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

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.

My apps stuck on review stage. Reason of it is Guideline 2.3.2 - Performance - Accurate Metadata We noticed that your promotional image to be displayed on the App Store does not sufficiently represent the associated promoted in-app purchase. Specifically, we found the following issue with your promotional image: – Your promotional image is the same as your app’s icon. The problem is i can't change this image. My subscription is still in 'in review' stage and I don't have option like delete image or change image. I replied to the review explaining that I cannot change it as long as the subscription is under review, but I haven’t received any meaningful reply, except that I need to change promotion image to be eligible for further review(which i cant do because i haven't option to change this image). Has anyone had such a problem before?

My app / subscription gets rejected with the following: Guideline 2.1 - Performance - App Completeness We have returned your in-app purchase products to you as the required binary was not submitted. When you are ready to submit the binary, please resubmit the in-app purchase products with the binary. and 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 ...ive tried all kinds. I archive a new build, upload it, update the app information top show new build so it ties in...and still nothing works. it is incredible frustrating. Can anyone help please. Ive wasted days on this

I’ve invested heavily in developing my app, but marketing and ASO remain challenging. Despite experimenting with different keywords and tools, my rankings haven’t improved much. Is this just a matter of time?

Hey everyone, I’ve noticed a big drop in my keyword rankings lately, and it seems linked to Apple’s recent ASO update that’s been trending on Twitter. Has anyone figured out what changed? It looks like app titles may now have less impact on rankings.

Hi everyone, I’m currently working on a project based on the Telegram iOS open-source code. My goal is to build an unofficial Telegram client with Telegram’s permission (they have publicly allowed third-party clients under their open-source license). My app includes unique new features and UI improvements that are not present in the official Telegram app. Essentially, it’s Telegram plus additional features — built from the official source, but extended significantly. However, when I try to submit my app to the App Store, Apple rejects the build under Guideline 4.3(a) - Design - Spam with this message: “We still noticed your app shares a similar binary, metadata, and/or concept as apps submitted to the App Store by other developers, with only minor differences. Submitting similar or repackaged apps is a form of spam that creates clutter and makes it difficult for users to discover new apps.” I completely understand Apple’s intent to prevent low-effort clones or spam apps. However, in my case, this is a legitimate open-source-based project with new and unique functionality. I’ve spent a lot of time designing new features and improving user experience — this is not just a rebrand. Has anyone else experienced this issue when submitting an app based on an open-source client (like Telegram)? Is there any recommended approach to help Apple differentiate my app as a distinct and valuable product? Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated! 🙏 — Additional Context: The app is based on Telegram’s open-source iOS client. The app includes new features and UI changes. It’s submitted under a different name, icon, and bundle ID. I’m happy to comply with any additional clarification Apple might need. Thanks in advance to anyone who can share insight or experiences with this kind of rejection.

We are going to support cryptocurrency swap feature in app, it just use aggregator api only, not sure if this feature is legal to publish on AppStore. I checked some related apps, all the apps have swap feature like Rabby, MetaMask, TrustWallet,... Please help to answer, thank you so much!!!

We are going to support cryptocurrency swap feature in app, not sure if this feature is legal to publish on AppStore. I checked some related apps, all the apps have swap feature like Rabby, Metamask, Phantom,... Please help to answer this one, thank you so much!!!

Beta reviews have historically taken only a few minutes. Ours has been in review for a day at this point. The Production build is already approved, but our Beta testers still don't have access. Is there anything we can do?

I’m launching my game on May 9 and have been going through Apple’s App Store course. It’s informative but also feels like a marketing push. For those who’ve tried App Store campaigns, did they actually drive results like views, conversions, or in-app purchases? Sharing your app/industry for context would be super helpful.

My iOS app currently holds a 3.5★ rating with limited reviews, and I’d like to raise it by motivating happy users to share feedback. I’m looking for ethical ways to do this without being pushy. What are the best strategies and timing for review prompts to boost ratings while keeping users satisfied?

Hi All, My app has been stuck in the “In Review” status for more than a week. I have resubmitted it, strangely it almost took no time for it to be "In Review" again in App Store Connect. Normally, reviews only take a few days, and I have submitted a much more complex app and all was good. We had a good feedback loop but now I am concerned that something may be wrong with my submission or my account entirely. Could someone from Apple please advise if there is an issue with my account or I don't know I feel like something is wrong. Thank you for your help.

Hi everyone, I’m an indie developer and recently published our first app on the App Store. It was an exciting milestone, but on April 4, 2025, after the app had been live for about 1–2 weeks and one update had been pushed, we received a notice from Apple stating that our app had been removed from the store and that our developer account is scheduled for termination within a month. Understandably, this was incredibly alarming—but we stayed calm, carefully read through the allegations, and tried to handle the situation with patience and professionalism. The reason given was: App submissions from your account have engaged in concept or feature switch schemes to evade the review process, such as dynamically populating different app content after review, submitting apps with hidden features, repeatedly submitting misleading apps, and/or submitting apps with concrete references to content that you are not authorized to provide or is otherwise not appropriate for the App Store. This was cited as a violation of Section 3.2(f) of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. We were accused of dynamically changing game content after review, but we do not have the capability to do anything like that. The game has stayed exactly as it was when submitted, and the single update we pushed included only the changes listed in the “What’s New” section. They also mentioned hidden features. While we don’t hide anything, our game does include progression-based unlocks (such as new upgrade cards or mechanics unlocked as you play). We believe this is standard for many games, and we’ve explained this in our appeal. We also addressed another possible issue—some light pop culture jokes in push notifications—which we are more than happy to remove immediately if they were deemed inappropriate. We’re not here to argue or avoid accountability. If we’ve made any mistakes, we’re more than willing to correct them. But terminating the entire account for a first-time submission, without any discussion or specific feedback, feels incredibly harsh—especially for a small team trying to break into the industry. We submitted an appeal to the App Review Board over a week ago but have not received any response or update since then. So I’m posting here in the hopes of catching someone’s attention—whether that’s Apple or anyone in the community who’s been through something similar and can advise. I know the $99 annual fee might not be a huge deal for many developers, but for someone just starting out, it represents more than money—it’s a foot in the door. I’m not looking for sympathy, just a chance to make things right, follow the rules properly, and keep building on the platform I admire. Thank you for reading, and I truly hope someone can help guide us on the next steps. Best, Veekshith Kolanupaka

We have developed apps for the App Store for more than 7 years. One day, out of the blue we noticed all our apps have been removed and our account was pending termination. We really didn't know what was going on since we behaved correctly and honestly during all those years of development. After we asked for more info on why our account was in pending termination state we received this reply: Hello [redacted], We received your complaint filed on 2 October 2024 pursuant to the Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services (“P2B Regulation”). This correspondence serves as a response to your complaint. We thoroughly evaluated the activity associated with your Apple Developer Program membership. Our investigations confirm that your Apple Developer Program membership has been repeatedly used for dishonest and fraudulent activity in violation of Section 3.2(f) of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, which states: “You will not, directly or indirectly, commit any act intended to interfere with any of the Apple Software or Services, the intent of this Agreement, or Apple’s business practices including, but not limited to, taking actions that may hinder the performance or intended use of the App Store, Custom App Distribution, TestFlight, Xcode Cloud, Ad Hoc distribution, or the Program (e.g., submitting fraudulent reviews of Your own Application or any third party application, choosing a name for Your Application that is substantially similar to the name of a third party application in order to create consumer confusion, or squatting on application names to prevent legitimate third party use). Further, You will not engage, or encourage others to engage, in any unlawful, unfair, misleading, fraudulent, improper, or dishonest acts or business practices relating to Your Covered Products (e.g., engaging in bait-and-switch pricing, consumer misrepresentation, deceptive business practices, or unfair competition against other developers).” We found a pattern of manipulative or misleading behavior. As a result of this behavior, your Apple Developer Program membership has been flagged for termination. These behaviors can include, but are not limited to, inaccurate metadata describing your app or service, misleading app content, engaging in inauthentic ratings and reviews manipulation, providing misleading customer support responses, providing misleading responses in App Store Connect, engaging in misleading purchasing or bait and switch schemes, or other dishonest or fraudulent activity within or outside of the app. Our recent investigation and review of your developer account confirm violations of the App Review Guidelines. Specifically, we received a notice claiming that your [redacted app] allowed users to download media content without authorization from the relevant third-party sources. Our investigations confirmed this behavior which constitutes direct and egregious violations of App Review Guidelines 2.3.1 and 5.2.3. In addition, your binary submission from 1 October 2024 continued to include references to impermissible conduct under Guideline 5.2.3. Given the egregious nature of the violations, your app was removed and your Apple Developer Program account has been flagged for termination. For the sake of clarity, we have included relevant excerpts from the App Review Guidelines below for reference: 2.3.1 (a) Don’t include any hidden, dormant, or undocumented features in your app; your app’s functionality should be clear to end users and App Review. All new features, functionality, and product changes must be described with specificity in the Notes for Review section of App Store Connect (generic descriptions will be rejected) and accessible for review. Similarly, marketing your app in a misleading way, such as by promoting content or services that it does not actually offer (e.g. iOS-based virus and malware scanners) or promoting a false price, whether within or outside of the App Store, is grounds for removal of your app from the App Store or a block from installing via alternative distribution and termination of your developer account. (b) Egregious or repeated behavior is grounds for removal from the Apple Developer Program. We work hard to make the App Store a trustworthy ecosystem and expect our app developers to follow suit; if you’re dishonest, we don’t want to do business with you. 5.2.3 Audio/Video Downloading: Apps should not facilitate illegal file sharing or include the ability to save, convert, or download media from third-party sources (e.g. Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo, etc.) without explicit authorization from those sources. Streaming of audio/video content may also violate Terms of Use, so be sure to check before your app accesses those services. Authorization must be provided upon request. The guiding principle of the App Store is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for users and a great opportunity for all developers to be successful. We work hard to make the App Store a trustworthy ecosystem and expect our app developers to be honest with users and with us. Manipulative or misleading behavior degrades user trust in the App Store and is grounds for removal from the Apple Developer Program. [...] Sincerely, Apple We immediately checked upon the issue and noticed that the feature that Apple has been mentioning was enabled by mistake due to a technical malfunction inside our app and explained this to Apple in detail. We have also immediately submitted a new update to completely remove the code that allow the download of media content from the third party website in order to avoid an issue like this would ever happen in the future and also explained the situation to Apple, being completely transparent. Apple is currently ignoring our explanation and also the fact that we immediately addressed the issue and nothing was done in bad faith. The update we submitted should have completely fixed permanently the issue and yet we got our account terminated. An account with an app downloaded 50M times that have users worldwide and a 4.5 star rating. We never engaged in dishonest or fraudulent behavior and tried to explain this. It’s really disappointing and unfair to be falsely accused of dishonest behavior, and having no way to resolve the issue. We have been at complete disposal and all the facts reported are true and we have always been honest with our users and with Apple. We heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem having our app implemented Siri support, CarPlay support, MacOS support, Widget support and recently working also on the Apple Watch support. I really hope someone of the Apple Review Team could look into this and gave us the opportunity to fix this issue.

My app has been stuck in "In Review" for a long time. To meet our release date and quickly fix a bug, I requested an Expedited Review for the first time. However, nothing changed—no rejection, no reply, and no reviewer login/installation. The app is still "In Review." Does anyone know why this is happening? Thanks.

I’ve observed several areas in iOS where user experience could be enhanced, such as keyboard flexibility, animation speed, biometric options, cache management, background uploads, navigation reliability, and automation features. Addressing these aspects would not only improve usability but also align iOS more closely with diverse user needs across regions and use cases. What enhancements would you consider most valuable?

I wanted to add subscription plan into my app for a new release. I have bottom sheet showing promotional text for this subscription like below They rejected my app because We were unable to find the following required information in your app's binary: – A functional link to the Terms of Use (EULA) – A functional link to the privacy policy So I added both links for terms and privacy policy in the promotional text. I use the standard Apple EULA for the link. And I still get rejected on the latest review because Specifically, We were unable to find the following required item(s) in your app's metadata: – A functional link to the Terms of Use (EULA) WHY? is it because I should put this link in my App Description page instead of the promotional text? Then why they didn't make noise about the link to privacy policy?

as shown from the quote: "The 5.5-inch iPhone, 4.7-inch iPhone, 4-inch iPhone, and 3.5-inch iPhone screenshots do not show the current version of the app in use. Screenshots should highlight the app's core concept to help users understand the app’s functionality and value. " According to Google the last 3.5 inch iPhone was retired in 2017. Do I really need to provide screenshots or was this a cut/paste mistake?

Hello, I submitted an app for review 4 days ago and requested an expedited review for the first time in ten years because I need the app to be released by the 30th for a hackathon. There’s been no progress - it is still stuck waiting for review, yet I can see numerous friends that submitted after me have had theirs reviewed multiple times. Is there anything that can be done to speed this up? I’ll be gutted if I can’t make the deadline because of this.

Hello, my call blocking app was incorrectly rejected under Guideline 2.5.12 for using "SMS Fraud Extension," but my app is a call blocker that only uses CallKit framework exclusively for blocking unwanted phone calls. There's no SMS functionality or SMS/Message frameworks at all and no pre-made spam lists. I've submitted an appeal, but this is a time-sensitive update that needs to be released as soon as possible (used an Expedited Review request already). I had a previous appeal for another app that was delayed for 11 days, and it was only resolved after posting here. I cannot afford another 11-day delay for this time-sensitive update. Any suggestions to make the process faster? Thank you.

Guideline 2.3.1 - Performance The app contains hidden features. Specifically, we still noticed that your app includes code which causes it to behave differently during the review process regarding web game presentation and payment. It would be appropriate to ensure that all features and functions in the app are visible and fully accessible during review. Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase The app allows users to purchase digital content natively or via a web view in the app using payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase. Apps cannot include in-app payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase. Apps on the United States storefront may also include buttons, external links, or other calls to action to direct users to payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase. We have been rejected three times due to hidden functions and issues with web payment and web games. However, in the last package we submitted for review, it was confirmed that the code related to web games was removed, and the code related to web interaction JS bridging payment calls was also removed Dear experts, we sincerely invite you to offer your valuable suggestions. If you have any experience of meeting us, please share with us. We would be extremely grateful