Hi all, We're looking for some level of explanation explaining the delay in review times since the New Year. I develop an Application that has been on the AppStore for almost a decade and this is a fully functional business. Historically, Apple were quite good with review times and feedback but since the New Year we're suffered massively trying to get important fixes out to our users. This has begun to negatively effect the bottom line of the business. On top of that, when we ARE lucky enough to get a review, Reviewers have started to make complaints about certain Info.plist declarations that we've had for the longest time with no issue, and they're only being raised as issues now. These rejections lead to further 4-5 day wait times for a review and our customers are on our backs daily looking for answers of why we can't deploy these fixes. Is this the new reality at Apple? What is the reasoning for these delays? Influx of new apps? Cuts to your review department? Change in how Applications reviews are prioritised? Not even Expedited Reviews are helping as they should. Please provide us with an explanation of what's going on here because our customers are furious. Kind regards, K

I submitted a software update for one iOS app several days ago. It was approved two days ago. I received a message about distribution that said The status of your app has changed to Ready for Distribution I happened at the iTunes Connect website at that very moment in order to submit a totally new iOS app to the App Store. Its status said 'Removed from App Store.' I thought it was a rare mistake. Unfortunately, it's not. The one that I was submitting was approved some 15 minutes ago. I received the 'Ready for Distribution' message by email. Yet, it's been removed from the store as you see in the screenshot below. As you see in the 2nd screenshot below, it says that it's Ready for Distribution. But it's not? So is this a new norm? And we have to go back the iTunes Connect website to change the app status every time we submit a software title and then get it approved?

I’m experiencing an issue with my app submission that has been stuck in “Waiting for Review” for several days, and I wanted to check if others are facing a similar situation or if this is currently expected.

​I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the noticeable and unusual delays in the app and update review process throughout this month of February. ​We have observed that all of our recent submissions have been stuck in the "Waiting for Review" status for periods that far exceed the standard App Store review times. This continuous delay is having a direct and negative impact on our workflow, as it is hindering our ability to: ​Release critical updates and timely bug fixes. ​Roll out new features that our users are expecting. ​Adhere to our planned marketing strategies and launch schedules. ​While we highly value your ongoing efforts to maintain the quality and security of the App Store, we kindly request some clarification on the cause of these widespread delays this month. We also urgently request that you expedite the review process for our pending submissions to prevent further disruption to our users' experience. ​Here are the details of the affected I have sent many emails no response

Hello, I have multiple iOS app updates (for already live apps) that have remained in “Waiting for Review” status since early February (approximately 4–5 weeks). These are standard updates (minor improvements / maintenance). All builds are properly attached, agreements are active, and there are no compliance or metadata warnings in App Store Connect. The apps were moved to “Waiting for Review” on February 6–11 and have not progressed to “In Review” since. Has anyone else experienced unusually long review times for updates recently? Could this indicate a queue issue at the account level? I have already contacted App Review Support and one of the submissions was marked for expedited review approximately one week ago, but the status remains unchanged in “Waiting for Review.” Thank you in advance.

Hey team, I am reaching out about an app I submitted for review (app id: 6748933312). I started the review process Feb 4th, 26 days ago. The process started off positively - I got my first response within 3 days and had to go back and forth a couple times to bake in some review feedback, which was expected since this was the first submission. I even jumped on a call with Bill who gave some super helpful clarifying guidance! Thanks Bill :) But it then went downhill from there... I submitted my 3rd version on Feb 12th and was hoping that would get me the approval. But then I didn't hear anything for 10 days despite calls to support and a request for expedited review. At which point I wasn't sure what to do and I wanted to iron out some bugs, so i pulled and resubmitted on Feb 22nd, and I still haven't heard back from the team. Stuck in "Waiting for review" for another 10 days. I really don't know what to do now, I can't tell if Apple has just stopped accepting new apps altogether? My friends are able to submit updates to existing apps and get approvals within hours. Pls help, I'm losing hope as a new app developer. -James

My app has now been back and forth stuck in review for a couple weeks. This is a crucial update which we promised users weeks ago. We tried expedited review a week ago and was quickly reviewed and rejected and apple mention not to use it again. However, my next reviews have been stuck for 5 days. I have tried to expedite again but no luck. Is there something wrong with my review or is this a worldwide problem?

Hi everyone, I submitted a new version (1.4) of my app,last Wednesday at 9:02 AM. It has been in the "Waiting for Review" status for over 5 days now. My previous updates were usually processed within 24-48 hours, so I’m concerned if there might be an issue with this specific build or if there's a general delay in the review queue. Has anyone else experienced similar delays recently? Should I continue to wait, or is it time to contact the App Review team directly?

Hi, my app has been stuck in Waiting for Review for 18 days. I contacted you via your contact us link a week ago, and haven't heard back. Overall I'm very disappointed by your inability to communicate The app ID is 6758786767

Hi everyone, I submitted a new version (1.4) of my app,last Wednesday at 9:02 AM. It has been in the "Waiting for Review" status for over 5 days now. My previous updates were usually processed within 24-48 hours, so I’m concerned if there might be an issue with this specific build or if there's a general delay in the review queue. Has anyone else experienced similar delays recently? Should I continue to wait, or is it time to contact the App Review team directly?

Hello everyone, I am an iOS developer based in South Korea, and I’m currently experiencing an unusual App Store review delay that I have not been able to resolve through the normal support channels. My app has been stuck in “Waiting for Review” for more than two weeks, and there has been no progress at all during this time. It has not moved to “In Review”, and I have not received any rejection message or request for additional information from the App Review team. App Information Platform: iOS App Name: WOOTA Apple ID: 6759412826 Status: Waiting for Review Submission Date: February 20, 2026 Developer Account Region: South Korea What I Have Already Tried: I have already attempted the following steps: Submitted an inquiry via App Store Connect → Contact Us → App Review Received a response from Developer Support saying they understand my concern and that they contacted the review team However, since then there have been no updates at all. The app status remains “Waiting for Review”, and there are no messages in the Resolution Center. Questions I would appreciate any insight into the following: Is it normal for an app to remain in “Waiting for Review” for more than two weeks without any status change? Are there any recent delays in the App Review queue that could cause this kind of situation? Is there any other support channel I should try in order to get more information (for example phone support or another ticket)? Is it possible that some hidden issue with my account or metadata could cause the submission to remain stuck in “Waiting for Review”? What I Verified I double-checked the following: All required metadata fields are completed Screenshots and app information are properly filled The status shows “Waiting for Review”, not Metadata Rejected or Missing Information There are no messages in the Resolution Center Previous versions of the app were approved without issues Concern I am worried that the submission might be stuck somewhere in the review queue or blocked for an unknown reason. This update contains important improvements and fixes for existing users, so the long delay is quite concerning. If anyone has experienced a similar situation recently, I would really appreciate your advice. If any Apple staff member happens to see this post, I would be extremely grateful if you could help check whether there is any issue with this submission. Thank you very much for your time and assistance. Best regards, Lee Yuchang

We are an App Developer for past 16 years so have seen a lot happen with App Review over the years (even back when 2 month review times were the norm). However, we have all come to expect app review to take only 48 hours typically. We submitted several macOS Tahoe updates in Feb all approved within 24 to 48 hours, but 2 updates submitted on 25th Feb are stuck in 'waiting for review'. Very strange indeed and checking this forum, it seems many other devs are having the same issue, but from way earlier than us. Is this a known issue currently? I suspect their are different app review queues by region and maybe even app category and popularity of the app, but even accounting for all that, this is unusual. There seems to be no logic to which apps are approved same day vs those kept stuck in 'waiting for review'.

Hello Apple Developer Support, My app has been stuck in “Waiting for Review” since February 7, and I have submitted multiple inquiries without receiving any response. This delay has now become extremely concerning. Missing a planned launch due to an indefinite review timeline is very difficult for independent developers. If there is an issue with the submission, I would appreciate clear communication. If there are review delays, transparency would help us plan accordingly. I respect the review process, but the lack of updates after this amount of time is frustrating. I would sincerely appreciate clarification on the status. I kindly ask for a specific and personalized response regarding my case, as my previous inquiries received only general or automated replies without addressing the actual issue. Apple ID: 6758804549 Thank you.

Hello Apple Developer Support, My app has been stuck in “Waiting for Review” since February 9. I have submitted multiple inquiries without receiving any response. This delay has now become extremely concerning. If there is an issue with the submission, I would appreciate clear communication. If there are review delays, transparency would help us plan accordingly. I respect the review process, but the lack of updates after this amount of time is frustrating. I would sincerely appreciate clarification on the status. Apple ID: 6755156178 Thank you.

Dear App Review Team, I hope you are well. I am writing to respectfully follow up on my recent submission (Dev ID: 1770951123), which has now been in “Waiting for Review” status for approximately 12+ days. Currently, four of my applications are in a similar state, including one update for an app that was previously approved without issue. Given my past experience, reviews have generally been completed within a reasonable timeframe. While I fully understand that review times may vary depending on workload, the extended duration in this case has raised some concern. I previously submitted an expedited review request and opened a support case (Case ID: 102832785901). However, I have not yet received any response regarding the status of the review or the case. To better understand the situation, I would sincerely appreciate clarification on the following points: Whether there are any issues or flags currently preventing the review process from proceeding Whether any additional information or documentation is required from my side Or whether the submission is simply pending assignment to a reviewer I completely understand that the App Review team may be experiencing a high volume of submissions. Nevertheless, given the duration and the number of affected apps, I would be very grateful if someone could kindly review my case and advise on the current status. Thank you very much for your time and assistance. I look forward to your response. Kind regards, Lovesoft

Hi everyone, My iOS app “TaskCal: Task Manager” (version 1.2.8) has been stuck in “Waiting for Review” for more than 3 weeks, and I’m not sure what else I can do at this point. Here are the key dates (GMT+8): Jan 30, 2026 – Version 1.2.3 was approved and marked “Ready for Distribution”. Jan 31 – Feb 8, 2026 – I submitted version 1.2.8 multiple times. Several submissions were later marked as “Removed” in App Store Connect. Feb 9, 2026, 12:39 AM – I submitted version 1.2.8 again. This submission has been in “Waiting for Review” ever since. Today is Mar 3, 2026 (Taipei time) – The status is still “Waiting for Review” with no change. Because of this, I contacted Apple Developer Support multiple times through Contact Support. I only received one reply, on Feb 21, 2026, which said: Hello Alan, Thank you for reaching out to Developer Support about your app, “TaskCal: Task Manager.” I understand that you’re concerned. After reviewing your app’s submission history, I can confirm that your apps is still in the “Waiting for Review” status as of February 8th 2026. To address your concern about the duration of your of the review, I’ve contacted the review team to bring this to their attention. At this time, there’s no further action required from your end. If the review team needs any additional information to complete the review, they’ll reach out to you directly. We appreciate your patience during this process. Your case number is 20000107493507. Stephanie Developer Support Since then, there has been no visible progress and no follow‑up messages. The App Review page still shows: Version: iOS 1.2.8 Status: Waiting for Review Case ID: 20000107493507 I completely understand that review times can vary, but: My previous version (1.2.3) was reviewed and approved normally. This is a relatively small productivity app with no major policy changes. It’s been over 3 weeks in “Waiting for Review” for this specific submission, with multiple earlier submissions of the same version being “Removed” without clear explanation in the UI. My questions: Is there anything I may have done wrong in the submission process (for example, causing multiple “Removed” submissions) that could block or delay this review? Is there any other official channel I can use to get more clarity beyond contacting Developer Support (which only confirmed that it’s “Waiting for Review”)? Has anyone here experienced a similar long “Waiting for Review” state recently, and if so, how was it resolved? I’m worried that there might be some issue with this build or with my account that I’m not seeing in App Store Connect. At the same time, I don’t want to keep canceling and re‑submitting if that could make the situation worse. Any advice from Apple or other developers who have gone through something similar would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Alan

Issue from App Review: My app shows a custom explanation screen before triggering the system location permission dialog. This screen explains why location access is needed. It includes: A “Continue” button → triggers the system permission dialog A “Not Now” button → dismisses the explanation and delays the permission request Apple states that: “The user should always proceed to the permission request after the message.” They are asking me to remove the exit button from the pre-permission message. My Questions Is it now against policy to include a “Not Now” option in a pre-permission explainer screen? Are we required to immediately show the system permission dialog after any pre-permission explanation? What is the recommended UX pattern if the feature depends on location but I don’t want to force the permission immediately at launch? Would it be compliant to: Remove the “Not Now” button, OR Remove the custom pre-prompt entirely and rely only on the system dialog? The feature in question requires location to function properly, but I want to implement it in a user-friendly way that respects user choice and avoids unnecessary denial rates. If anyone has recently resolved a similar 5.1.1(iv) issue, I’d really appreciate hearing how you handled it. Thank you in advance for your help!

Hi. I've been trying to reach Apple Developer support over the past week now regarding the status of my app reviews. My apps (ID: 6759058241 & 6759189808) has been waiting for review since the start of February 2026. I raised a support request two weeks ago but did not receive any updates or follow ups. May I know how I can get some help on this please? Thank you.

Hi everyone, I’m an iOS indie developer based in Taipei, and I’m running into a strange App Review delay that I haven’t been able to resolve through the usual channels. My app “TaskCal: Task Manager” (iOS), version 1.2.8, has been in the “Waiting for Review” status since February 9, 2026 in App Store Connect. It’s now been more than 3 weeks with no movement at all — no change to “In Review”, no rejection, no message from App Review. Here are some details: Platform: iOS App name: TaskCal: Task Manager Version: 1.2.8 Status: Waiting for Review Submitted: 2026-02-09 (Asia/Taipei time) Region: App Store Connect account registered in Taiwan I’ve already tried the following: Used App Store Connect → Contact Us → App Review to submit a support request. Got one reply from Developer Support saying they “understand my concern” and that they would “reach out to the appropriate team.” After that, there’s been no further update — the status is still stuck on “Waiting for Review,” and I haven’t received any additional emails or messages in Resolution Center. What I’d like to understand is: Is it normal for an app to stay in “Waiting for Review” for this long (3+ weeks) without any change? Are there any known issues recently with App Review queues or regional review delays that could explain this? Is there any other channel I should use (e.g., calling support, submitting another ticket, or contacting a specific team) to get clarity on what’s happening with this submission? Could there be some hidden problem with my account or app metadata that would cause it to be stuck at “Waiting for Review” instead of moving to “In Review” or “Rejected”? From my side, I’ve double-checked: All required fields and screenshots are filled in. App status shows “Waiting for Review,” not “Missing Information” or “Metadata Rejected.” No messages or required actions in the Resolution Center. Previous versions of this app have already been approved and released without issues. I’m worried that there might be something wrong in the backend, or that my app has somehow been stuck in the queue. As an indie developer, this update is important for my existing users (it includes bug fixes and small UX improvements), so I’d really appreciate any guidance on how to proceed. If anyone has experienced something similar recently, or if an Apple staff member could help check whether this submission is blocked for some reason, that would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for your time and help!

Hi developer community, First time iOS developer here. I originally submitted my iOS app for review on Friday February 20th and was asked to make a small change on Monday February 23rd, which I did promptly and resubmitted with a new build that evening. It's been a week since I resubmitted and wondering if I may have done something incorrectly when reattaching a new build to the review submission. I requested an expedited review on Friday February 27th and contacted support this morning but haven't seen any movement on the "waiting in review" status yet. My app is highly dependent on seasonality (winter sports) and I missed a key opportunity at an event last week to promote the app while the app has been stuck in review. Any guidance or assistance would be super welcome so I can get my app out into the world before we get into the Spring season! App ID: 6759411804 Thanks