Hi Apple Staff / App Review Team, We’re following up because we haven’t received a substantive reply to our previous forum post or our messages in App Store Connect. Context (unchanged): Our last update focused on performance/stability, bug fixes, and numeric balance tuning (difficulty/rewards). We also added a small, user-initiated News panel (globe icon in the main menu) that displays one static announcement image and can be closed at any time. There are no links, no navigation, no login/UGC/ads, and no executable content in that panel. We don’t collect personal data (no IDFA/ATT). Safeguards already in place: Post-release changes are restricted to numeric balance values only (no feature toggles, no navigation changes). The announcement is strictly read-only (one static asset from our own domain) with an offline fallback. Internal release policy forbids any post-review feature switches or concept changes. What we’re asking for: Specific guidance on what observation(s) led to the 3.2(f) determination. Whether a resubmission under the constraints above is acceptable (we can tighten further if preferred). We’re ready to provide any materials immediately and submit a new build as soon as we receive direction. Thank you for your help—could you please escalate or advise on next steps?

My app updates are repeatedly rejected under Guideline 2.3.6 – Accurate Metadata, with a request to remove “Age Assurance” unless the feature can be located. However, the app does include age assurance. During onboarding, users must enter their date of birth, and users under 16 are blocked from completing registration and using the app. The app contains a women’s health blog and a community Q&A feature (similar to Reddit), where users can ask and answer health-related questions. For this reason, I am considering restricting access to users 18 and older. Each time I explain this to the review team and provide a screenshot of the DOB screen, the app is approved. What is the correct way to document or surface this in App Store Connect so reviewers can easily find it and avoid repeated rejections? Is a DOB gate sufficient for Apple’s definition of Age Assurance?

Hello, We have completed the Age Rating confirmation form and submitted it successfully. Additionally, we increased the app version, rebuilt, and uploaded a new build as recommended. However, we still received the email stating that “Your app requires additional information”. Could you please confirm whether any further action is required on our side, or if this is a known issue on App Store Connect? Thank you.

Hi everyone, We just received another App Store rejection under Guideline 3.1.3 - Business - Payments - Other Purchase Methods, stating that we are using in-app purchases to sell physical goods — specifically, a physical QR code sent to the user. However, in our latest build, this issue was already addressed: All physical QR code purchases are now handled entirely through Stripe Checkout, outside of the app. No consumable IAPs are used for physical goods. The purchase flow is completely optional - users can tap “Continue” to skip it and still use the app without ever engaging with Stripe or purchasing anything physical. We’re a small team trying to launch and are stuck in a loop where it seems like the rejection feedback might not reflect the latest build with not clear feedback from Apple. Has anyone experienced something similar? Would really appreciate any guidance or insight — or if anyone from Apple is here, we’re happy to jump on a call to clarify. Thanks in advance!

Hello, I’m preparing a macOS app for App Store submission, and I have a question regarding whether including an extra executable inside the app bundle is permitted under the App Store Review Guidelines. My app would include a command-line tool placed inside the bundle, such as: MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/ or MyApp.app/Contents/Resources/ The purpose of this tool is to help users collect hardware/system information for troubleshooting or error reporting. Importantly: The app never launches this executable automatically. It never runs in the background. It is intended to run only when the user chooses to run it manually. The intended workflow is: The executable is shipped inside the app bundle. When needed, the app simply informs the user where the tool is located. The user manually executes it—either by double-clicking in Finder or by running it from Terminal. The executable runs independently, and the app does not trigger, spawn, or control the process. My questions are: Is this approach allowed under the macOS App Store Review Guidelines? Could this be considered “executing external code,” a sandbox violation, or otherwise lead to rejection during App Review? Does App Review allow a tool that is bundled with the app but executed manually by the user outside of the app itself? Additionally, if there is any official documentation or guideline from Apple that specifically addresses this scenario—or similar restrictions around including executables inside a macOS App Store app bundle—I would greatly appreciate a link. If anyone has experience with this or knows how App Review typically handles this type of setup, I’d be grateful for any insight. Thank you!

I have a watch only app that display an open/close park status and the current temperature with a current condition icon. That's it. On second submission the watch app was rejected due to no WeatherKit attribution. I have a lack of clarity of what's needed. With my single view that display my content I don't want WeatherKit attribution to overwhelm what's being presented to the user. I've tried looking for watch apps in the store that provide attribution and I'm not finding any. Looking for advice on how to meet this requirement without attribution overpowering my content.

A month ago, a company filed a false complaint against one of my apps. I contacted Apple and informed them that this was untrue, uploading videos and screenshots proving that my account and apps comply with Apple's policies and that the complaint was baseless. Despite this, I was surprised to find all my apps deleted and my account flagged for deletion in the following days. What should I do? I've been wronged, and I've submitted numerous complaints and contacted technical support by phone and email, but so far, I haven't received any response or attention.

Hi everyone, I am really not sure where else to go for a piece of mind because our recent review experience has been far from clear (and probably fair). We are a photo editing app developers who deal with AI models, effects and transformations on a constant basis. I believe last year we (like many other apps in the category) introduced effects that get two people in different photos and unite them in one cute/fun/cozy/emotional picture. Be it a couple, a mother and daughter - you name it. Of course all the templates are pre-set, there is no option for users to generate any scene by text-to-image or image-to-image model. Otherwise it would be unsafe. When submitting our app to review in May, 2025 we first faced the situation that this kind of effects are not welcome because of: Guideline 1.1 - Safety - Objectionable Content The app references or includes features that some users may find objectionable or could be used to create objectionable content. Specifically: The app includes templates for generating content showing people making intimate contact with each other, such as hugging, kissing, or other intimate templates. While these templates alone may not be objectionable, they could be used to create objectionable content. Apps on the App Store should be safe, appropriate for a general audience, and should not include features that are objectionable or could be used to create objectionable content. At that first time we saw it as new general requirement and rule and complied. It took us about a month to delete the "objectionable" content and finally get approved. Time passed and what we saw in the middle of summer was ALL the huge players in the market kept providing these "objectionable content" freely, both inside apps and as store graphics. So we re-added the content, submitted, and get approved like immediately. Was it a miracle or a matter of a particular reviewer, I cannot say, however after that we didn't get any reject for months. Then around October we submitted our app for another review and history repeated itself - same reject as in May for the same reason. Nothing helps us to get through. Nothing. 5-6 appeals about the review and 1-2 about unfair treatment, no response. Did I mention that all the huge players (like 5-6 apps) keep posting the same content freely? All of them released updates for Christmas last week with Group Photos / Shared shots / Photobooth Lab featuring exactly the same 1+1=united pic concept. Our latest appeal gets reply however, all the same: We understand your position and consideration of your app's compliance with Guideline 1.1. However, we found that the app references or includes features that some users may find objectionable or could be used to create objectionable content. The app includes templates for generating content showing people making intimate contact with each other, such as hugging, kissing, or other intimate templates. While these templates alone may not be objectionable, they could be used to create objectionable content. The strange thing is the screenshot attached wasn't even connected to the case itself, it was of a filter that was applied to photo that already contained two people. I don't see any logic in the responses any more: Not only the Guideline 1.1 - Safety - Objectionable Content quotes anything about the mentioned reasons for rejection. We have carefully reviewed the entire text of Guideline 1.1, including sections 1.1.1 through 1.1.7, and we are still unable to determine which specific part of the guideline the rejected templates violate. The note states that our “couple effects” (hugging, close poses, romantic themes) could be used to create objectionable content. However, when mapped against the text of Guideline 1.1, none of the listed categories appear to apply: The effects are not defamatory, discriminatory, or mean-spirited (1.1.1) They do not depict violence, harm, or abuse (1.1.2) They do not involve weapons or illegal activity (1.1.3) They do not contain sexual or pornographic material, nor explicit activity (1.1.4) They do not involve inflammatory religious commentary (1.1.5) They do not supply false information or trick functionality (1.1.6) They do not capitalize on harmful current events (1.1.7) And so on. As reply for our "Why other apps are allowed to have this content while we don't?" they returned with this: On occasion, there may be apps on the App Store that don't appear to be in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines. We work hard to ensure that the apps on the App Store are in compliance, and we try to identify any apps currently on the App Store that may not be. It takes time to identify these occurrences, but another app being out of compliance is not a reason for your app to be. It has been 6 months since our first instance on the matter. None of the competitors removed such content from their apps while we are constantly being forced to do so. Does this imply them having another review experience? Or do they hide the mentioned features before review and get them back right after? It's a mystery... I will really appreciate any advice on how we should deal with this matter. Thank you in advance

My app's Custom Product Page (CPP) submission has been stuck in "Waiting for Review" since its initial submission on November 28th, for over two weeks now. Key Timeline and Troubleshooting: Initial Wait and Self-Check: Initially thought it was a normal queue, but there was no progress after several days. Comprehensive Troubleshooting: I have confirmed: Developer account agreements and tax status are normal/valid. This CPP is associated only with the live, published version of the app and is not linked to any pending new version. There are no "Issues to Resolve" prompts in the App Store Connect backend. Attempted Standard Solutions: I have tried "Withdraw and Resubmit" multiple times. The operation completes successfully, but the status always reverts to "Waiting for Review" and never progresses to "In Review". Contacted Official Support: I have reported this issue multiple times through the App Store Connect "Contact Us" form and via email, explaining the suspected technical fault. However, I have not received any substantive feedback. My Core Question: Could this possibly indicate that my account or this specific CPP submission has encountered some rare "lock" or data synchronization failure within the backend system?

Our application, Yunlen, was unexpectedly rejected after a minor UI update, despite having been live on the App Store for nearly a year. The rejection cites "Crypto related content," an issue we have repeatedly clarified with the Apple Review Team; frustratingly, we have been forced to provide the same detailed explanation three separate times in the same review thread, indicating our responses are being ignored and resulting in a protracted and frustrating 10-day delay to a simple update.

Hi - I've tried around 6/7 variants of the Description for 'Localization' and all have been rejected, can someone provide reasons why this one in particular has beenrejected and what may be accepted please? This is my app's description: Premium Subscription Required (14 day free trial) ADHD Acclaim is the daily focus coach built with and for neurodivergent minds. Track energy, capture “wins” in a tap, and celebrate the progress that actually keeps you moving forward. WHY YOU’LL LOVE ADHD ACCLAIM • Energy-level slider suggests quick wins that match how you feel right now. • Beautiful, low-distraction design with bold colour cues and gentle encouragement. • Points, streaks, and confetti moments keep motivation friendly—not overwhelming. • Cross-screen sync means every win appears instantly on Home, Wins, Calendar, and Rewards. CAPTURE WINS IN SECONDS • Scrollable Quick Wins carousel: tap “Add Win” to log a task and cheer yourself on. • Create custom wins with notes, boost level, and schedule options. • Active Wins list shows what’s next; swipe to complete or tidy up with a single tap. MAP YOUR WEEK • Calendar view highlights upcoming or completed wins with easy-to-spot dots. • Filter by day to review achievements or add new wins directly from selected dates. MOTIVATION THAT FEELS GOOD • Earn points for every win, then redeem them for rewards you define—tea break, walk, screen time, and more. • Progress stats surface total wins, energy trends, and milestone streaks without information overload. DESIGNED WITH ADHD IN MIND • Calmer typography, carefully tuned contrast, and purposeful colour accents reduce cognitive noise. • Positive microcopy, lightning-fast interactions, and accessible layouts support focus at any energy level. • Built-in celebration toast and confetti toggle let you control how much excitement you need. FREE TRIAL & PREMIUM Start with a 14-day free trial to explore everything. Stay on the free tier for core win tracking, or upgrade to ADHD Acclaim Premium to unlock unlimited rewards and advanced planning tools. Cancel anytime in Settings—no pressure, just support. SUBSCRIPTION & BILLING • Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. • Subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings; refunds aren’t provided for unused portions. • Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited if you purchase a subscription. Need a hand? Reach the team at xxxx —real humans ready to help. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Context After our latest update we received a termination notice referencing 3.2(f) (feature/concept switching after review). The update itself included performance/stability improvements, bug fixes, numeric balance tuning, and a small user-initiated News panel (globe icon in the main menu) that displays a single static announcement image and can be closed at any time. There are no links, no navigation, no login/UGC/ads, and no executable content in that panel. We do not collect personal data (no IDFA/ATT). What we’ve done so far Restricted any post-release changes to numeric balance values only. The News panel remains strictly informational (one static image from our own domain with offline fallback). Prepared a short screen recording and code excerpts that demonstrate these constraints. Questions for the community Has anyone faced a 3.2(f) action in a similar scenario (read-only announcement panel)? What clarifications or evidence helped your appeal? Which additional safeguards (domain allow-list, redirect blocking, formal release checklists, etc.) proved most convincing to App Review? Is it helpful to provide a short video (tap globe → panel shows a single image → close) along with code snippets confirming there’s no navigation or executable content? References / Illustrations Main menu and News button: /mnt/data/62591a87-a516-499a-a743-86ace7e9e3a4.png Store creative preview: /mnt/data/337413b0-e5db-466c-bd04-28efa7fb6b52.png News panel mock (single image): /mnt/data/A_screenshot_of_a_mobile_game's_update_news_screen.png Any practical advice or precedents would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Our solo traveler safety app has been rejected multiple times; for random reasons. Latest rejection demands "manual check-in each time" for location display — this requirement doesn't appear in published Guidelines 5.1.2 or 5.1.5. BUT!! We built the feature anyway: users invisible by default, must tap Check In to appear on map, auto-expires 24hrs. Submitted video proof, screenshots, detailed notes. Age rating set to 18+. (its not even adult but we did it anyway as to match our own policy) Comparable apps (Couchsurfing, Life360, Snap Map) approved without this requirement. Time-critical: investor meetings Bangkok Dec 11, flight Dec 10 11pm GMT - 15 months development. UK registered company. Has anyone dealt with unpublished requirements being applied inconsistently? Any advice appreciated - I cant get through to dev/app review team or senior advisors. And lovely call handlers in cork tried his. best but cannot do anything - ive not slept for near 24 hours due to unknown reasons - some minor make sense, and other just made - but we covered it anyway; im not sure what to do??? HELP

Hi! i have a problem with my app being rejected by spam, i believe this rejection may be a misunderstanding due to our account history This application provides unique and critical functionalities exclusively for our company's registered business partners. I suspect the "Spam" flag was triggered because we previously attempted to submit this app using an individual developer account During that review, your team correctly informed us that this app required an "Organization" account, not an "Individual" one. I try to delete the app from the old account and i have an error too "This app cant be deleted" That initial submission was never approved and never published on the App Store. Following your instructions, we spent the last three months securing our verified Organization account. This new submission is from the correct, official Organization account as you required. I try to appeal and i dont have an answer, recently i update another app with two new functionalitys and still rejected by spam. How can i fix that? The reviewers only says something "We still found the issue" and no help. We are a medical health company reconigzed in Uruguay and we need to make this app available for our clients. I cant request a call too explain because no option appear when i request support in the web. Please, tell me what can i do?

Hello Apple Dev Support, Our company is preparing to submit an iOS and iPadOS application. When development commenced nine months ago, the application name was available. However, during the submission process for internal and external testing via TestFlight, we discovered that the name is already in use. We are seeking a solution to secure our application name, ensuring its exclusive use for our purposes. We anticipate approximately four to five months of development before the application's release. If we submit our application for Apple review and receive approval but refrain from releasing it, would this action reserve or register the name for our exclusive use, preventing others from utilizing it? Thank you

Hello, I submitted my application for review and it's not being processed. Each time, I wait months for a response. This is incredibly frustrating because I'm already too late to announce my project. I've repeatedly requested an expedited review, but it doesn't work. Is anyone else experiencing the same issue?

Hello everyone, I'm a developer who has been facing a significant issue with my Apple Developer account and the app submission process. I hope to get some guidance or assistance from the community or Apple support. Timeline of Events Four months ago: I prepared an app and submitted it to TestFlight for review. Initial rejection: The app was rejected due to technical issues such as screenshots, app description, and insufficient permission explanations for features like location, camera, and microphone. Resubmission after fixes: I carefully addressed all the issues mentioned by the Apple review team and resubmitted the app. Second rejection: This time, the app was rejected citing general policy violations related to copyright issues. The rejection was vague, and I couldn’t understand the exact problem. Further attempts: To resolve the issue, I removed all video, photo, and media content from the app and resubmitted it. However, it was still rejected for the same reason. I went through this process about 7-8 times, each time getting rejected without clarity on the root cause. Account deletion notice: Eventually, I received an email stating that my account was set to be deleted in 30 days. This was alarming because I had been diligently trying to comply with Apple’s policies for months. Deleting the app: To prevent any harm to my account, I decided to delete the app from my account within the 30-day period, effectively abandoning the project. Account still deleted: Despite deleting the app, my account was still deleted after 30 days. Discovery of similar app name: Later, I noticed that there was another app on the App Store with a name very similar to mine. For example, my app was named "ABcdefgh," and the existing app was "AB.cdefgh," with the only difference being the "." I believe this name similarity might have been the cause of the copyright issue, but it was too late as my account had already been deleted. Contact with Apple Turkey: I reached out to Apple Turkey, and they were very attentive, spending about 40 minutes trying to help me. However, they ultimately informed me that they couldn’t intervene and that the issue could only be resolved through Apple America. Attempts to contact Apple America: I tried filling out forms multiple times to contact Apple, but since I had deleted the app, I couldn’t see the responses from the team. Impact of the Issue This situation has been very distressing as I’ve lost my developer account and the ability to publish apps. My users are constantly inquiring about the iOS versions of my apps, and I’m unable to provide them due to this issue. Request for Assistance I’m seeking advice on how to resolve this issue. Specifically: Has anyone else experienced a similar issue with app name similarity leading to account deletion? Are there any specific steps I can take to appeal the account deletion? Is there a direct way to contact Apple America for developer account issues? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I appreciate any help or suggestions you can provide. Best regards.

I'm having trouble with the app review process. My app has been in "Pending Review" status for almost 30 days, when normally it would be completed within 12 hours. We have a big launch event coming up, and this delay is significantly impacting our plans. I recently deleted my old review request and resubmitted it and it's still in Waiting for review status I need help Has anyone else experienced similar delays recently? Any advice on how to speed up the process or report the issue to Apple would be appreciated.

My app has been waiting for final approval for 7 days. Can you guys look into this Date Submitted Nov 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM Submission ID 20fd8579-f5fc-4abb-ab36-b4d16fbd4a5a Submitted By Joel Cohen Last Updated By Apple

Started an ASO challenge on an older mother-baby app and began by analyzing competitors’ ranked keywords to uncover gaps, relevance, and high-intent phrases using tools like Appvector. By identifying core keyword roots and filtering by context and search intent, I narrowed down high-value opportunities to expand from 146 to over 1,000 relevant search terms for the next steps in the ASO strategy.