App Review

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App review is the process of evaluating apps and app updates submitted to the App Store to ensure they are reliable, perform as expected, and follow Apple guidelines.

Posts under App Review tag

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Handling ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest
An ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest rejection email looks as follows: ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest- Your app includes "<path/to/SDK>", which includes , an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a privacy-impacting third-party SDK. Starting February 12, 2025, if a new app includes a privacy-impacting SDK, or an app update adds a new privacy-impacting SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. Glossary ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest: An email that includes the name and path of privacy-impacting SDK(s) with no privacy manifest files in your app bundle. For more information, see https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. : The specified privacy-impacting SDK that doesn't include a privacy manifest file. If you are the developer of the rejected app, gather the name of the SDK from the email you received from Apple, then contact the SDK's provider for an updated version that includes a valid privacy manifest. After receiving an updated version of the SDK, verify the SDK includes a valid privacy manifest file at the expected location. For more information, see Adding a privacy manifest to your app or third-party SDK. If your app includes a privacy manifest file, make sure the file only describes the privacy practices of your app. Do not add the privacy practices of the SDK to your app's privacy manifest. If the email lists multiple SDKs, repeat the above process for all of them. If you are the developer of an SDK listed in the email, publish an updated version of your SDK that includes a privacy manifest file with valid keys and values. Every privacy-impacting SDK must contain a privacy manifest file that only describes its privacy practices. To learn how to add a valid privacy manifest to your SDK, see the Additional resources section below. Additional resources Privacy manifest files Describing data use in privacy manifests Describing use of required reason API Adding a privacy manifest to your app or third-party SDK TN3182: Adding privacy tracking keys to your privacy manifest TN3183: Adding required reason API entries to your privacy manifest TN3184: Adding data collection details to your privacy manifest TN3181: Debugging an invalid privacy manifest
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Mar ’25
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.(c) You cannot use another developer’s icon, brand, or product name in your app’s icon or name, without approval from the developer. 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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Nov ’25
App submitted for client launch – review timing question
Hi everyone, We recently submitted our first B2B iOS app and had a quick question about expected review timing. The application is intended for registered wholesale clients of a food distribution company and the launch is coordinated with the rollout of our ordering platform for customers. Since the launch communication with clients is already scheduled, we wanted to confirm whether there is anything missing in the submission that could delay the review. If anyone from the App Review team can take a quick look or confirm the submission is complete, we would greatly appreciate it. App ID: 6759172913 Thank you!
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iOS app updates stuck in " In Review" for 4–5 weeks since Feb 07, 2026
Hello App Review team and iOS developer community, I submitted an updated version of my app on App Store Connect on February 5, 2026, and it entered the review process on February 7, 2026. However, I do not understand why, as of today (March 8, 2026), its status is still "In Review." I have already contacted Developer Support on February 27, 2026 but have only received the following automated reply: “Thanks for submitting your support request. We’ve received your support request and will get back to you as soon as possible.” More than a month has passed, and I still haven’t received any official follow-up or updates from Apple regarding this issue My case ID : 102831527320 Apple ID : 1628986976 I would greatly appreciate your help in reviewing and approving this update as soon as possible, as the delay is affecting many users. Thank you for your support.
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Over a month “Waiting for Review”
I have app update that’s been waiting for review since 4th February. I’ve raised a case, posted to the case a few times, been told twice by support that I ‘haven’t been forgotten’ and yet nothing changes and no useful communication. It’s an update to an existing published app. I have other apps waiting for review and TestFlight approval for almost as long. Now approaching 10% of my year’s developer subscription has already been spent just waiting. What‘s the answer here? I am reticent to reject and resubmit As there’s no evidence that that would make any difference. None of the app updates I’ve submitted for other apps after this one have been reviewed either.
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Appeal Submitted Over 30 Days Ago – No Response Yet (Pending Termination Notice)
Hello, I’m posting here to ask for guidance and to see if anyone has experienced a similar situation. More than 30 days ago, I submitted an appeal to the App Review Board after receiving a Pending Termination Notice for my Apple Developer Program account. However, I have not received any response or update since submitting the appeal. In the notice, Apple mentioned that my account was associated with “dishonest or fraudulent activity” related to app submissions. I want to clarify that I did not intentionally attempt to bypass the App Review process. The only change I made around that time was editing some app metadata (subtitle keywords) while trying to optimize my Apple Search Ads campaign. Looking back, I now understand that some of those keywords may have been interpreted as referencing content that Apple considers inappropriate for the App Store. After realizing this might have caused an issue, I immediately: Canceled the latest app submission that contained those metadata changes Explained the situation clearly in my appeal to the App Review Board Confirmed that I would avoid using similar metadata in the future Despite providing this explanation in my appeal, I have not received any reply or update for over a month, so I’m unsure about the current status of the appeal. If anyone here has gone through a similar process, could you share: How long it took to receive a response from the App Review Board? Whether it’s normal for appeals to take this long? Also, if any Apple staff happens to see this post, I would sincerely appreciate any guidance on whether my appeal is still under review or if there is anything further I should provide. Thank you very much for your time and help.
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Over a month and we're still stuck 'Waiting For Review'
We've been waiting since the 5th of February with zero movement, and nothing to suggest anything is likely to change. Phone support, who I've reached out to twice, has no oversight or influence, and I waited over 2 weeks for an 'automated' reply to my support request email. I'm not sure what to do... Every day that passes is momentum/money/time/enthusiasm lost. It's affecting our launch momentum and cross-platform availability for users who are expecting the iOS version to be live alongside Android, which is extremely stressful and upsetting! We would be extremely grateful if the review could be expedited so we can support our users on both platforms. If someone could tell me what, if anything, I can do to speed this up - I'd be most grateful.
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Significantly Delayed App Review
Hi all, Like others my app submission has been stuck in “waiting for review” for weeks. I know initial app reviews take longer than updates, but this has been delayed far too long and makes me concerned about repeating the process in the future. I submitted this app for review back on Feb 10. It was initially rejected for a minor issue, which I resolved and resubmitted the same day. After that, the build remained in “Waiting for Review” for about two weeks with no further communication. At that point I canceled the submission and resubmitted the build, thinking it may have been stuck in the queue (I now know not to do this next time). Unfortunately the new submission has also been waiting for review for another 9 days now with no messages or updates. I’ve contacted app review support as well (case ID- 102826632729). I understand review times can vary, but delays like this make it difficult for developers to plan launches or push updates when the review process is the only path to distributing apps. As paying members of the Apple Developer Program, we rely heavily on this pipeline functioning reliably. Hoping this post will reach someone from Apple who can help move the process along. If any other devs have suggestions/tips that have worked for them, please share so others in this position can become unblocked. Thanks in advance.
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App Review Delay: ‘Waiting for Review’ for 3+ Weeks with No Feedback! Blocking Business Launch
Really, for how long will apps continue to get stuck in the 'review queue'? This is demoralizing and bad for organizations and developers behind these projects. Our app has been stuck in the 'waiting for review' zone for over 3 weeks+ now, and despite several emails, nothing has been done. No feedback whatsoever. Are we going to get a reply? Is this just an Apple thing, like work culture?
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Delay in review
Hi everyone, I’m looking for some insight or advice on a persistent review delay. My app, has been stuck in the "Waiting for Review" status since Feb 9th. I thought it got glitched or whatsoever so I rejected and resubmitted a week ago March 2nd. and yet its still in waiting for review status. I applied for expedite review with case ID: 102825200414 I have already: Verified that all metadata is complete. Ensured there are no "Action Required" flags or "Metadata Rejected" notices. Checked that the "Availability" date is set to "As soon as it is approved." Confirmed the build runs perfectly in TestFlight.
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App stuck in "Waiting for Review" for 30 days despite support calls - Case ID: 102829479153
Hello everyone, I am reaching out to the community and hopefully Apple representatives because I am currently facing a significant delay that has completely halted my first app launch. Here is the timeline of my submission process: February 1st: Initial submission of my first app. February 3rd: Received a rejection with minor requests for improvement. February 8th: I completed all requested changes and resubmitted the app. Status since then: The app has been stuck in "Waiting for Review" for exactly one month. Actions Taken: I submitted an Expedited Review request. I contacted Apple Developer Support twice via written tickets. I had a phone call with the Apple Developer Support team. During the phone call, I was advised not to withdraw and resubmit the app, as this would move me to the end of the queue. They mentioned they would escalate the issue to the review team. However, despite these efforts and the escalation, there has been absolutely no progress or change in status. This delay has put me a full month behind my launch schedule. I have spoken with several other iOS developers who mentioned their apps are typically reviewed within 1–5 days. This discrepancy is very discouraging. I am not looking for a shortcut; I simply want my app to be reviewed. My app is straightforward and does not contain any complex or controversial features that should justify such a long wait. This situation is unfortunately killing my motivation and excitement for development. Specific Questions: Is there anyone else experiencing a similar "limbo" for this long? Can any Apple representative provide clarity on how long this queue actually is or why a simple update is stuck for 30 days? Is there any other way to get a status update beyond the standard "just wait" response? Case ID: 102829479153 I would deeply appreciate any insights from the community or assistance from the Apple team. Thank you for your time.
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My apps are stuck in review for more than 2 weeks
Hi, I have paid my Apple developer fees and what I understand is I will have my apps reviewed and feedback given in a reasonable amount of time. However, its been more than 2 weeks, 2 expedited review requests and 2 support requests that have been ignored. Is this a common experience. They said most apps get reviewed with 2-3 days. If they don't provide any feedback, how do we proceed? I have marketing pipeline ready to launch and I can't plan the timeline with this behaviour.
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Apps stuck on 'Waiting for Review' for over 14 days
Hello, I am experiencing the same severe delays as many other developers on the forum recently. I have multiple apps ( 6759218500 and 6758253704)that have been completely stuck in the "Waiting for Review" status, with one sitting there since mid-February. I have already tried reaching out via the "Contact Us" form multiple times, but my open support case (Case ID: 102828235824) has received no follow-up or resolution. Could someone from the app review team please look into this, any assistance would be greatly appreciated, as the standard support channels seem to be unresponsive. Thank you.
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App Review Pending for Over 2 Months – Blocking Our Business Launch
Hello Apple Developer Community, I’m seeking advice regarding a prolonged App Store review that is currently impacting our business. Our app was submitted more than two months ago, and the review process has not progressed since then. During this time, we sent two support emails to Apple Developer Support requesting assistance. We did receive one response stating that the app was “in review”, but unfortunately the message did not provide any useful details, timeline, or further guidance, and there has been no additional update since then. This delay is now blocking our business launch, as the mobile application is a critical component of our product release. Without App Store approval, we cannot proceed with launching our service to customers. Summary of the situation: Submission date: More than 2 months ago Current status: Pending Support requests sent: 2 emails to Apple Developer Support Responses received: 1 reply saying the app was “in review,” but no meaningful information Impact: Blocking our planned business launch We understand that review times can vary, but waiting this long without meaningful feedback or communication has become very challenging for our team. If anyone has experienced a similar situation or knows: How to escalate a long-pending review Alternative ways to contact the App Review team Whether there are currently unusual delays in the review process Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and support.
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New App with Subscription Review
We are launching a new app with a subscription in-app purchase (IAP). The Status of the IAP is "Waiting for Review". We want to submit the app to app for review, but the section to select an IAP with the app is not appearing. According to online sources, if we submit a new app for review, without selecting the IAP that goes with it, then the app may be released in the App Store without users being able to purchase the IAP. This actually happened to us years ago and I can't remember how we got around it, but it was painful. It seems strange that Apple would allow this problem to persist for years. Why not just hire an intern to fix it? Maybe because they are too busy running around in circles at the new spaceship headquarters. Regardless, our IAP has been sitting in "Waiting for Review" status for a while now and I'm concerned it may never be approved. Any advice would be appreciated.
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App in review for 23 days
I managed to publish the first version of my app at the beginning of February. I was lucky, I guess. On 11th of February, I added a new version which contains in app purchases. The app went "in review" a few hours later and since then ... nothing. After a week or so I sent a first email support. They claim responding in 2 working days: no response. Then I sent another one. 2 days later another one. Tried expedite review several times: nothing. Last week I finally got an answer to my first email: they apologize, blah blah. But still nothing. This is very very annoying. I longtime hesitated to purchase the Apple developer program and finally did it. Now I regret doing so. They seem they don't care about. We buy expensive Apple gear. We develop applications we cannot even install on our devices without Apple developer subscription! And they treat us like this. What is going on, Apple? Are you still there?
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App still waiting for review after 2+ weeks
One app submitted Feb 21st. The app is currently showing "Waiting for Review". It hasn’t been rejected and there hasn’t been any action taken yet. This is my first submission with this developer account, so I just want to confirm everything was submitted correctly and that I’m simply waiting on Apple’s review process. For anyone from Apple who might be able to look into it, the app details are: App name: Coop Keeper: Chore Cards SKU: com.lukaambros.coopkeeperchorecards Apple ID: 6759481708
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What are some effective tips for boosting app installs and improving App Store ranking?
Should you rely only on organic installs, or would a mix of strategies work better? Isn’t optimizing keywords and refining creatives essential for higher visibility? Would running Apple Search Ads not further amplify reach? And doesn’t encouraging strong reviews ultimately help in improving both ranking and credibility?
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What risks do you think indie iOS developers face in 2026?
I’m interested in hearing what currently concerns other indie iOS developers, as 2026 feels both exciting and somewhat fragile to me, with the constant worry that an Apple account issue or unexpected rejection could undo years of hard work overnight. AI has made cloning apps easier than ever and even strong niches can quickly attract well funded competitors, so while I’m optimistic about building, these are the realities I often find myself thinking about.
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