App Review

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Understand the technical and content review process for submitting apps to the App Store.

App Review Documentation

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Preventing Copycat and Impersonation Rejections
In this post, we'll share tips to help you submit apps that deliver original ideas to your users. When working on your app, focus on creating interesting, unique experiences that aren't already available. Apps that actively try to copy other apps won't pass review, and accounts that repeatedly submit copycat apps or attempt to impersonate a service will be closed. The rules that prevent copycat and impersonator apps from being distributed on the App Store are described in App Review Guideline 4.1: 4.1 Copycats (a) Come up with your own ideas. We know you have them, so make yours come to life. Don’t simply copy the latest popular app on the App Store, or make some minor changes to another app’s name or UI and pass it off as your own. In addition to risking an intellectual property infringement claim, it makes the App Store harder to navigate and just isn’t fair to your fellow developers. (b) Submitting apps which impersonate other apps or services is considered a violation of the Developer Code of Conduct and may result in removal from the Apple Developer Program. These requirements help make the App Store both a safe place for people to discover apps and a platform for all developers to be successful. Best Practices Here are three best practices that will help you submit apps that follow App Review Guideline 4.1: 1. Submit apps with unique content and features. People want apps that provide unique experiences. Find areas that aren't currently being served and build compelling apps for those audiences. Do: Create apps that provide a new experience or a unique spin on an existing concept. Design original, delightful interfaces that elegantly meet your user's needs. Don't: Don’t imitate the features and functionality of other apps. Don’t copy the look and feel of other apps, such as using an identical user interface design. 2. Make sure App Store metadata only contains relevant information and content you either own or have permission to use. The metadata provided in App Store Connect is used to populate your app's product page on the App Store. People rely on this metadata to learn about your app and what it has to offer. Leveraging the popularity of another brand or app, either by including irrelevant references or protected content, is misleading and won't help your app succeed. Do: Use engaging, descriptive language to describe your unique app. Create original content that best represents your app, such as screenshots showing the actual app in use. Don't: Don't use protected material you do not have the necessary permission to use, such as app icons that are similar to icons of a popular app. Don’t include irrelevant references, such as popular app names or trademarked terms, in any metadata fields. 3. Provide information that is authentic and verifiable. People want to know the developers behind their favorite apps are who they say they are. It's important to continually review and provide up-to-date information, including the developer or company name listed on your Apple Developer Program account, the Support URL listed on your app's product page, and other helpful information. This will enable your users to contact you when they need help and it will also hinder people who may try to impersonate you, your app, or your service. Do: Make sure all information, resources, and documentation related to your account and apps are current and accurate. Don't: Don’t provide inaccurate information or resources, such as directing people to outdated support pages. Don’t provide fraudulent documentation. Accounts that submit fraudulent documentation will be removed from the Apple Developer Program. Support Incorporating these best practices into your app's development will help you submit apps that follow App Review Guideline 4.1. If you need additional assistance, consider taking advantage of one of the following support options available from App Review: If your submission has been rejected, reply to the message from App Review in App Store Connect and request clarification. Request an App Review Appointment to discuss the results of our review. Appointments are subject to availability, and take place during local business hours in your region on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you believe your app follows the App Review Guidelines, consider submitting an appeal to the App Review Board. Resources Learn about foundational design principles from Apple designers and the developer community. Learn how to create engaging App Store product pages. Note that apps that violate intellectual property rights are subject to removal through the App Store Content Dispute process. If you believe an app on the App Store violates your intellectual property rights, you can submit a claim.
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Apr ’25
iOS App Stuck in "Waiting for Review" for 48+ Days - Need Help
Hi everyone, I submitted my first iOS app to App Store Connect on June 8, 2025. As of today (July 26), it's been 48 days and the status is still "Waiting for Review." Details: First app submission Version 1.0 App category: Finance/Utilities (cryptocurrency portfolio tracker) Already submitted an expedited review request All required fields completed Age rating: 4+ No encryption documentation required (uses only standard HTTPS) This seems unusually long compared to the typical 1-7 day review times. I've already: Contacted App Review via email (no response) Submitted an expedited review request Verified all submission requirements are complete Has anyone experienced similar delays recently? Any suggestions on how to get this resolved? Thank you!
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As a Chinese person, I feel that I have been discriminated against by Apple's review process.
We have developed an app called FastUP, which has been constantly reminding us of 4.3(a). We have uploaded the original evidence of the developed code and UI design drafts, but it still keeps giving us this problem. There will be no manual response and no consideration of our explanations. It always just reacts mechanically. This is a repetitive application. Could you please explain how to apply it repeatedly when our code is original and the UI is also original? Is it possible that there can only be one tool-type app in the AppStore? ? Every time during the process of applying for the phone communication, we were told there was no problem, but they still gave us incorrect information and kept deceiving us. Is this not discrimination against us just because we applied for the Chinese voice phone service?
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Auto-Renewal Subscription Rejection for Non-Dynamic Content
A few weeks ago, I explored the possibility of installing auto-renewal subscription plans on an iOS app. Initially, I thought subscription plans are allowed for news and magazine apps. Then I saw this Apple website, which actually encourages us to provide 'free, limited access to app content.' So I took their advice and submitted an iOS app that has no dynamic content to App Store. I submitted another. Two apps have been approved. And I have got the third one put on hold several days ago. The reviewer has asked me an uncomfortable line of questions repeatedly like What are changes? How often? that I have never received in my 13 or 14 year history. Then he or she rejected it two days ago. And I got a 4th one approved at the same time. So three are admitted in with one rejected. Does an app have to have dynamic content to use auto-renewal subscription plans? I don't find any statement in Apple Review Guidelines that prohibits me from installing auto-renewal subscription plans on non-dynamic content app. There are other big-time apps like Microsoft 365 and Adobe Photoshop that are available with subscription plans. I am very perplexed.
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1d
Rejected from Apple 43(b)
Hi everyone, I created this application called ”OnlyDeaf” Dating app. I noticed there’s so many of the dating application out there however, this application is so unique and have this high quality experience when it comes to OnlyDeaf dating app. All the dating apps Ive seen on the App Store are hearing people that created just for the hearing people. For us, we are part of the deaf community called the “deaf world”. when it comes to hearing and deaf world…. we have an issue and that is ”Lack of communication“. This is where I decided to step in and created this app called “OnlyDeaf” which is only for the deaf community that can communicate others who is deaf. one thing I’m not understanding is why reject an application that has high quality unique experience. I’m literally the first deaf person who created a dating app only for the deaf and I got this rejection - 43(b). Please help me and pass this 43(b) issue. I’m trying to change the deaf community to provide them an experience as a deaf person they have never experienced.
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1d
Issues from App Review when submitting a Python app
Hi guys, I am using Python and SciPy to develop a utility app. Planning to publish it on Apple Store for MacOS. So I submitted my app for Apple Review. But I was encountering the following "Guideline 2.5.1 - Performance - Software Requirements". Your app uses or references the following non-public or deprecated APIs: Contents/Frameworks/scipy/linalg/cython_blas.cpython-312-darwin.so Symbols: • _dcabs1_ • _lsame_ Contents/Frameworks/scipy/sparse/linalg/_propack/_spropack.cpython-312-darwin.so Symbols: • _lsame_ Contents/Frameworks/scipy/sparse/linalg/_propack/_zpropack.cpython-312-darwin.so Symbols: • _lsame_ Contents/Frameworks/scipy/sparse/linalg/_propack/_dpropack.cpython-312-darwin.so Symbols: • _lsame_ Contents/Frameworks/scipy/sparse/linalg/_propack/_cpropack.cpython-312-darwin.so Symbols: • _lsame_ Contents/Frameworks/scipy/linalg/cython_lapack.cpython-312-darwin.so Symbols: • _xerbla_array__ The use of non-public or deprecated APIs is not permitted on the App Store, as they can lead to a poor user experience should these APIs change and are otherwise not supported on Apple platforms. They seem from using the SciPy library in my Python app. Is there a way to work around this issue? Please let me know if you have solved this kind of issue before.
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1d
IAP Product Not Getting Approved – Stuck in Review Loop
I’m stuck in a loop where my in-app purchase (IAP) product cannot be reviewed because my app version is in “Rejected” status. In order to submit the IAP for review, I need to submit a new app version and select the IAP product. But since the current version is rejected, I can't select the IAP during submission. As a result, RevenueCat can't fetch the IAP products, and the app appears to not use in-app purchases, which leads to another rejection. I’d like to know the correct steps to break this cycle and properly submit both the app and the IAP for review. Any guidance is appreciated!
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2d
App stuck in review for 10 days.
Hi everyone, Our app (ID: 6744578596) seems to be stuck in review for 10 days now. Timeline: Jul 13, 2025 at 8:47 PM: Waiting for Review Jul 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM: In review Jul 14, 2025 at 8:16 PM: Rejected Jul 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM: Waiting for Review (Addressed rejection reason and resubmitted for review) Jul 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM: In review Jul 15, 2025 at 5:27 PM: Rejected Jul 15, 2025 at 5:43 PM: Waiting for Review (Addressed rejection reason and resubmitted for review) Jul 15, 2025 at 5:49 PM In review Jul 15, 2025 at 6:29 PM Rejected Jul 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM Waiting for Review (Addressed rejection reason and resubmitted for review) Jul 15, 2025 at 9:36 PM In review Jul 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM Rejected Jul 15, 2025 at 9:54 PM Waiting for Review (Addressed rejection reason and resubmitted for review) Jul 15, 2025 at 9:57 PM Rejected Jul 15, 2025 at 10:53 PM Waiting for Review (Addressed rejection reason and resubmitted for review) Jul 15, 2025 at 11:08 PM Rejected Jul 16, 2025 at 12:23 AM Waiting for Review (Addressed rejection reason and resubmitted for review) Jul 16, 2025 at 12:30 AM In Review Jul 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM Rejected Jul 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM Waiting for Review (Addressed rejection reason and resubmitted for review) Jul 16, 2025 at 6:25 PM In Review Stuck "In Review" for two days. Removed from review and resubmitted a build based on advice from an App developer on X. Jul 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM Waiting for Review Jul 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM In review. The status hasn't changed since then. Also worth noting that the reviewer(s?) keep insisting that our app is an OpenAI wrapper app and most of the rejections were on this point. We painstakingly train our own models and port them to CoreML to run on-device. A lot of the back and forth rejections were because of this confusion. On the other hand, I see plenty of OpenAI wrapper app developers ({Plant, Bird, Cat, Dog, Rock, etc} identifiers) on social media, bragging about how their non-novel app was approved in under a day. Seems quite unfair for the few developers like us, developing user privacy respecting, offline AI apps.
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2d
App Rejected for Guideline 5.2.1 without explanation
Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well. I’m facing some challenges in getting my app approved for the App Store. It’s consistently being rejected for Guideline 5.2.1 - Legal - Intellectual Property. This seems to be related to the app’s connection to an e-bike called the VanMoof. I’ve tried reaching out to App Store Review, but I’ve only received a generic response. The response states the following: Your app still includes content or features from VanMoof, or is marketed to control external hardware from VanMoof, without the necessary authorization. The inclusion of third-party content within your app, whether retrieved from the internet by the app or embedded in the app, is subject to the terms of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. I’ve also tried contacting Apple through the Apple Contact Us module, but I haven’t received any response yet. Does anyone know what I can do to resolve this issue or what the problem with my app could be?
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2d
APP Submission
Hi good day, I submitted my app for review and it got rejected under these rules This item has been rejected for the following reasons: 2.3.1 Performance: Accurate Metadata 5.2.2 Legal: Intellectual Property - Third Party Sites/Services Can someone kindly explain to me what this can be? I dont have any information on my app other than my store and the products?
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2d
Consultation on the update process of the new version of the APP
New APP version must require users to upgrade is to use the old version will not be able to normal use, if I can be detected in application by "http://itunes.apple.com/cn/lookup?id=%@" in the latest version, then popup UIAlertController, Keep only one "Update Now" button. Will this operation be approved by Apple's review? If customers are not forced to update, the documents they made on the old version of the APP will be incorrect
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8
2d
App Review Rejection for Guidelines 3.1.1
Hi all, Our app has been rejected several times without any clear explanation of what we need to do. The latest rejection reason is as follows: The app accesses digital content purchased outside the app, such as Tracker data plans, but that content isn't available to purchase using in-app purchase. Apps must use in-app purchase to unlock features or functionality within the app. Apps on the United States storefront may include buttons, external links, or other calls to action to direct users to payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase. Next Steps The paid digital content, services, or subscriptions included in or accessed by your app must be available for purchase in the app using only in-app purchase. As noted above, apps on the United States storefront may include buttons, external links, or other calls to action to payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase. To learn more about the recent changes to the App Review Guidelines, see the News post on Apple Developer. We plan to implement payments outside of IAP, and here is the business scenario of our app: Our app is designed to control an external hardware device. However, the device has a built-in SIM card, so to use the device, a data plan must be activated for it to function properly. These data plans are used to pay mobile network operators. Different data plans incur different fees and activate different hardware features of the device. In addition, since the hardware device will only be linked to the app after successful activation, the control buttons in the app for managing the hardware remain disabled until activation is complete. Therefore, we believe using non-IAP payments is justified under Guideline 3.1.4 – Hardware-Specific Content: I have repeatedly explained these points to the App Review team, but they still rejected the submission. I have asked multiple times which specific details are considered violations of 3.1.1, but they have not provided any concrete explanation. They also have not clarified whether 3.1.4 is deemed inapplicable in our case. Therefore, I am reaching out here for help. Thank you very much.
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3d
Waiting for review, more than 5 days, what should I do? Is it to continue to wait
My application (App ID: 6748781897) has been in “Waiting for Review” for five (5) days without any status change. Because the delay is now impacting our release timeline and customer commitments, I respectfully request: A status update on the current review of App ID 6748781897. Confirmation that there are no outstanding compliance items or additional information required from my side. If possible, expedited processing or guidance on next steps to resolve the hold-up.
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150
3d
Is it allowed to send cumulativeBackgroundTime collected by MetricKit to my server?
Hello, I am currently developing an iOS SDK, and I would like to clarify the allowed use of MetricKit, specifically regarding the MXAppRunTimeMetric.cumulativeBackgroundTime value. My SDK tracks app lifecycle events for analysis purposes. I am considering sending the cumulativeBackgroundTime metric to my own backend server to monitor background usage patterns across different devices. Before proceeding, I want to confirm: Is it compliant with Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines to collect cumulativeBackgroundTime via MetricKit and transmit that data to my server? I understand MetricKit is primarily intended for performance monitoring and local analysis, but since this is a runtime metric, I would like to verify whether off-device aggregation is acceptable. I would appreciate any clarification regarding policy boundaries or best practices for this scenario. Thank you in advance!
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4d
Repeated Rejections Under Guideline 4.1 “Copycats” – No Specific Feedback from App Review
Our app ХАЙП ИГРЫ (HYPE GAMES) keeps getting rejected under Guideline 4.1 – Copycats, but we’re not receiving any specific feedback or examples of what exactly is being flagged. We’ve fully rebuilt the app multiple times: All content is now original (graphics, UI, icons, name, etc.) The app does not refer to or imitate any existing brand or app The same version was already approved on Google Play We've removed anything that could even theoretically be misinterpreted as copycat content However, App Review continues to send the same generic message saying the app “appears to misrepresent itself,” without pointing to any concrete element, screenshot, or example. We’ve explicitly asked for clarification or even a single screenshot of the issue, but the replies remain copy-pasted and non-informative. Has anyone else faced this issue? What can be done if App Review won’t identify what’s wrong? We genuinely want to comply and are ready to fix any real problem, but right now we are just guessing — and being rejected repeatedly without a clear path forward. Would really appreciate advice from other developers or attention from Apple staff. Thanks in advance.
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4d
Waiting for review
Hi good day, does anyone have any advise for me concerning my app review? I submitted since Apr 24, 2025 at 1:03 AM. I haven't gotten one review in to know what are my next steps? I just completed a Expedited Review Request. Waiting on response. Do you think I need to update some data or something?
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