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.

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pp update in "Waiting for Review" for 65 days — no response to expedite requests
Our app update for Underground Arena (a padel sports community platform) has been pending review for over (65 days), since the first submission on February 11, 2026. At no point has the submission transitioned to "In Review" or received any feedback. The previously approved version (v1.1.2) was reviewed and approved within one day. This update includes security improvements, privacy policy alignment, and metadata updates. No changes to monetization or permissions. We have submitted two expedited review requests and opened support case 102840575585 — none have resulted in movement. We have a padel tournament on April 22, 2026 that requires the updated app for participant registration. Our Android version is already live on Google Play, and iOS users are currently unable to access the latest features. Could someone from the review team please confirm whether this submission is in extended review, or advise on any information needed to proceed? Thank you.
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Apr ’26
App Store Distribution – Minimum Deployment Targets (iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS) with XCode 26
Hello Team, We’ve confirmed Apple’s current minimum OS requirements for Xcode 26: iOS 15 – 26 iPadOS 15 – 26 tvOS 15 – 26 watchOS 8 – 26 visionOS 1 – 26 macOS 11 – 26 Are we correct in understanding that any builds targeting below these versions are no longer accepted by the App Store and may fail to launch for users on older systems? Like this https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/821370?answerId=882822022#882822022 For Steam macOS distribution, can older macOS targets still be supported, or should we align strictly with Apple’s minimums? Thank you and best regards, Phong
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Apr ’26
2 Months of Identical Copy-Paste Rejections for a Game Emulator — No Human Review, No Meaningful Feedback
Hello, I'm the developer of RPGPlayer, a game emulator for RPG Maker games that has been live on the App Store since 2025. I'm writing here out of frustration and desperation after 2+ months of trying to publish a critical bug fix update. The Situation I submitted v2.4 on February 21, 2026. Since then, I have received 9+ rejections under Guidelines 4.7 and 2.5.2. Every single rejection message is word-for-word identical — the same copy-pasted text, every time. None of my detailed technical responses have ever been acknowledged or addressed. I have submitted appeals twice through the App Review Board. Both times I received the same automated response: "The App Review Board will contact you directly once they've completed their investigation." The first appeal went unanswered for over 30 days. At this point, I genuinely do not believe a human being has opened my app during any of these reviews. The Technical Reality RPGPlayer is a game emulator, explicitly permitted under Guideline 4.7. The rejection under 4.7 states that "HTML5-based games appear to be an incidental feature." This is incorrect. RPG Maker MV/MZ games are built on HTML5/JavaScript by design — that is the engine's native architecture on all platforms including PC and consoles. The WKWebView is the emulation layer, not a web browser or game portal. There are zero bundled games. The rejection under 2.5.2 states the app "installed or launched executable code." The app does not download anything from the internet. It includes a bundled, statically-linked runtime (MKXP-Z) that interprets local game scripts from user-imported files — identical to how Delta Emulator interprets ROM instructions. The Double Standard Other apps on the App Store use the exact same architecture as RPGPlayer: Delta Emulator — approved under Guideline 4.7, interprets user-provided ROM files Quest Play — RPG Maker MV/MZ player, uses the same WebView approach, currently receiving updates ArkRPG — same engine, same architecture, also on the App Store and getting updates. These apps are approved and actively updated. RPGPlayer is being rejected with automated messages for doing the exact same thing. What I've Tried Detailed technical responses in Resolution Center — ignored Two App Review Board appeals — no meaningful response Contact Us support requests — automated replies Provided ROM files, video walkthroughs, and thorough App Review Notes — none of it acknowledged The Impact My users have been waiting 50+ days for a critical bug fix. Some have left negative reviews calling me a scammer because they think I abandoned the app. I haven't. I've been fighting this review process every single day. I have a Meet with Apple appointment scheduled. But I wanted to share this here as well — both to ask if anyone has faced a similar situation with emulator apps, and to document what is happening in case it helps other developers. Has anyone successfully resolved a 4.7 + 2.5.2 rejection for a legitimate emulator app? Any advice is welcome.
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Apr ’26
Critical Bug — Cannot Submit or Delete Draft Response to Guideline 5.6.4 Notice — App at Risk of Removal
Hi everyone, I am hoping someone here has experienced this and can help, because we are in a really difficult position right now. We received a notice from App Review regarding Guideline 5.6.4 and have been working hard to prepare a full response with supporting evidence. The problem is that a draft response exists in App Store Connect that we cannot submit or delete. Every time we click either Submit or Delete Draft, we get the same error: "The resource cannot be found" That is it. No further explanation, no workaround, nothing. The draft is just stuck there and we cannot get past it. Because we could not submit through the normal channel, we uploaded a new build with our action plan included in the notes, hoping that would reach the review team. The build has been sitting there unreviewed. We have raised a support ticket with Apple Developer Support and have not received any response. The clock is ticking. App Review has given us a deadline to respond or face removal from the App Store. We have our response ready. We have our evidence ready. We just physically cannot submit it because of what appears to be a technical bug on Apple's side. Has anyone else hit this "resource cannot be found" error on a draft App Review response? Is there any other channel we can use to get this in front of the App Review team directly? We have tried everything we can think of. Any help would be massively appreciated. This is our livelihood and the deadline pressure combined with a broken system is genuinely distressing. Thank you
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Apr ’26
StoreKit / IAP: Product WAITING_FOR_REVIEW — works locally with production RevenueCat key + Apple Sandbox, fails during App Review
Hello, I need guidance on App Store Connect product state vs StoreKit behavior during App Review. Stack: iOS app (Expo / React Native), subscriptions via RevenueCat + StoreKit. Bundle ID matches App Store Connect. RevenueCat API keys — what I’ve verified locally: With the production RevenueCat API key (iOS appl_..., same as the submitted build), everything works on local device but not when I download it from TestFlight. I have also tested with RevenueCat’s sandbox / test API key (the separate key intended for sandbox/testing). That setup works as well — I can load offerings and complete test purchases the same way What RevenueCat (SDK / dashboard health) reports: Product monthly is configured in RevenueCat. Warnings that products aren’t approved in App Store Connect yet and that the default offering has configuration issues. Apple’s product state: WAITING_FOR_REVIEW. The SDK still states that test purchases are possible. What App Review reports: After onboarding a new business account, “Activate subscription” leads to an error (plans don’t load / purchase path fails). Review suggested an app code issue. Why this is confusing: Locally, both RevenueCat key modes I tried (production and sandbox/test) work with Apple Sandbox on the device. The submitted build uses the production RevenueCat key. Review still sees a failure. Questions: For IAP in WAITING_FOR_REVIEW, should App Review always use an Apple Sandbox account to test subscriptions until the product is fully approved? Is it documented that StoreKit may not return products during review without Sandbox while the product remains WAITING_FOR_REVIEW? Has anyone else seen “works locally (prod + sandbox RevenueCat keys + Apple Sandbox) but Review fails” with the same WAITING_FOR_REVIEW state? Thanks for any official documentation or similar threads.
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Apr ’26
Apple reviewer not seeing product pricing in paywall
Hello, I have a perplexing issue with apple reviewers not having the same experience as myself regarding the paywall. This is an Expo app and uses RevenueCat and SuperWall integrations. This app is going through its first review - it is not published yet. So the app and its subscriptions are being reviewed for the first time. I should also mention that this is my first time as an app developer, so please pardon my ignorance. When I install the app from TestFlight and launch it, I see the paywall with the product prices shown and I can complete a test purchase. Same for my friends who I've asked to test for me. But the apple reviewer does not see the product prices when the paywall is shown to them. Without being able to replicate the problem I am flying blind. I don't want to re-submit the app for review only to find the same problem exists. I also need to understand what is different between my testing environment and the apple testers. If anyone can point me in the right direction here I would really appreciate the help!
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Apr ’26
“In-App Purchases and Subscriptions” section on the version page not showing
I’m trying to submit my app for review, but I’m currently blocked due to a recurring issue with in-app subscriptions. Both of my auto-renewable subscriptions (premium_monthly and premium_yearly) are marked as “Waiting for Review”. However, I am still seeing the blue box stating that “your first subscription must be submitted with a new app version.” Despite creating a new version (1.0.1) and uploading/selecting a new build , I am not seeing the “In-App Purchases and Subscriptions” section on the version page, and I therefore cannot link the subscriptions before submitting. This issue is blocking my ability to submit the app for review. Any help to resolve this would be greatly appreciated.
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Apr ’26
My app is in review since Feb 3, 2026
Hi there, I originally submitted my app on February 3, 2026. It was rejected initially with a request for additional information. Since then, I’ve gone through several rounds of communication and provided all the requested documents, including company formation details etc. The app was moved to “In Review” again on March 10, 2026, but there has been no update since then. It’s now been over two months since the initial submission, and I haven’t received any further feedback or decision since more than a month. This delay is starting to impact our business, as we’ve been waiting without any clear timeline or direction. Could you please advise if there’s any way to contact the review team directly or expedite the process or any other suggestion that could help? Thank you.
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Apr ’26
Music streaming app with external payment only – EEA compliance question
Hi everyone, I'm developing a music streaming app for iOS and I have a question about App Store guidelines before I submit. Here's how my app works: The app has a signup screen and a login screen There are NO in-app purchases at all Users pay for their subscription on our external website (a separate web app) Once they've paid on the website, they log into the iOS app to listen to music The app itself contains no payment flow, just an external link directing users to our website to subscribe My company is based in France (EU/EEA). My questions: Is this external-payment-only model permitted under current App Store Review Guidelines? Since I'm in the EEA, do I need to apply for an External Purchase Link Entitlement (StoreKit External Purchase Link), or can I operate without it since payment happens entirely outside the app? Is there a difference between simply not having any payment in the app vs. actively linking users out to a website for payment? I want to get this right before submitting. Any guidance from Apple engineers or developers who've dealt with this would be really appreciated. Thanks!
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Apr ’26
Questions Regarding Apple's Third-party SDKs Signature Policy
Hello, I have a question regarding Apple's policy on third-party SDK signatures. I have reviewed the official documentation here: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements/ Our app is developed in the following environment: Minimum Target: iOS 15 Xcode: 26.2 Engine: Unreal Engine 4.27.2 We are integrating the Firebase SDK into our project. However, we are experiencing app crashes caused by an issue within the GoogleAdsOnDeviceConversion.xcframework included in the Firebase SDK (related to a memory optimization issue in UE4). According to an official response from the Firebase team, this crash can be resolved by wrapping the Firebase SDK in a dynamic XCFramework. We have confirmed that this solution does indeed fix the crash. The problem is that wrapping the Firebase SDK in a custom dynamic XCFramework removes all of the original Firebase SDK signatures. The documentation on third-party SDK signatures, which I referenced earlier, states that a signature is required for the Firebase SDK, and this requirement also applies when repackaging it. This leads me to the following questions: Question 1: When we wrap and repackage the Firebase SDK, is it mandatory for the resulting XCFramework to still include the original Google LLC signature? Question 2: To resolve the crash, we intend to use the Firebase SDK by wrapping it in our own dynamic XCFramework (e.g., FirebaseWrapper.xcframework). When we do this, the resulting XCFramework loses the Google LLC signature, and consequently, the final built IPA's signature list does not contain any Firebase-related signatures. Will this be a reason for rejection during App Store review? Question 3: If we wrap the Firebase SDK in a dynamic XCFramework and then sign it with our own developer certificate, would this be a reason for rejection during App Store review?
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Apr ’26
In-App Purchase works in Sandbox & TestFlight, but App Review reports “No action on Subscribe button”
Hello everyone, I’m facing a persistent App Store rejection under Guideline 2.1(b) – App Completeness, related to In-App Purchases, and I’m unable to reproduce the issue on my end. Issue reported by Apple Review Apple Review team reports: “No action occurred when we attempted to buy the subscription.” Device: iPad Air 11-inch (M3) OS: iPadOS 26.4.1 What I have verified from my side I have thoroughly tested the subscription flow under multiple scenarios: Sandbox Testing Using sandbox test accounts Product loads correctly Purchase flow completes successfully Apple payment sheet appears properly TestFlight Testing Installed app via TestFlight Logged in with real Apple ID (Beta tester) Successfully completed subscription purchase Device Testing Tested on multiple iPhones Tested on iPad as well Purchase flow works correctly on all devices App Store Connect Configuration Paid Apps Agreement → Active Banking & Tax → Completed (no pending warnings) In-App Purchase status → “In Review” Product is correctly configured and attached to app What Apple is experiencing Based on their feedback and screenshots: Subscription screen loads correctly Product price is visible When tapping “Subscribe Now” → no action occurs No error message, no purchase sheet Is there a recommended workaround or reviewer instruction to avoid this deadlock? Any insights or real-world experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Apr ’26
Communication Message[5.0.0 Legal: Preamble]
Dear Developer, We are writing to notify you that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has identified your app as in violation of the Regulation on Personal Information in Mobile Apps. If your app is not compliant by April 20, 2026, MIIT will find your app to be illegal in China, and demand that Apple remove it from the China App Store. The App Review Guidelines require apps to comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are offered. Legal Apps must comply with all legal requirements in any location where you make them available (if you’re not sure, check with a lawyer). We know this stuff is complicated, but it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app conforms with all local laws, not just the guidelines below. And of course, apps that solicit, promote, or encourage criminal or clearly reckless behavior will be rejected. We ask that you refer to the directions included in the document attached to this message. If you have any questions, we advise you to get in touch with MIIT within 24 hours of this notice by submitting your feedback via https://app.caict.ac.cn/. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Best regards, App Review Message Attachments: Directions.docx
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Apr ’26
My VPN client has troubles being uploaded.
Hello Apple Developer commuinty! We have been developing a VPN client app with unique protocol for quite a while, and now it have come to publishing it in App Store/Google play. I know that publishing a VPN service requires organization(which i cant register because of my life situation), that why i have choosen to make a client. User is NOT necessarily required to use official hosting, theres an option of importing external key. App itself, doesnt contain any hardcoded server credentials and such, but it does have option to get free config from website by click. For some reason, my app review have not gone well. Apple have claimed my app have violated Guidelines 4.3(a) and 5.4. In all of my respect for App Review Team, but claim on Guideline 4.3(a) - Spam is completely ridiculous! App was completely written from the ground, not only including protocol, but the design itself. The "MONOGON" style, is unique application style which no other app on app store have seen(featuring dotted ASCII style, with blooms and contrast colors). In a million years, i would never guess what they have seen "identical to other apps on app store". Claim on Guideline 5.4 though, is a lot more reasonable, yet still not exactly correct. My app is mainly a client, not a service. The main function of it - bringing secure d1mension protocol to live on iOS and iPadOS platforms. The first setup, has both link to get official config(completely free without login, similar to AmneziaWG app), or to import own config. The code secures and encrypts packets such a way, that no external server could listen/decrypt it except for the original user destination, which makes it completely secure for the user. The main goal of DrochVPN app, is to bring users freedom in how they connect, to which server they connect. Any sort of help with publishing our app would be greatly appreciated, and we are ready to introduce changes, if they are required. App review identificator: 2f59adfb-ec49-4431-91c0-8e9b1984ad2e
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Apr ’26
Does using HIDVirtualDevice rule out Mac App Store distribution?
Hi, I’m looking for clarification from folks familiar with CoreHID rather than App Review, as the guys there have not responded to my post (https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/820676) We have a sandboxed macOS app that creates a virtual HID device (HIDVirtualDevice) as described in Creating virtual devices https://developer.apple.com/documentation/corehid/creatingvirtualdevices To work at all, the app requires the entitlement: com.apple.developer.hid.virtual.device With this entitlement present, macOS shows the system prompt requesting Accessibility permission App would like to control this computer using accessibility features. Grant access to this application in Security and Privacy preferences located in System Preferences. when HIDVirtualDevice(properties:) is called. There is no mention of Accessibility in the HIDVirtualDevice documentation, but the behavior is reproducible and seems unavoidable. My question is therefore: Is creating a virtual HID device from userspace via HIDVirtualDevice considered inherently incompatible with Mac App Store distribution? In other words: Is the Accessibility prompt an expected side‑effect of this API? And if so, does that mean using HIDVirtualDevice is only practical for direct (non–App Store) distribution unless the app is explicitly an accessibility tool? I’m not asking about review policy details—just whether, from a technical/system point of view, HIDVirtualDevice is actually intended to be usable by App Store apps. For context, there seem to be public, non‑accessibility uses of Apple’s virtual HID infrastructure, like this recent post: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/820708 and corresponding Github repo this project. I don't know if these intend to use the App Store, but they might end up in the same situation. Any insights from people who’ve worked with CoreHID would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Magnus
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Apr ’26
Notice of Termination. How to contact Apple and restore my account and apps?
Received email from Apple with title "notification of apple Developer Program License Agreement (“DPLA”) violation." We're writing to inform you that your company isn't in compliance with the Apple Developer Program License Agreement (DPLA). Section 11.2 (Termination) states: (g) if You engage, or encourage others to engage, in any misleading, fraudulent, improper, unlawful or dishonest act relating to this Agreement, including, but not limited to, misrepresenting the nature of Your Application (e.g., hiding or trying to hide functionality from Apple’s review, falsifying consumer reviews for Your Application, engaging in payment fraud, etc.). Be aware that manipulating App Store chart rankings, user reviews or search index may result in the loss of your developer program membership. Please address this issue promptly. Same day i response that do not did any actions from this list or similar to them, describing every point. Next day i received response Thank you for your reply. As noted in the original notification, manipulating App Store chart rankings, user reviews, or search index is a violation of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement (DPLA) and may result in the loss of your Developer program membership. We suggest you conduct internal investigations to ensure you and any third-parties you may work with are in compliance with the DPLA and App Store Review Guidelines. We also encourage you to closely monitor your app activities. If you notice any unusual activity in the future, please follow these steps: Sign in to App Store Connect > Contact Us > Report a Concern > Report a Fraud Concern. We are unable to provide additional information at this time. Thank you for your efforts to make the App Store a safe and enjoyable experience for users and a great opportunity for all developers to be successful. I made response, that i checked everything, only one problem was in backend functionality working badly, but already fixed it (it was not about Apple license rules, it is just one of app functionalities returns error instead of answer. And it was fixed) Also i asked if current problem is solved and write emails if something else needs to be fixed. But no any responses was, and in 20 days i received email "Notice of Termination" Pursuant to Section 3.2(f) of the ADP Agreement, you agreed that you would not “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…” Apple has good reason to believe that you violated this Section due to documented indications of fraudulent conduct associated with your account. ... "AppStoreConnect -> Contact Us" page not working, because i cannot log in for it. Please help to resolve this problem: How to contact with apple in a fast way to describe that i did not do any actions that are not in compliance and find a way to fix and restore account and app. App used Auto-renewable subscriptions, so we have maximum 1 week to restore app before subscriptions automatically canceling At least, how to get payments for subscriptions that was already collected by app. Apple wrote "If applicable, no further payments will be made to you pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Paid Applications agreement (Schedules 2 and 3 to the ADP Agreement)." But i ready to prove and discuss that I am not at fault, and if there is fault in the third-party companies promoting my app - the promotion will be stoped
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Apr ’26
Digital Services Act
Our compliance with the Digital Services Act is still under review after more than a month. We have sent several emails to Apple, but have received no response. Furthermore, we cannot find any information or links to submit new information or restart the review. What should we do? We need to publish our application in Europe.
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Apr ’26
App update showing status as "In review" for 17 days
Hello, Our application has been stuck in the "In Review" status for 17 days now, and we are looking for guidance on whether this is a known technical stall or an extended policy audit. The Issue: The app moved from "Waiting for Review" to "In Review" on March 25th. Since then, there has been no change in status and no messages in the Resolution Center. App ID: 6753868146 Thanks
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Apr ’26
pp update in "Waiting for Review" for 65 days — no response to expedite requests
Our app update for Underground Arena (a padel sports community platform) has been pending review for over (65 days), since the first submission on February 11, 2026. At no point has the submission transitioned to "In Review" or received any feedback. The previously approved version (v1.1.2) was reviewed and approved within one day. This update includes security improvements, privacy policy alignment, and metadata updates. No changes to monetization or permissions. We have submitted two expedited review requests and opened support case 102840575585 — none have resulted in movement. We have a padel tournament on April 22, 2026 that requires the updated app for participant registration. Our Android version is already live on Google Play, and iOS users are currently unable to access the latest features. Could someone from the review team please confirm whether this submission is in extended review, or advise on any information needed to proceed? Thank you.
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115
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Apr ’26
App Store Distribution – Minimum Deployment Targets (iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS) with XCode 26
Hello Team, We’ve confirmed Apple’s current minimum OS requirements for Xcode 26: iOS 15 – 26 iPadOS 15 – 26 tvOS 15 – 26 watchOS 8 – 26 visionOS 1 – 26 macOS 11 – 26 Are we correct in understanding that any builds targeting below these versions are no longer accepted by the App Store and may fail to launch for users on older systems? Like this https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/821370?answerId=882822022#882822022 For Steam macOS distribution, can older macOS targets still be supported, or should we align strictly with Apple’s minimums? Thank you and best regards, Phong
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202
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Apr ’26
2 Months of Identical Copy-Paste Rejections for a Game Emulator — No Human Review, No Meaningful Feedback
Hello, I'm the developer of RPGPlayer, a game emulator for RPG Maker games that has been live on the App Store since 2025. I'm writing here out of frustration and desperation after 2+ months of trying to publish a critical bug fix update. The Situation I submitted v2.4 on February 21, 2026. Since then, I have received 9+ rejections under Guidelines 4.7 and 2.5.2. Every single rejection message is word-for-word identical — the same copy-pasted text, every time. None of my detailed technical responses have ever been acknowledged or addressed. I have submitted appeals twice through the App Review Board. Both times I received the same automated response: "The App Review Board will contact you directly once they've completed their investigation." The first appeal went unanswered for over 30 days. At this point, I genuinely do not believe a human being has opened my app during any of these reviews. The Technical Reality RPGPlayer is a game emulator, explicitly permitted under Guideline 4.7. The rejection under 4.7 states that "HTML5-based games appear to be an incidental feature." This is incorrect. RPG Maker MV/MZ games are built on HTML5/JavaScript by design — that is the engine's native architecture on all platforms including PC and consoles. The WKWebView is the emulation layer, not a web browser or game portal. There are zero bundled games. The rejection under 2.5.2 states the app "installed or launched executable code." The app does not download anything from the internet. It includes a bundled, statically-linked runtime (MKXP-Z) that interprets local game scripts from user-imported files — identical to how Delta Emulator interprets ROM instructions. The Double Standard Other apps on the App Store use the exact same architecture as RPGPlayer: Delta Emulator — approved under Guideline 4.7, interprets user-provided ROM files Quest Play — RPG Maker MV/MZ player, uses the same WebView approach, currently receiving updates ArkRPG — same engine, same architecture, also on the App Store and getting updates. These apps are approved and actively updated. RPGPlayer is being rejected with automated messages for doing the exact same thing. What I've Tried Detailed technical responses in Resolution Center — ignored Two App Review Board appeals — no meaningful response Contact Us support requests — automated replies Provided ROM files, video walkthroughs, and thorough App Review Notes — none of it acknowledged The Impact My users have been waiting 50+ days for a critical bug fix. Some have left negative reviews calling me a scammer because they think I abandoned the app. I haven't. I've been fighting this review process every single day. I have a Meet with Apple appointment scheduled. But I wanted to share this here as well — both to ask if anyone has faced a similar situation with emulator apps, and to document what is happening in case it helps other developers. Has anyone successfully resolved a 4.7 + 2.5.2 rejection for a legitimate emulator app? Any advice is welcome.
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87
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Apr ’26
Critical Bug — Cannot Submit or Delete Draft Response to Guideline 5.6.4 Notice — App at Risk of Removal
Hi everyone, I am hoping someone here has experienced this and can help, because we are in a really difficult position right now. We received a notice from App Review regarding Guideline 5.6.4 and have been working hard to prepare a full response with supporting evidence. The problem is that a draft response exists in App Store Connect that we cannot submit or delete. Every time we click either Submit or Delete Draft, we get the same error: "The resource cannot be found" That is it. No further explanation, no workaround, nothing. The draft is just stuck there and we cannot get past it. Because we could not submit through the normal channel, we uploaded a new build with our action plan included in the notes, hoping that would reach the review team. The build has been sitting there unreviewed. We have raised a support ticket with Apple Developer Support and have not received any response. The clock is ticking. App Review has given us a deadline to respond or face removal from the App Store. We have our response ready. We have our evidence ready. We just physically cannot submit it because of what appears to be a technical bug on Apple's side. Has anyone else hit this "resource cannot be found" error on a draft App Review response? Is there any other channel we can use to get this in front of the App Review team directly? We have tried everything we can think of. Any help would be massively appreciated. This is our livelihood and the deadline pressure combined with a broken system is genuinely distressing. Thank you
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118
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Apr ’26
StoreKit / IAP: Product WAITING_FOR_REVIEW — works locally with production RevenueCat key + Apple Sandbox, fails during App Review
Hello, I need guidance on App Store Connect product state vs StoreKit behavior during App Review. Stack: iOS app (Expo / React Native), subscriptions via RevenueCat + StoreKit. Bundle ID matches App Store Connect. RevenueCat API keys — what I’ve verified locally: With the production RevenueCat API key (iOS appl_..., same as the submitted build), everything works on local device but not when I download it from TestFlight. I have also tested with RevenueCat’s sandbox / test API key (the separate key intended for sandbox/testing). That setup works as well — I can load offerings and complete test purchases the same way What RevenueCat (SDK / dashboard health) reports: Product monthly is configured in RevenueCat. Warnings that products aren’t approved in App Store Connect yet and that the default offering has configuration issues. Apple’s product state: WAITING_FOR_REVIEW. The SDK still states that test purchases are possible. What App Review reports: After onboarding a new business account, “Activate subscription” leads to an error (plans don’t load / purchase path fails). Review suggested an app code issue. Why this is confusing: Locally, both RevenueCat key modes I tried (production and sandbox/test) work with Apple Sandbox on the device. The submitted build uses the production RevenueCat key. Review still sees a failure. Questions: For IAP in WAITING_FOR_REVIEW, should App Review always use an Apple Sandbox account to test subscriptions until the product is fully approved? Is it documented that StoreKit may not return products during review without Sandbox while the product remains WAITING_FOR_REVIEW? Has anyone else seen “works locally (prod + sandbox RevenueCat keys + Apple Sandbox) but Review fails” with the same WAITING_FOR_REVIEW state? Thanks for any official documentation or similar threads.
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133
Activity
Apr ’26
Apple reviewer not seeing product pricing in paywall
Hello, I have a perplexing issue with apple reviewers not having the same experience as myself regarding the paywall. This is an Expo app and uses RevenueCat and SuperWall integrations. This app is going through its first review - it is not published yet. So the app and its subscriptions are being reviewed for the first time. I should also mention that this is my first time as an app developer, so please pardon my ignorance. When I install the app from TestFlight and launch it, I see the paywall with the product prices shown and I can complete a test purchase. Same for my friends who I've asked to test for me. But the apple reviewer does not see the product prices when the paywall is shown to them. Without being able to replicate the problem I am flying blind. I don't want to re-submit the app for review only to find the same problem exists. I also need to understand what is different between my testing environment and the apple testers. If anyone can point me in the right direction here I would really appreciate the help!
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144
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Apr ’26
“In-App Purchases and Subscriptions” section on the version page not showing
I’m trying to submit my app for review, but I’m currently blocked due to a recurring issue with in-app subscriptions. Both of my auto-renewable subscriptions (premium_monthly and premium_yearly) are marked as “Waiting for Review”. However, I am still seeing the blue box stating that “your first subscription must be submitted with a new app version.” Despite creating a new version (1.0.1) and uploading/selecting a new build , I am not seeing the “In-App Purchases and Subscriptions” section on the version page, and I therefore cannot link the subscriptions before submitting. This issue is blocking my ability to submit the app for review. Any help to resolve this would be greatly appreciated.
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7
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1
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346
Activity
Apr ’26
My app is in review since Feb 3, 2026
Hi there, I originally submitted my app on February 3, 2026. It was rejected initially with a request for additional information. Since then, I’ve gone through several rounds of communication and provided all the requested documents, including company formation details etc. The app was moved to “In Review” again on March 10, 2026, but there has been no update since then. It’s now been over two months since the initial submission, and I haven’t received any further feedback or decision since more than a month. This delay is starting to impact our business, as we’ve been waiting without any clear timeline or direction. Could you please advise if there’s any way to contact the review team directly or expedite the process or any other suggestion that could help? Thank you.
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2
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0
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90
Activity
Apr ’26
No update on App Review
Since April 6 I’m waiting for review. No updates. They usually say that takes 24-48hrs to be reviewed. I'm at 10 days already. And I get no response on my emails and ticket.
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1
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0
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66
Activity
Apr ’26
Music streaming app with external payment only – EEA compliance question
Hi everyone, I'm developing a music streaming app for iOS and I have a question about App Store guidelines before I submit. Here's how my app works: The app has a signup screen and a login screen There are NO in-app purchases at all Users pay for their subscription on our external website (a separate web app) Once they've paid on the website, they log into the iOS app to listen to music The app itself contains no payment flow, just an external link directing users to our website to subscribe My company is based in France (EU/EEA). My questions: Is this external-payment-only model permitted under current App Store Review Guidelines? Since I'm in the EEA, do I need to apply for an External Purchase Link Entitlement (StoreKit External Purchase Link), or can I operate without it since payment happens entirely outside the app? Is there a difference between simply not having any payment in the app vs. actively linking users out to a website for payment? I want to get this right before submitting. Any guidance from Apple engineers or developers who've dealt with this would be really appreciated. Thanks!
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1
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0
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190
Activity
Apr ’26
Questions Regarding Apple's Third-party SDKs Signature Policy
Hello, I have a question regarding Apple's policy on third-party SDK signatures. I have reviewed the official documentation here: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements/ Our app is developed in the following environment: Minimum Target: iOS 15 Xcode: 26.2 Engine: Unreal Engine 4.27.2 We are integrating the Firebase SDK into our project. However, we are experiencing app crashes caused by an issue within the GoogleAdsOnDeviceConversion.xcframework included in the Firebase SDK (related to a memory optimization issue in UE4). According to an official response from the Firebase team, this crash can be resolved by wrapping the Firebase SDK in a dynamic XCFramework. We have confirmed that this solution does indeed fix the crash. The problem is that wrapping the Firebase SDK in a custom dynamic XCFramework removes all of the original Firebase SDK signatures. The documentation on third-party SDK signatures, which I referenced earlier, states that a signature is required for the Firebase SDK, and this requirement also applies when repackaging it. This leads me to the following questions: Question 1: When we wrap and repackage the Firebase SDK, is it mandatory for the resulting XCFramework to still include the original Google LLC signature? Question 2: To resolve the crash, we intend to use the Firebase SDK by wrapping it in our own dynamic XCFramework (e.g., FirebaseWrapper.xcframework). When we do this, the resulting XCFramework loses the Google LLC signature, and consequently, the final built IPA's signature list does not contain any Firebase-related signatures. Will this be a reason for rejection during App Store review? Question 3: If we wrap the Firebase SDK in a dynamic XCFramework and then sign it with our own developer certificate, would this be a reason for rejection during App Store review?
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0
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0
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551
Activity
Apr ’26
In-App Purchase works in Sandbox & TestFlight, but App Review reports “No action on Subscribe button”
Hello everyone, I’m facing a persistent App Store rejection under Guideline 2.1(b) – App Completeness, related to In-App Purchases, and I’m unable to reproduce the issue on my end. Issue reported by Apple Review Apple Review team reports: “No action occurred when we attempted to buy the subscription.” Device: iPad Air 11-inch (M3) OS: iPadOS 26.4.1 What I have verified from my side I have thoroughly tested the subscription flow under multiple scenarios: Sandbox Testing Using sandbox test accounts Product loads correctly Purchase flow completes successfully Apple payment sheet appears properly TestFlight Testing Installed app via TestFlight Logged in with real Apple ID (Beta tester) Successfully completed subscription purchase Device Testing Tested on multiple iPhones Tested on iPad as well Purchase flow works correctly on all devices App Store Connect Configuration Paid Apps Agreement → Active Banking & Tax → Completed (no pending warnings) In-App Purchase status → “In Review” Product is correctly configured and attached to app What Apple is experiencing Based on their feedback and screenshots: Subscription screen loads correctly Product price is visible When tapping “Subscribe Now” → no action occurs No error message, no purchase sheet Is there a recommended workaround or reviewer instruction to avoid this deadlock? Any insights or real-world experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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0
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0
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116
Activity
Apr ’26
Communication Message[5.0.0 Legal: Preamble]
Dear Developer, We are writing to notify you that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has identified your app as in violation of the Regulation on Personal Information in Mobile Apps. If your app is not compliant by April 20, 2026, MIIT will find your app to be illegal in China, and demand that Apple remove it from the China App Store. The App Review Guidelines require apps to comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are offered. Legal Apps must comply with all legal requirements in any location where you make them available (if you’re not sure, check with a lawyer). We know this stuff is complicated, but it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app conforms with all local laws, not just the guidelines below. And of course, apps that solicit, promote, or encourage criminal or clearly reckless behavior will be rejected. We ask that you refer to the directions included in the document attached to this message. If you have any questions, we advise you to get in touch with MIIT within 24 hours of this notice by submitting your feedback via https://app.caict.ac.cn/. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Best regards, App Review Message Attachments: Directions.docx
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0
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0
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136
Activity
Apr ’26
My VPN client has troubles being uploaded.
Hello Apple Developer commuinty! We have been developing a VPN client app with unique protocol for quite a while, and now it have come to publishing it in App Store/Google play. I know that publishing a VPN service requires organization(which i cant register because of my life situation), that why i have choosen to make a client. User is NOT necessarily required to use official hosting, theres an option of importing external key. App itself, doesnt contain any hardcoded server credentials and such, but it does have option to get free config from website by click. For some reason, my app review have not gone well. Apple have claimed my app have violated Guidelines 4.3(a) and 5.4. In all of my respect for App Review Team, but claim on Guideline 4.3(a) - Spam is completely ridiculous! App was completely written from the ground, not only including protocol, but the design itself. The "MONOGON" style, is unique application style which no other app on app store have seen(featuring dotted ASCII style, with blooms and contrast colors). In a million years, i would never guess what they have seen "identical to other apps on app store". Claim on Guideline 5.4 though, is a lot more reasonable, yet still not exactly correct. My app is mainly a client, not a service. The main function of it - bringing secure d1mension protocol to live on iOS and iPadOS platforms. The first setup, has both link to get official config(completely free without login, similar to AmneziaWG app), or to import own config. The code secures and encrypts packets such a way, that no external server could listen/decrypt it except for the original user destination, which makes it completely secure for the user. The main goal of DrochVPN app, is to bring users freedom in how they connect, to which server they connect. Any sort of help with publishing our app would be greatly appreciated, and we are ready to introduce changes, if they are required. App review identificator: 2f59adfb-ec49-4431-91c0-8e9b1984ad2e
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1
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0
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86
Activity
Apr ’26
Does using HIDVirtualDevice rule out Mac App Store distribution?
Hi, I’m looking for clarification from folks familiar with CoreHID rather than App Review, as the guys there have not responded to my post (https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/820676) We have a sandboxed macOS app that creates a virtual HID device (HIDVirtualDevice) as described in Creating virtual devices https://developer.apple.com/documentation/corehid/creatingvirtualdevices To work at all, the app requires the entitlement: com.apple.developer.hid.virtual.device With this entitlement present, macOS shows the system prompt requesting Accessibility permission App would like to control this computer using accessibility features. Grant access to this application in Security and Privacy preferences located in System Preferences. when HIDVirtualDevice(properties:) is called. There is no mention of Accessibility in the HIDVirtualDevice documentation, but the behavior is reproducible and seems unavoidable. My question is therefore: Is creating a virtual HID device from userspace via HIDVirtualDevice considered inherently incompatible with Mac App Store distribution? In other words: Is the Accessibility prompt an expected side‑effect of this API? And if so, does that mean using HIDVirtualDevice is only practical for direct (non–App Store) distribution unless the app is explicitly an accessibility tool? I’m not asking about review policy details—just whether, from a technical/system point of view, HIDVirtualDevice is actually intended to be usable by App Store apps. For context, there seem to be public, non‑accessibility uses of Apple’s virtual HID infrastructure, like this recent post: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/820708 and corresponding Github repo this project. I don't know if these intend to use the App Store, but they might end up in the same situation. Any insights from people who’ve worked with CoreHID would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Magnus
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6
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378
Activity
Apr ’26
Notice of Termination. How to contact Apple and restore my account and apps?
Received email from Apple with title "notification of apple Developer Program License Agreement (“DPLA”) violation." We're writing to inform you that your company isn't in compliance with the Apple Developer Program License Agreement (DPLA). Section 11.2 (Termination) states: (g) if You engage, or encourage others to engage, in any misleading, fraudulent, improper, unlawful or dishonest act relating to this Agreement, including, but not limited to, misrepresenting the nature of Your Application (e.g., hiding or trying to hide functionality from Apple’s review, falsifying consumer reviews for Your Application, engaging in payment fraud, etc.). Be aware that manipulating App Store chart rankings, user reviews or search index may result in the loss of your developer program membership. Please address this issue promptly. Same day i response that do not did any actions from this list or similar to them, describing every point. Next day i received response Thank you for your reply. As noted in the original notification, manipulating App Store chart rankings, user reviews, or search index is a violation of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement (DPLA) and may result in the loss of your Developer program membership. We suggest you conduct internal investigations to ensure you and any third-parties you may work with are in compliance with the DPLA and App Store Review Guidelines. We also encourage you to closely monitor your app activities. If you notice any unusual activity in the future, please follow these steps: Sign in to App Store Connect > Contact Us > Report a Concern > Report a Fraud Concern. We are unable to provide additional information at this time. Thank you for your efforts to make the App Store a safe and enjoyable experience for users and a great opportunity for all developers to be successful. I made response, that i checked everything, only one problem was in backend functionality working badly, but already fixed it (it was not about Apple license rules, it is just one of app functionalities returns error instead of answer. And it was fixed) Also i asked if current problem is solved and write emails if something else needs to be fixed. But no any responses was, and in 20 days i received email "Notice of Termination" Pursuant to Section 3.2(f) of the ADP Agreement, you agreed that you would not “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…” Apple has good reason to believe that you violated this Section due to documented indications of fraudulent conduct associated with your account. ... "AppStoreConnect -> Contact Us" page not working, because i cannot log in for it. Please help to resolve this problem: How to contact with apple in a fast way to describe that i did not do any actions that are not in compliance and find a way to fix and restore account and app. App used Auto-renewable subscriptions, so we have maximum 1 week to restore app before subscriptions automatically canceling At least, how to get payments for subscriptions that was already collected by app. Apple wrote "If applicable, no further payments will be made to you pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Paid Applications agreement (Schedules 2 and 3 to the ADP Agreement)." But i ready to prove and discuss that I am not at fault, and if there is fault in the third-party companies promoting my app - the promotion will be stoped
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3
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1
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1.7k
Activity
Apr ’26
Digital Services Act
Our compliance with the Digital Services Act is still under review after more than a month. We have sent several emails to Apple, but have received no response. Furthermore, we cannot find any information or links to submit new information or restart the review. What should we do? We need to publish our application in Europe.
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0
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0
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64
Activity
Apr ’26
App update showing status as "In review" for 17 days
Hello, Our application has been stuck in the "In Review" status for 17 days now, and we are looking for guidance on whether this is a known technical stall or an extended policy audit. The Issue: The app moved from "Waiting for Review" to "In Review" on March 25th. Since then, there has been no change in status and no messages in the Resolution Center. App ID: 6753868146 Thanks
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6
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230
Activity
Apr ’26
App submission on waiting for review ID 6758008521
ID 6758008521, Dear App Review Team, I submitted my app review and it got rejected for inaccurate screenshot. I have revised the app screenshot and also resubmitted. But it has been 8 days and no response. We look forward to completing the review, thank you.
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2
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0
Views
283
Activity
Apr ’26
Waiting for review
Hi, My app is waiting for review since Saturday at 5:42 PM, so is TestFlight. It has been rejected a couple of times, and errors were fixed with each update. Is this normal?
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1
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0
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133
Activity
Apr ’26