So I know apple store connect are strict in term of your app screenshots, you cannot insert some promotional video and you cannot insert any screenshot that does not come from an iphone or official simulator. But I saw earleir someone's app with a screenshot that was like "MOCK" type, it has some 2 sentence description on top and below them the actual screenshot (on a phone simulation mockup lets say). This got me thinking that apple store connect actually tolerate images that are not PURE screenshots? You can actually take screenshots insert them to mockup and then insert that image in app store connect? How to do that and more importantly what to do to make sure it is done in a way apple store connect accepts it? What others things can be done, or best practices?

I am using CI/CD method to build my apps, i dont have xcode simulator, so I cannot produce 13'' screenshots And I have an ipad that is NOT 13'' what can I do? I am locked out from releasing on ipads?

Hello, I would like to have some guidance regarding a matter. So I am making my app that includes monetization options under the form of : one "for life" IAP (In App Purchase) Subscriptions: 2 groups, one containing 2 products (yearly and monthly) and the other containing several monthly subscriptions. Under the monetization page: i see, 2 messages on top of both pages: so IAP page has: Your first in-app purchase must be submitted with a new app version. Create your in-app purchase, then select it from the app’s In-App Purchases and Subscriptions section on the version page before submitting the version to App Review. Once your binary has been uploaded and your first-in app purchase has been submitted for review, additional in-app purchases can be submitted from the In-App Purchases section. Learn More And under subscriptions page: Your first subscription must be submitted with a new app version. Create your subscription, then select it from the app’s In-App Purchases and Subscriptions section on the version page before submitting the version to App Review. Once your binary has been uploaded and your first subscription has been submitted for review, additional subscriptions can be submitted from the Subscriptions section. Learn More Except I THOUGHT I had understand that, What I undertood is that once I put a build to production and send it for review, then these products will be reviewed automatically with it? But it does not seem to have worked like that? All products are marked "ready to submit", non has "missing metadata" and I don't see any submit button, I assumed that these products will simply be added ot the revew once the "build" (production) is rivewed, am I missing something? I must be missing a step that I don't see?

Hi everyone, I’m based in Europe, and I’m trying to fully understand the current App Store payment rules for an iOS app that sells digital services or premium functionality used inside the app. My goal is not to bypass App Store rules, but to implement the correct, compliant payment flow depending on the user’s region and the App Store requirements that apply there. The app would offer things like premium features, credits, or access to digital functionality inside the iOS app. The payment flow I would ideally like to support, where allowed, is: iOS app -> Cloud ahndling -> Stripe Checkout page -> user pays -> Stripe handling -> my backend marks the user as premium What I’m trying to understand is whether this flow is allowed, restricted, or prohibited depending on the user’s App Store storefront / region. My questions are: For digital goods, subscriptions, credits, or premium features used inside an iOS app, is Apple In-App Purchase still required by default? In which regions, exactly, can an iOS app use or link to an external payment provider such as Stripe for digital services used inside the app? For users in the United States, after the Epic Games v. Apple changes, can an app show an external payment option such as “Subscribe on the web” or “Pay with Stripe”? If yes, what are the exact requirements, limitations, wording rules, Apple fees, or reporting obligations? For users in the European Union, under the DMA-related rules, does Apple allow external purchases through Stripe or a web checkout? If yes, do I need specific Apple entitlements, StoreKit External Purchase APIs, Apple approval, transaction reporting, or payment of Apple fees? For the rest of the world, should I assume that Apple IAP is mandatory for digital content, subscriptions, credits, and premium app functionality unless Apple has a specific regional program allowing external payments? What is the correct way to determine which payment flow a user should see? Should this be based on the user’s App Store storefront / StoreKit storefront, rather than IP address, device locale, billing address, or country selected manually by the user? Would a regional routing approach like this be compliant? if App Store storefront == US: show Apple-compliant external purchase link / Stripe option if allowed elif App Store storefront is in the EU and the app has the required Apple entitlement: show Apple-compliant external purchase flow else: show Apple In-App Purchase only If a user pays through Stripe or another external checkout in a region where external payments are allowed, can my backend unlock premium features inside the iOS app? Or are there restrictions on granting access inside the app when the purchase was not completed through Apple IAP? For a first App Store release, is the safest approach to launch with Apple IAP only, then later add external payment options only in regions where Apple explicitly allows them? For developers who have recently submitted apps with external payment links for digital services: Which countries or storefronts were accepted? Did App Review require special entitlements? Were there specific wording or UI requirements? Did Apple require transaction reporting or apply additional fees? Were there differences between the US, EU, and other regions? In short, I’m trying to understand the practical compliant architecture: iOS app = Apple IAP by default external Stripe / web checkout = only where regionally allowed by Apple backend = unlock premium access after valid payment, whether Apple IAP or approved external payment payment UI = adapted based on App Store storefront / region I would really appreciate answers from developers, App Review experiences, or anyone familiar with the current Apple rules after the Epic ruling, DMA changes, and Apple’s External Purchase Link / StoreKit External Purchase programs. Thanks!

Small error in the placement of the URL of an error message: Hello, I just found a very tiny error, when this warning shows up, it tells about a url to learn more, except that url leads to an empty page because the url ends with a "." that got integrated to the url.

Hey In my Business -> Compliance, Section. I found this: Directive on Administrative Cooperation - 7th Amendment " Personal services are time- or task-based work done by people (independently or for an entity) at a user's request, and enabled by a platform. These could be services delivered online or in-person by tradespeople, tutors, transportation, delivery, and other professionals. " I don't know what to answer, Yes or no. Questions: So AiChats are/is telling me that this might be only to ask if my APP(s) are like Uber and similar, letting users provide services in exhange of money? If yes, responding to this compliance form, what would it provoke? Would I have to somehow force the app and users to be able to register as companies instead of normal users, all because they are offering services and perhaps gettings money value from it? For now I am not making such apps, the app I have let people give other food (for free). BUT IF ONE DAY i introduced the money service side of it, and I have to respond to this compliance form, I would be obligated to do what? Knowing that my account is a personal account, BUT I have a small solo company in my name so I consider my personal dev account as usable. I wonder if any of this is connected and would like to know prior and learn more. Everything to know. Thanks

An does that happen usually? For example: We can see that the build 1.0.10 is showing as "In Review" and at the same time in the submission page we see it as "waiting for review"? Last time it was "In review" it was reviewed within 32 minutes precisely (2 issues were mentioned, then I addressed them, 6 days ago, then 8H ago it went to "In review again") and it stayed "In review" for 8H58 minutes now, actually not even.. it shows on that submissions section "waiting for review". I am a bit confused?

Hello, Does app review depend on app reviewers availability? And holidays etc? IS there a maximum number of days that an app has to be reviewed before end of that period? In other words: if an app is posted, a review HAS TO HAPPEN before x days, is a rule (hopefully) or no? Once an an app has been reviewed once, and you send a new build (that addresses the fixes) for example you add the "sign in with Apple" if you forgot to add it next to "sign in with another method", does the second round of review have to be done by the SAME REVIEWER first time or can it be done by a second reviewer? I have posted and have been waiting since 5 days now (since 5 march) Are we allowed to post many apps at once? I mean as a developer I can take time working in multiple apps, then suddenly deciding to publish them all, that is okay right? Are their limitation or expected "published flow" to have? Once an app has been approved and published, will the waiting times for updates (new versions of the app) reviews smaller hopefully? or how was your experience? Is there a general rule you have seen? Thank you

Hello, I am wondering if an app that does the following is possible or is impossible due to ios limitations for apps? An app that access all sms messages, and or all phone calls logs? (goal is to save them and not have to filter them manually) An app that control OTHER apps permissions and or read permissions status of all other apps?

Hello recevied this email: Hello, We’re reaching out because you have not provided responses to the updated age ratings questions in the App Information section of your app in App Store Connect. If you don’t answer these questions by January 31, 2026, you won’t be able to submit app updates in App Store Connect. These new questions cover: In-app controls. Capabilities. Medical or wellness topics. Violent themes in your app or game. Your answers to these questions will help ensure the correct rating is assigned and help you deliver an age-appropriate experience. Learn more about age ratings values and definitions Learn how to set your app rating As a reminder, we’ve updated the age rating system for apps and games in order to provide people with more granular age ratings and categories. You can view the age rating for each of your apps under the updated system and respond to the new questions in the App Information section of your app in App Store Connect. The updated age rating system adds 13+, 16+, and 18+ to the existing 4+ and 9+ ratings. Age ratings are assigned to each country or region and may vary based on region-specific suitability standards. These changes will be reflected on Apple devices running a minimum of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26. Please also note that the Texas SB2420 legislation goes into effect January 1, 2026. Under this law, making an age rating change to apps distributed in Texas would be considered a significant change. If you update your age rating after this date, you may need to trigger the significant change consent process. If you have any questions, please contact us. The Apple Developer Relations Team I don't even know which app they are talking about? No notification about this inside apple developer account /console stuff? What am I supposed to do? Someone on reddit saying you need to make new release and redo the age thing but what if you have 10 apps? Anyway,WHAT APP IS IT? what is this GENERAL EMAIL? Should we ignore it?

I also Pressed "Automatically Release this version" Does this mean the app is already up? if yes, Is there a way to find the app "page" in the store, directly from my app store connect (developer console) page? I roamed through the different sections and could not find a way to go directly to my app store page from my app development pages (App information, app review, history, trust and safety pages, growth and marketing pages, monetization pages, nominations) non seemed to have a direct link to my released page?

Hello In my app code (in flutter) but you can remain if you code in other langages, maybe you can help in other ways, I have a file called: project.pbxproj I am wondering about this line: ARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY = "1,2"; Is it true that the 1 is for Iphone and 2 for Ipad? Would that mean that if I wrote "1" and removed 2, then in my app page in developer store side I would not see a tab for Ipad where the store requires from me to post screenshots for ipad? For instance (see image below) I know you guys use XCODE and it handels it itself, but can you open your .ipa files and check "project.pbxproj" to confirm differences between these files when the app is targeting Iphone Vs targeting Ipad? Thanks

Hello, Anytime I try to send an app to the store, and specifically to test flight Then I add an individual user it shows me: "No build available" Is that normal? why? What's happening here? Please enlighten me?

Hello, I have an iphone but not an ipad Actually a relative has an iPad. The problem I encoutered was when i was testing an app that I had built prior (so I had the ipa file) but no acces to Xcode. The thing is when I wanted to test it on my iphone, everything WENT SMOOTH and ok. When I tried on iPAD, I encounteed the problem I could not unlock the hidden "developer mode" option in any way, I tried so many things, checked and rechecked, the option was and stayed hidden, I could not activate it. Therefore I could not test the app. In the apple store I was required to give a screenshot for iPAD but that failed. because I could not produce ANY, since I could not run my app on iPAD. I actually have no idea how I activated the ability to turn on the developer mode on my iphone, it was just there and I activated it perhaps because I had added the email of my iphone to the developer account somehow? somehwere? But for iPAD I just could not find a way to do it, don't know if adding it somewhere could trigger something on the ipad to allow it to show the developer mode option so I can activate it finally? Anyway, I tried things I read on internet, methods that mention how to activate the developer mode ability on an ios devide though WINDOWS, there were 2 but one I did not trust much, and even I think i tried it and in the end it did not work for some incompatibility making that method obsolete or something? the other I am not sure but probably same idea. I would like to know, how to activate the ABILITY to SHOW the option to activate the developer mode on iPAD (or any other device but for now I am focuson on iPad) please, and without using macbook or xcode!? Could Apple or anyone offer some guidance? That would help a fellow developer. Thank you. Ps. No I cant get the mac or xcode for now (but hopefully in a far future, but for now I can't). Thanks

Hello, PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy Is primordial and without it the app is rejected from the Store I believe. All 5 ressources I had found related to it, mention XCODE, or explain how to add the code to langages that I don't use (Switf i think?) etc. I am building the app thought CI/CD, so prior to building it the app does not have privacy manifest and there is not way to generate it automatically without xcode it seems. My app is written in Flutter prior to becoming an iOS app. I am seeking for a method to do that. Thanks.