I'm an algo engineer-turned-entrepreneur. About two months ago, I signed up for the Apple Developer Program. Last month, I launched an AI avatar video calling app called Twome (pronounced "Two-me") on the App Store. But just a few days after launch, I used EAS Update (a React Native tool for hot updates) to push a quick bug fix, and soon after, I got hit with a "Pending Termination Notice." They said I violated the Apple Developer Agreement—my app got pulled, and my developer account was flagged for removal. (The App Review message was pretty vague: "App submissions from your account have engaged in concept or feature switch schemes to evade the review process." I'm guessing that's what triggered it.) I was totally shocked. I'd done my homework beforehand and seen tons of devs saying hot updates for bug fixes were fine. No choice but to appeal, so I filed one right away on the App Review Board. Then came the real nightmare: 28 whole days later, I finally got a response—and they upheld the rejection. The reasoning was even fuzzier this time; it felt like a copy-paste template. No specific evidence like before (at least the first notice had some details). Maybe they realized our update didn't actually change any features? Anyway, I'm trying another appeal now, but who knows when it'll come back. The waiting is brutal. We did a full internal audit and pinpointed just two things that might've raised red flags with App Review: Post-launch, we tested an unreleased "rate us" feature and posted a review using our developer account. We figured the App Store would know it was from the app owner and auto-remove it from public view. It was our only review, and we didn't think it'd count as misleading since Apple handles that stuff. The bug fix hot update I mentioned. Beyond that, our post-mortem showed zero other issues. All metadata, product descriptions, and screenshots are 100% compliant—no misleading claims, no dark patterns pushing payments, nothing. Before launch, friends were hyped, saying it'd blow up—it's the world's first realistic AI digital human real-time video calling app for everyday social/entertainment use, aimed at regular folks. But now we're tied up in knots with this appeal mess, desperate to get back on the Store ASAP. It's insane that appeals take a full month to get a response—especially when we didn't blatantly violate anything, or at worst, tripped over something unintentionally. We've already been down for over a month without even knowing the exact issue. Feels way too harsh. Posting here to ask: Has anyone dealt with something similar? Is a 28-day wait (or more) normal for appeals? Any ways to expedite the process? Any practical advice would be hugely appreciated!

Hello, My app (App ID: 1616628950) is currently in the Waiting for Review state after resubmission. The app was resubmitted on December 24 following a previous rejection related to in-app purchase labeling. The issue has been addressed, and the updated build was submitted accordingly. Normally, our app updates enter review within 1–2 days, so this delay seems slightly unusual. I understand that review times may vary, especially during the holiday period, but I wanted to check in here in case the submission might be stuck or require additional information from our side. There were no major functional or policy-related changes in this update aside from addressing the previously noted issue. Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

I would like to ask for clarification regarding my app submission with Submission ID: d293828f-8f9a-4a6d-b138-9650258ab3f3, which has been in “Waiting for Review” status for more than 7 days. I understand that review times may vary depending on queue volume and other factors. However, this extended waiting period is impacting our release timeline, and there have been no status updates or requests for additional information. Could you please help check the status of this submission or let us know if any further action is required from our side? Thank you for your time and support. I look forward to your response.

My application does not compete with the developer. It’s an extension which sits on top of their website. Its only use is to work with their website. Without using their name, the extension does not make any sense. The developer not only has no issue with it - some of their own employees use the extension. To get documentation from developer, that’s easy. However, two questions: Developer wants to know what needs to be provided? An email, A statement? How / what format would be required they are asking? How does such above documentation get submitted / included in subsequent updates to Not hinder approval? The app went through 8 positive reviews / approvals and then all of a sudden this happened out of no where. So not understanding what changed on Apples side and how/what is sufficient documentation (email, statement, PDF, ????) from developer? thanks.

I’ve attempted uploading screenshots with the specified required dimensions and none seem to be working. Anybody else experiencing this problem?

I am submitting an app to the App Store and want to understand the best way to handle keywords that include special characters. If a keyword has accents like coração and users may search for coracao without accents, should I include both versions or rely on Apple to match them automatically?

Hi everyone, I am looking for guidance regarding a rejection under Guideline 3.1.1 – Payments / In-App Purchase. Our app is a **B2B SaaS platform for professional fitness coaches. Coaches subscribe through our website to access coaching management tools (client tracking, training programs, nutrition planning, messaging, etc.). The iOS app is only a companion app that lets existing coach accounts log in and access services they already purchased on the web. Important facts about our implementation: No subscriptions can be purchased in the app No pricing, plans, or commercial upsell screens in the app No sign-up in the app No external links to a website checkout or pricing The app is not usable at all without an existing paid account The content is professional B2B data, not consumer digital media Despite this, App Review keeps rejecting us for: “Your app accesses digital content purchased outside the app, and that content is not available through in-app purchase.” We tried referencing **3.1.3(b) Multiplatform Services, because our service is used on the web and mobile, and we only allow access with an existing account. We also provided examples of other coaching platforms in the App Store that appear to work the same way (Trainerize, Everfit for Coaches, Hubfit, etc.). But App Review still says the same thing, without pointing to a specific screen or UI element. I want to make sure we comply. To clarify: Do we need to completely block access to all content until login, even if the app already does this? Is it enough to display a disclaimer such as: “This app is for existing coach accounts only. No purchases, subscriptions, or account creation are available in the app.” For a B2B tool, does Apple still require In-App Purchase, even if users cannot sign up or buy anything inside the app? Is this considered a Reader-style app under Apple’s rules? Has anyone successfully passed review with a SaaS “login-only” model for professional software? We don’t want to violate any rule, we just need clear guidance on what is required to get approval. Any help or experience from other developers or Apple team members would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Robin

I wanted to add a new app and I’m having problems with it. When adding my previous apps or updating them, there were no issues at all. I submitted the app for review and waited two weeks without any response. I removed it and submitted it again, and now I’ve been waiting for several days once more. Is anyone able to help me? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the app, as it’s just a simple game.

应用ID(id6754838125), A week has passed since I added in-app purchases to the already listed application, but it's still under review and I haven't received any result. I sent an email to inquire and asked me to keep waiting We used Contacts Us There is no result. 2. The call has been made for expedited review. It was submitted on December 11th and is still under review Previously, the result of the app review was available within 48 hours Now, I don't know what solutions can be made to this problem. The company is in a hurry and needs to use the App to release a new movie

Hello Apple Developer Community, I'm encountering a persistent issue with my App Store Connect account where the bank account is stuck in "Processing" status, preventing me from fully activating the Paid Apps Agreement. This has been ongoing for several weeks, and despite following all recommended steps, including resubmitting tax forms, there's no progress, also contacting support who promise to reply in 48 hours but never do. This is urgent as I have 19,000 customers waiting for the app to launch, and the delay is causing significant business impact. I'm hoping someone here has experienced something similar and can offer advice, or perhaps Apple support can chime in to expedite. Account Details: Organization: Prosperity Bliss PTE Limited (Singapore-based PTE Ltd) Address: 2 Venture Drive, #19-21 Vision Exchange, Singapore, WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN 608526 Account ID: 93410065 Agreements: Free Apps and Paid Apps Agreements are listed as Active (effective Dec 17, 2025 – Apr 18, 2026), but Paid Apps seems blocked due to banking. Bank Account: PROSPERITY BLISS (8256), Singapore, SGD currency, USD royalties. Tax Forms (all submitted Dec 15, 2025): U.S. Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner: Active U.S. Substitute Form W-8BEN-E: Active Singapore Tax Questionnaire: Complete (resubmitted today, Dec 19, 2025, to try update the system) Issue Description: Initially, there was a yellow banner saying: "Your banking updates are processing, and you should see the changes in 24 hours. You won't be able to make any additional updates until then." This appeared weeks ago when I first added the bank details. Even after submitting all tax forms on Dec 15, the status remains "Processing," and the banner persists. I can't edit or add anything else in the Banking or Tax sections due to this lock. Steps I've Tried: Submitted all required tax forms on Dec 15, 2025 – they show as Active/Complete. Resubmitted the Singapore Tax Questionnaire today (Dec 19) as a potential fix, but no change yet. Logged out/in, cleared cache, tried different browsers/devices – no luck. Contacted Apple Developer Support via the web form (under Agreements, Tax, and Banking) multiple times over the past week – submitted tickets with screenshots and details, but no responses so far. Attempted phone support using regional numbers (+65 numbers for Singapore/Asia-Pacific), but got routed to general customer support instead of developer-specific. Requested a callback through developer.apple.com/contact/ – still waiting. From what I've read online (e.g., similar issues on Reddit and Apple Discussions), this seems like a common backend glitch, especially for non-US accounts, where the system gets into a loop (banking waiting on tax, but tax is done and locked by banking processing). Official docs say it should resolve in 24 hours, but it's been far longer. Has anyone else with a Singapore or international business account faced this and resolved it? Did you have to escalate to a specific team, or is there another workaround? Any tips on getting a faster response from support? I've attached screenshots of the Agreements page, Bank Accounts section (showing "Processing"), and Tax Forms for reference. Thanks in advance for any help – this is holding up my app distribution! Best, Frederik

Hello everyone, I’m looking for advice from developers who may have faced a similar situation, as we appear to be stuck in a long-running loop of Guideline 4.3(a) rejections on iOS with no actionable feedback from App Review. Over an extended period, our iOS app has been repeatedly rejected under Guideline 4.3(a) (“similar or repackaged”), regardless of the changes we make. The responses from App Review consistently use the same high-level language and do not indicate what specifically is considered problematic. Some relevant context: The app is built with Flutter using a single shared codebase. The macOS version, built from the same codebase with the same overall structure and UI, has been approved without issues. The iOS version, using that same implementation, continues to receive 4.3(a) rejections. We do not use purchased templates and do not operate multiple developer accounts. Like most apps, we use some third-party and open-source components where technically appropriate. Across multiple submissions, we have tried to address the feedback as best we can by making changes to UI/UX, assets, metadata, internal structure, and overall product quality. However, App Review has not provided clarification even at a high level (for example, whether the concern is primarily related to UI/UX, code structure, metadata, user flows, or overall product framing). Requests for any directional guidance have resulted in the same generic responses, both in review replies and via support. This leaves us making blind changes without a feedback loop. As a result, it’s difficult to understand whether the issue is realistically correctable, or whether the app is effectively blocked due to similarity clustering or other non-obvious review heuristics. Any firsthand experiences, practical steps, or lessons learned would be extremely helpful.

I'm submitting a new app for review. I've done this successfully before, but I don't know what's going wrong with this one. On the Distribution page it shows "1.0.2 Invalid Binary" On the App Review page it shows "Unresolved Issues" On the iOS Submission page it shows Type: "App Version", Status; "Rejected" with the banner text: "Your app version was rejected and no other items submitted can be accepted or approved. You can make edits to your app version below." I've tried rebuilding and resubmitting a few times and I keep getting the same reaction. I've tried to figure this out on my own, but I can't figure out what it wants me to do differently. Please can someone provide some direction to let me make progress? Most recent Submission ID is: faf4b652-d32b-4de5-b357-3b1e5744eaa8

Here are some tips from App Review for a smooth review experience. We’ve split them into two categories: Before You Submit and After You Submit. We’ve also made an easy-to-follow Submission Guide you can save and reference at any point on your App Store journey. Before You Submit Tips Enable a complete review. Make sure you’ve provided demo accounts or implemented an account demonstration mode before you submit. We’ll need to review the entire app experience, both with and without an account. Provide up-to-date demo account login credentials in the App Review Information section on the app version page in App Store Connect. If your app has multiple account types (such as admin and general users), use the Notes field to provide additional demo account credentials for each account type. If your app requires an authentication code in addition to the login credentials, provide the code in advance in the Notes field. Otherwise, a call may be required to complete the review. Apps that handle sensitive user information, or operate in highly regulated industries, can implement demonstration modes that exhibit full features and functionality while using demonstration data. Use the Notes field in App Store Connect to provide information to App Review. The App Review Information section of App Store Connect includes a Notes field. Provide any information that could be relevant to your submission’s review: Submitting a new app? Tell us about your app's concept, business model, and if your app is designed to only operate in certain locations. Submitting an update? Tell us about what’s changed and where to locate significant new content or features. Connecting to hardware? Attach a video, not a screen recording, that shows both the hardware and the app running on a physical Apple device as they pair and interact. Test your app on physical devices before submitting for review. Use TestFlight to distribute your app for beta testing. App Review evaluates apps the way your users will use them: installed on real devices and connected to networks with real-world conditions. Make sure your pre-submission testing includes running the app on each device platform where it could be used. Users expect the app to function on all the devices where it’s available. TestFlight will help you do quality assurance and beta testing on real devices. Share your beta app with internal testers on your Apple Developer Program account or to external users via an email invite or public link. Configure In-App Purchases for review in the sandbox environment. App Review assesses In-App Purchases in the same sandbox environment Apple provides for testing them. The sandbox lets us use real product data and server-to-server transactions, without incurring any financial charges. Take these steps to prepare your In-App Purchases for review: Accept the Paid Applications Agreement in App Store Connect. Submit the In-App Purchases in App Store Connect that you’d like reviewed. Follow the steps in TN3186: Troubleshooting In-App Purchases availability in the sandbox if your app fails to display your In-App Purchases. Note: In-App Purchases don’t need prior approval from App Review to function in review. Join a Meet with Apple event if you need assistance before you submit for review. Request an App Review appointment through Meet with Apple to chat with an App Review expert about how to prepare for review, ask questions about specific guidelines, and discuss other topics related to the review process. Appointments are subject to availability during your local business hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. After You Submit Tips Contact App Review if you need assistance with an ongoing submission. If your submission doesn’t pass review and you have questions, contact App Review directly by clicking Reply to App Review in App Store Connect. You’ll receive a reply from a review specialist who’s familiar with your app. You can also use the Reply to App Review message window to request a call with an Apple representative. Include your preferred time and language for the call and we’ll do our best to accommodate your requests. Use the Bug Fix Submissions process to quickly deliver bug fixes and resolve other issues on the next submission. If an update includes bug fixes and is rejected, you will be given the option to resolve the issues on your next submission, as long as there are no legal or safety concerns. App Review will let you know if your submission is eligible by including this note at the top of the rejection message: Bug Fix Submissions The issues we've identified below are eligible to be resolved on your next update. To accept this offer, simply reply to the rejection message in App Store Connect and let App Review know you’ll resolve the issues on the next submission. Share ideas with Apple about how to improve or clarify the App Review Guidelines by submitting guideline feedback. Just as the App Store is always changing and improving to keep up with the needs of customers, the App Review Guidelines may be revised to provide new and updated guidance. If you have ideas for improving or clarifying our requirements you can suggest guideline changes. If your submission was rejected but you believe it follows the App Review Guidelines, consider submitting an appeal to the App Review Board. If your submission didn’t pass review but you have reason to believe it follows the App Review Guidelines, you can submit an appeal to the App Review Board. You can also file an appeal if you think we misunderstood your app or the review was unfair. The App Review Board will contact you as soon as they complete their investigation.

Hello everyone, We’ve been trying to resolve an App Review issue for almost a month now and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has gone through a similar process. We are a legally regulated financial institution with licenses in multiple jurisdictions. Our app includes crypto exchange–related functionality. To comply with Apple’s requirements, we have: Limited App Store availability strictly to countries covered by our licenses Prepared a detailed licensing document for every review cycle Provided a country-by-country breakdown explaining under which license we are allowed to provide services Included official registry links and screenshots from regulators’ registers Attached this document to every App Review submission Despite this, we repeatedly receive the same response from Apple: “Your exchange app has not been submitted by a corresponding exchange or recognized financial institution or you have not demonstrated you are partnered with an exchange with supporting evidence of permissions, registrations, and/or licenses to offer exchange services.” “The storefronts you selected include locations where you or your service providers have not provided supporting evidence of permissions, registrations, and/or licenses.” The main challenge is that Apple does not specify: Which exact jurisdiction is problematic Which license is considered insufficient Whether the issue is with our status as a financial institution vs. being a “recognized exchange” Or whether additional corporate or constitutional documents are expected (e.g. articles of incorporation, regulatory approvals, partnership agreements, etc.) At this point, we’re unsure how Apple expects licensing evidence to be presented in a way that can actually be reviewed and approved. Questions to the community: Has anyone successfully passed review for a crypto exchange app as a regulated financial institution? Are there specific documents Apple expects beyond licenses and registry confirmations? Is there a known best practice for structuring licensing evidence for App Review? Any guidance or shared experience would be extremely helpful.

It's been a week waiting for the review Despite requesting a quick review and contacting technical support via email, there has been no change so far. What can I do? Apple ID: 6756184295

My app's Custom Product Page (CPP) submission has been stuck in "Waiting for Review" since its initial submission on Decemberr 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? APP INFORMATIONS APP NAME:Phàm Nhân Ngự Linh Truyện OEG APP ID:com.oeg.bgyn.ios CPP SUBMISSION ID:8e5813d2-c823-4168-a2c3-7030230f11c7 I'm reaching out in desperation because this review delay has already forced us to postpone a critical marketing campaign by nearly 20 days. I'm at my wit's end and genuinely don't know what else to do. Any guidance or insight from the community would be a lifesaver—this situation is putting my job at serious risk. Please, if anyone can help, I would be immensely grateful

Dear Apple Support Team, I am adding new subscriptions to my app and tried to submit them for review. However, I received the following error message: "Your subscription could not be submitted for review. Please provide a privacy URL in App Privacy." I have already provided the privacy URL and changed nothing in the past.. Could you please advise how to resolve this issue so I can submit my new subscriptions for review? Thank you for your assistance. Best regards :)

Hi, at first I submitted an app where you asked for a way to review everything while you mentioned a demo mode would be fine. I added a demo mode and submitted the app together with in-app purchases. Now you are asking for an actual API token for an external service which I cannot provide. I responded with the info about the demo mode. The next review was rejected because the in-app purchases are kind of lost. I cannot map them. Next re-submit was rejected because the in-app purchases are missing. The in-app purchases are stuck in a waiting status. Please do whatever you need to do to either release the in-app and let me map them again or map them yourself. Regards, Vitali

Hello everyone, I’ll be honest with you, the kind of honesty that comes when you’ve run out of places to turn. My name is Donovan, I’m a French student, and I’m writing here because at this point, I truly don’t know what else to do Two years ago, I started a small project to learn mobile development. Nothing ambitious at first just a personal exercise, a way to grow. But after countless late nights, weekends sacrificed, and lines of code no one will ever see… that small project became a real application. I finished it. Refined it. Carried it like something that genuinely mattered. And for the past two months, I’ve been fighting with App Review. Always for the same reason: Guideline 4.3(b) – Design – Spam. Each time, I respond. Each time, I explain. But each time, the door closes with the same cold, impersonal message: “We encourage you to reconsider your app concept and submit a new app that provides a unique experience not already found on the App Store.” Unique. Such an easy word to use… especially when no one seems willing to look closely at what’s actually in front of them. My application is a dating app, yes. I know there are many on the App Store. But I implemented a feature that no other dating app currently provides, and more importantly: the app is 100% free, no paywallsno mandatory subscription. As far as I know, there is no completely free dating application on the App Store. I even added features that were never planned, just to avoid being dismissed as “spam.” But nothing has changed. Two years of work. Two years of progressing 4–5 hours per week, between classes, exams, and everything else life throws your way. And now, it feels like all of that can be wiped away by a single generic sentence. So here I am, turning to you, the developer community, the only people who truly understand what it means to run into an invisible wall. I need your help. Your advice, your experiences, your strategies. How can I get Apple to finally accept my app? How can I avoid throwing away two year of work because of a vague, unexplained guideline? Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply

Hello, I submitted an app update (submission ID: 3bbbd08f-6ca9-40a2-bdc1-a2f33061f647) that was rejected for Guideline 4.0 - Design (about ad frequency issues). The rejection message included this option: "The issues we've identified below are eligible to be resolved on your next update. If this submission includes bug fixes and you'd like to have it approved at this time, reply to this message and let us know." I replied on December 11 at 10:21 PM asking to approve the current version as a bug fix, and that I would address the ad frequency in my next update. It's now been over 35 hours with no response. Should I resubmit my binary for review? Typically, when I reply to the App Review message in such a scenario, my app gets approved in a few hours.