, not marketing copy you can fill in later. Write a clear target user answer before you submit a first version.

35. 

    4.3 Design / Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

    Not different enough in a saturated sound app category

    What happened

    An entertainment sound app was rejected under Guideline 4.3(b). Apple said the store already had enough similar apps and treated the product as duplicate content in a saturated category, even where the team believed extra features set it apart.

    Resolution

    Rejected under 4.3(b) for insufficient differentiation in a crowded category.

    Lesson

    In categories Apple calls saturated, novelty has to be obvious in the first minute of review. Lead with what is unique, not with a gimmick reviewers have seen many times.

36. 

    Metadata and store listing copy iOS Metadata and IAP Endless review

    The metadata loop that ate launch week

    What happened

    A consumer productivity team shipped a clean build, then spent more than nine days cycling through metadata objections. Each resubmission answered the previous note, but the next reply focused on another phrase, screenshot, or explanation. No code changed while launch, press, and paid acquisition plans waited on review copy.

    Resolution

    Approved after rewriting screenshots, subtitles, and review notes without a binary change.

    Lesson

    Lock listing copy, screenshots, and review notes in one pass before you attach a launch date. Metadata rejections can stack even when the binary never moves.

37. 

    Export compliance (App Store Connect) iOS Metadata and IAP

    Approved, then blocked by one more compliance question

    What happened

    A B2B dashboard companion build reached approval, but release stayed blocked when a compliance prompt reappeared after the team thought export questions were already answered. The release owner stopped rollout, gathered legal wording, updated the App Store Connect response, and waited through another review pass while customers saw the announcement before the app was available.

    Resolution

    Released after answering export compliance again and waiting for the next review pass.

    Lesson

    Treat export compliance as a release gate, not a one time checkbox. Confirm App Store Connect shows a releasable state before you announce a ship date.

38. 

    Google Play permissions and policy review Google Play Metadata and IAP Endless review

    The permission policy time sink

    What happened

    A field operations Android app triggered a broad policy review after a narrow permission used on one screen. The team documented the feature, added reviewer instructions, recorded a demo path, and still had to remove the permission from the main release to unblock customers after thirteen days.

    Resolution

    Approved after removing the permission, recording a new demo, and rewriting the store declaration.

    Lesson

    Scope sensitive permissions to the smallest surface you can ship first. A single permission can expand into a full policy review on Google Play.

39. 

    Google Play review queue timing Google Play Endless review

    The hotfix that waited behind a policy queue

    What happened

    An ecommerce team needed a fast mobile fix for a checkout bug, but the store release sat in review for six days at the worst possible time. Support tickets climbed while status stayed pending. They mitigated server side first, then watched binary approval arrive after the emergency had already burned through a weekend.

    Resolution

    The native store fix arrived after the team had already mitigated the incident elsewhere.

    Lesson

    Store review is not an incident response channel. Keep a non store mitigation path for urgent production bugs while a binary waits in queue.

40. 

    Guidelines 3.1.1 In-App Purchase and 3.1.3(f) Free Stand-alone Apps iOS Guideline 3.1.1 Guideline 3.1.3

    A companion app rejected because its trial ends

    What happened

    A developer shipped a free iOS companion app for their paid web based email service. The app sold nothing inside it. They pointed App Review to the 3.1.3(f) exception for free stand-alone companion apps, but the app was rejected four times. They appealed, and the App Review Board upheld the rejection. Its reasoning was that the service offered a 14 day free trial, so for an iOS user the app stopped being useful after 14 days and was not a real stand-alone experience. Apple offered two ways out: give the app enough free content and features to stand on its own, or let App Store customers buy the service with In-App Purchase. The developer pointed out that a well known email app seemed to do the same thing with a 14 day limit.

    Resolution

    Still unresolved at the time of posting. The appeal was lost, and the developer was weighing a minimal free tier against adding In-App Purchase.

    Lesson

    The 3.1.3(f) companion exception is read narrowly. If your web service has a time limited trial, Apple may treat the app as a paywall in disguise once the trial ends. Before you submit, decide what someone can still do in the app for free after the trial, or plan for In-App Purchase. Pointing to other apps that seem to do the same rarely wins an appeal.

41. 

    Guideline 3.1.1 In-App Purchase iOS Guideline 3.1.1

    Bring your own API key treated as paying outside the App Store

    What happened

    A solo developer building an AI assistant for iPhone let users paste their own API key from a third party model aggregator so they could run large cloud models. On the fourth review round, App Review rejected the app under guideline 3.1.1, treating the bring your own key option as a way to pay for features outside the App Store. As the developer understood the rejection, a key bought elsewhere can only unlock paid capability in the app if that seller offers In-App Purchase in its own iOS app, and this provider has no iOS app. The developer did not appeal.

    Resolution

    They removed the bring your own key feature entirely, rebuilt the next version to run models fully on device, and planned to bring cloud models back later as in-app credits sold through In-App Purchase. The result of that resubmission was not known at the time of writing.

    Lesson

    If paid capability in your app is unlocked by credentials bought somewhere else, check before you build whether that seller offers In-App Purchase in its own iOS app. If not, plan your own In-App Purchase path or a mode that works without it.

42. 

    Guideline 1.2 iOS Guideline 1.2

    An outfit comparison rejected for crowning a winner

    What happened

    A solo developer shipped an AI app that compares two outfits. After a comparison, the app announced that one look won. App Review rejected it under guideline 1.2, reading the result as ranking people rather than clothes. The developer agreed with the concern.

    Resolution

    They removed all winner wording, the winner badge, and any bigger score or highlight color on either option, so both looks now get equal visual weight, each gets its own feedback, and the user decides. Whether the fixed build was approved was not shared.

    Lesson

    Apple judges how a screen feels, not only what it does. If your app scores anything tied to how people look, present feedback without a ranking and assume the harshest reading.

43. 

    Kids category, Guideline 3.1.2, and privacy questions iOS Kids category Guideline 3.1.2 Endless review

    A kids story app still waiting after a month of rejections

    What happened

    A solo developer built a story app for children aged 4 to 10, where kids listen to stories and can pause to ask questions. It had already been live on Android for weeks. They submitted to the App Store on 19 September 2026. After several rounds of rejection and resubmission it was still not approved about a month later. In the latest round Apple asked for two things: because the app sells weekly, monthly, and yearly subscriptions, the App Store page needed a working link to the Terms of Use; and because the app is in the Kids category, review could not continue until the developer answered four questions about third party analytics, third party ads, whether any data is shared with third parties and where it is stored, and whether any other user or device data is collected and for what.

    Resolution

    The developer fixed both issues and resubmitted. Outcome still pending at the time of posting.

    Lesson

    For kids, health, money, or education apps, find out early what local privacy law and the stores will ask, for example parental consent before collecting a child's data, and have the Terms of Use link and a written data answer ready before the first submission.

44. 

    Guidelines 5.1.1(v) and 3.1.2 iOS Guideline 5.1.1 Guideline 3.1.2

    Version 1.0 rejected for sign in, purchase, and delete flows

    What happened

    A developer's version 1.0 was rejected for three issues at once, none about the app idea itself. After Sign in with Apple the app still asked the user for a name that Sign in with Apple had already provided. Account deletion had to be startable inside the app. The subscription and support screen had to show the price, renewal terms, and a Terms link. The developer's own takeaway was that all three were about signing in, buying, and deleting.

    Resolution

    Not stated.

    Lesson

    Before a first submission, walk the sign in, purchase, and delete account flows like a reviewer. Those three flows cause many first rejections.

45. 

    Guideline 5.2.3 Audio/Video Downloading iOS Guideline 5.2.3 Audio/Video Downloading

    Vintage internet radio stopped for third party audio rights

    What happened

    A solo developer's internet radio app with a vintage look, version 1.0 on its fifth build, was rejected under guideline 5.2.3, which covers apps that play or download audio and video from third party sources and asks for proof the developer has rights to that content. The developer replied in the Resolution Center the next day with an explanation about content rights.

    Resolution

    Outcome not yet known at the time of posting.

    Lesson

    If your app streams stations or media you do not own, gather authorization or use sources whose terms explicitly allow app playback, and put that documentation in the review notes before submitting.

46. 

    Guideline 4.3 (Spam) iOS Guideline 4.3

    Six rejections, then a 4.3 spam label and a two week wait for a call

    What happened

    A solo developer spent months on a first app, a conversation starter for social settings. It was rejected six times, the last time under Guideline 4.3 for spam, even though the developer felt it offered more than the similar apps already on the store. They asked App Review for a one on one call. A week went by with no reply, and the call finally happened about two weeks after the 4.3 rejection. The developer left the call with the impression that 4.3 is now being used to flag apps that look like low effort, AI generated clones, which they said their app was not.

    Resolution

    The developer filed an appeal. It was still pending at the time of writing.

    Lesson

    In a crowded category, the reviewer judges what the screenshots, description and first session show. Make the difference from existing apps obvious there, and request the App Review call early, because getting one can take a week or more.

47. 

    Agreement not accepted (no guideline cited) iOS Enrollment and account

    A week in the queue, rejected over an unsigned agreement, then another week

    What happened

    An app waited about a week for review and was then rejected for nothing inside the app. The account had not yet accepted a newly published agreement in App Store Connect. The developer accepted it and resubmitted, and the submission went back into the queue for roughly another week. Developer support only replied that everything was on track.

    Resolution

    Still waiting for review at the time of writing.

    Lesson

    Before every submission, check App Store Connect for agreements waiting to be accepted. A missing click can cost a full trip through the review queue.

48. 

    Crash during review (guideline not stated) macOS Guideline 2.1

    Rejected for a crash on a macOS version the developer had not installed

    What happened

    A Mac app was rejected because it crashed on macOS 27, a version the developer was not running yet and did not want to install on their main machine. While looking for a way to reproduce the crash, they found that Apple's Virtualization framework can run a macOS virtual machine on Apple silicon at no cost, and set one up to test on the new version.

    Resolution

    Not stated beyond reproducing the crash in a virtual machine.

    Lesson

    App Review tests on the newest OS. Keep a virtual machine with the latest macOS ready so you can reproduce review crashes without upgrading your daily machine.

49. 

    Review delay (no guideline cited) iOS Endless review

    Twelve days in Waiting for Review after two expedite requests

    What happened

    A developer who already had apps approved on the store submitted version 1.0 of a new app together with a subscription group of five subscriptions. Twelve days later it was still in Waiting for Review, against the usual expectation of under 48 hours. They requested an expedited review twice, contacted support without getting an answer, and tried to book an App Review appointment, which was declined.

    Resolution

    Still waiting at the time of writing.

    Lesson

    Do not plan a launch date on the 48 hour average. Leave weeks of buffer for a first version with subscriptions, and treat expedite requests and appointments as possible, not promised.

50. 

    Permission prompt + screenshot metadata (rules commonly cited as 5.1.1 and 2.3.7) iOS Guideline 5.1.1 Guideline 2.3.7

    Launch week: custom Allow screen and prices in screenshots

    What happened

    During launch week the app was rejected twice. The first time it showed its own screen with an Allow button immediately before the system permission prompt, which Apple does not accept. After fixing that, the second rejection was because App Store screenshots showed prices. Both fixes were small, but each resubmission cost about a day in the review queue.

    Resolution

    The developer fixed both issues and now keeps both rules written down in the project so it does not happen again.

    Lesson

    A pre-permission screen can explain why you need access, but leave the only Allow choice to the system prompt. Keep prices out of screenshots, and run a short checklist before every submission.

51. 

    Review delay (no guideline cited) iOS Endless review

    Ten days stuck in review, then approved half an hour after resubmit

    What happened

    The app sat in review for more than ten days without moving. The developer resubmitted it.

    Resolution

    It was approved about 30 minutes after resubmitting.

    Lesson

    A stalled review is not always a verdict on your app. When it is stuck well past the usual time, resubmitting or requesting an expedited review can be worth a try, but neither is guaranteed.

52. 

    4.3(a) Spam iOS Guideline 4.3

    Seven template apps rejected for 4.3 in the same minute

    What happened

    A small team sent seven apps built on the same template to review in the same week. All seven got the identical 4.3(a) spam rejection in the same minute, including two apps that had never been rejected before. The team concluded Apple judged the batch rather than each app.

    Resolution

    The team now submits one app at a time.

    Lesson

    Apps that share a codebase can read as a spam pattern when they land together. Space out submissions and make each app clearly distinct in features, design and metadata.

This page is not legal advice and does not predict what Apple will do on your next submission.