Credit to user 'khlebobul' - solution details Update the App to remove ads, remove NSUserTrackingUsageDescription. Leave the code to call ATTrackingManager.requestTrackingAuthorization(...) in-place Note: As far as I can tell, no message appears to be displayed to the user. Likely because the required plist value NSUserTrackingUsageDescription does not exist. Ignore any result. This will get approved! Now, you can change the App Store Connect data privacy settings, and create a new version (without the useless call). Which will also be approved. We will be following this two-step method for the remainder of our apps.

We are currently in the process of removing AdMob / tracking from all of our Apps. Running into this issue has been ASTONDING and frustrating. It is February, 2025. All apps are initially rejected. One was approved within a hour of posting a simple 'comment' on the rejection. One app went back and forth with comments/rejections (same comment and explainations) One app was approved after submitting an appeal - weeks later, I might add. Finally, we still have an app that is in endless limbo. Referencing the other apps is to no avail. I wish Apple provided a supported way to update App Store Connect settings in conjunction with submissions (like Android/Google PlayStore does). Is there a supported or recommended solution? I cannot find one and my experience is more or less random.