Hello App Review Team, I am writing to seek clarification regarding repeated review feedback received via App Store Connect (Resolution Center) for my app: App Name: Animal Sounds & Insects 90+ App ID: 6741077718 Team ID: 24MTF8NJ6Q Over the past two weeks, this app update has remained in review with multiple rejections referencing similar concerns, despite detailed responses and clarifications already provided in the Resolution Center. Unfortunately, I have not received follow-up responses or specific guidance there, which has prevented me from releasing even a minor update. To ensure clarity and avoid further delays, I am summarizing the key points below. Parental Gate (Guideline 1.3 – Kids Category) The review feedback indicates that the app may include links, commerce, or ad interactions without parental permission. I would like to clarify that the app implements a mandatory, non-dismissible parental gate, which is required before: Opening any external links Engaging in any form of commerce, including in-app purchases Interacting with any advertisements This parental gate cannot be bypassed or disabled and is triggered consistently across all applicable user flows. No child user can access links, purchases, or ad interactions without successfully completing the parental gate. If there is a specific screen, flow, or scenario where this behavior was interpreted differently during review, I would greatly appreciate precise details so I can verify and address it immediately. Advertising Experience (Guideline 4.0 – Design) The review also notes that users are required to view advertisements prior to using the app. I would like to clarify that the app does not require users to view advertisements before accessing its core functionality. Specifically: There are no forced ads No launch or entry interstitials No ads that block or gate access to the app’s main features Advertising within the app is passive and non-intrusive. This setup has been live for over one year, and no recent changes were introduced that would alter this behavior. Request for Guidance I fully respect and support the App Review Guidelines and am committed to complying with them. Given the repeated rejections and lack of actionable feedback so far, I kindly request: Clear and specific guidance on the exact screen, flow, or behavior being flagged Confirmation on whether the current parental gate implementation is being detected correctly during review My goal is to resolve any remaining concerns as quickly and accurately as possible so the review process can move forward. Thank you very much for your time and support. I appreciate the work of the App Review team and look forward to your guidance. Kind regards, Jiyan Aslan Developer, Animal Sounds & Insects 90+

I want to know if App Store Connect provides daily breakdowns of new 1–5 star ratings rather than just cumulative totals. This would help me track the impact of remotely enabling a feature, but I haven’t found such an option.

Our VPN app on the Apple App Store has seen a slowdown in installs lately. I’d appreciate any suggestions on effective strategies or new tactics to drive growth

Hi there, When I build my app in Xcode using a synched AppstoreConnect Storekit file, when using subscriptions, I am sent to the correct (for me) UK store to purchase a subscription. However when using the same build as a TestFlight App I am presented with the US store.. If I try to purchase a $ subscription I get the error: Account not in this store Your account is not valid for use in the U.S. store. You must switch to the U.K. store before purchasing If I try to use the presented Change App Store button - I get Unable to Complete request Error My AppStore on my Mac is set to the UK store.. How can I get the TestFlight version to present the correct store locale? Many thanks!

Hello everybody, I have a never ending issue with appstore review, an need a QUICK HELP ! I am submitting a new app (oral training), for Iphones only. I disabled other devices (such as Ipas) via Xcode. In the appstore informations form, it is obligatory to provide ipad screens, so I provided screens showing Iphone experience. Appstore team asked me to remove it because I don't authorize Ipads. But if I remove those screens, form cannot be sent. I don't understantd how to proceed. Thanks for the help Regards Jean

I just launched my app Stonk on the App Store and spent $100 on ads but haven’t seen any downloads. I’m curious if others rely on the same strategies or if bigger ad budgets work better. Marketing has been challenging, so I’d appreciate advice on how to advertise more effectively.

Dear Apple Support, We are experiencing an issue where iPhone-only apps (marked as "Designed for iPhone" in the App Store) are not appearing at all in the App Store on newer iPads running iPadOS 26.2 (A16 chip model), including in managed distributions via Apple Business Manager. The app in question is X App, and it works fine on older iPads with previous iPadOS versions. Is there a policy change or stricter enforcement starting from iPadOS 18 or later that prevents iPhone-only apps from being searchable, visible, or assignable on iPad devices (especially supervised/managed ones)? If yes, does the developer need to update the app to Universal or add explicit iPad compatibility in App Store Connect for it to become available again? We would appreciate any official reference or confirmation on this behavior. Thank you for your assistance.

Need help with Apple Developer Program enrollment. What happened: Paid $99 on Jan 14 from Pakistan (HabibMetro bank) Money fully deducted from my account Apple says "payment problem" and gives me 7 days or enrollment cancels Bank needs 10 days to trace the payment The problem: -Apple will cancel before bank finishes tracing (7 days vs 10 days). -Apple Support suggested re-enrolling with their app using different payment method, but I'm worried about: Getting charged twice First payment not refunded Losing the $99 Questions: Anyone faced this? What did you do? Should I re-enroll or wait? How to avoid double payment? Order: D004702861 Case: 102802965662 Any advice appreciated

I built the Appvector tool – aso.report, a completely free ASO analysis platform designed to help indie developers easily improve their App Store listings without complex metrics or costly subscriptions. Just paste your app’s URL to get instant insights, multi-country analysis, and actionable recommendations - making ASO simple, accessible, and effective for everyone.

Hi guys, I need some help with an issue. When I submit my testing app to TestFlight, it gets uploaded successfully, but I'm not able to download it from TestFlight. I'm getting this error: SDK version issue: This app was built with the iOS 18.2 SDK. Starting April 2026, all iOS and iPadOS apps must be built with the iOS 26 SDK or later, included in Xcode 26 or later, in order to be uploaded to App Store Connect or submitted for distribution. It’s obvious that we all need to update to the iOS 26 SDK before April 2026, but my question is: Why is TestFlight already blocking builds 3 months before the actual enforcement date? Is anyone else facing this issue, and is there any known resolution or workaround? Your help or suggestions would be appreciated.

My new version is stuck with 'Ready for Distribution' status since Jan 18. I have contact Apple by email, chat and call; however, they replied that they'll need senior/technical supporters for this, but all of them are busy now (?), and will contact me later. Does any face the same issue?

Hello, My app “DeepTone” has been fully approved and is marked as Ready for Distribution in App Store Connect. However, the app is not available in EU countries due to Digital Services Act (DSA) compliance still showing “In Review”. details: DSA verification was submitted and confirmed as completed by Apple Developer Support (case ID available). App Review has already approved the app. The app is currently live in non-EU regions but blocked in the EU. App Store Connect still shows: Digital Services Act (DSA) compliance – In Review Encryption Self-Declaration (France) – In Review This appears to be a backend compliance status issue rather than an app review issue. Has anyone experienced a similar situation where DSA compliance remained “In Review” after approval? Is there a known escalation path or expected resolution timeframe for this? Thank you for any guidance.

Apple removed our app from the App Store today stating we need to renew our Apple Developer membership. I have written confirmation that Apple ran our card in late November and we haven't received another follow up stating it was still due or that our account / app was going to expire and/or was up for removal. There also seems to be an odd bug with the Apple Developer Program as I am an Account Holder on this app and a user on our other app (in the CA App Store). When I try navigating to the Membership Details screen it brings me to the CA app which another member of our team is Account Holder of. There's simply no way to get to the Membership Details screen for the app that's been removed and we only noticed this a few days ago. Again, Apple has given us zero warning that our app was up for removal nor that we still owe for our annual membership renewal fee. . .because we paid it back in November of 2025 and have the receipt from Apple confirming as much. Does anyone have any suggestions or perhaps a link I might be able to try to get me to the screen to attempt to pay the renewal fee (again) so we can get the app back in the App Store?

Mobile app marketing feels even more challenging in 2026, with once-reliable tactics like paid installs, influencer promotions, and push notifications losing impact while organic growth and user retention continue to slow. I am curious what is truly working for developers in 2026, whether stronger ASO, community-led engagement, web-to-app funnels, or long-term retention strategies are outperforming traditional paid acquisition.

ASO is by far one of the most frustrating parts of being an indie iOS dev. Despite trying keywords, descriptions, screenshots, and icons, results are unpredictable and competing with big-budget apps feels impossible. Has anyone found a way to make it work?

I'm looking to learn from others in the community. Please share any effective tips, hacks, or approaches you've used to boost app visibility and downloads through App Store SEO. Insights on keywords, descriptions, or metadata optimization are especially welcome.

Brand new to app development and marketing and preparing to launch my app on both the App Store and Google Play Store soon I understand ASO is a strong approach for organic growth and would appreciate any tools services or practical advice on how to do ASO efficiently and effectively

On January 1, 2026, we received a notice regarding the potential removal of our app with a 30-day resolution deadline. We treated this matter with immediate urgency and submitted an appeal on the same day. However, two weeks have passed without any feedback or clarification. As we have not yet received specific details regarding the violation, we are unable to identify the exact cause or take the necessary corrective actions. With only two weeks remaining in the compliance window, it is critical for us to understand the issue promptly to resolve it before the deadline. Could you please provide an update on the status of our appeal? We are fully committed to complying with App Store policies. If there are any additional materials required or proactive steps we should take while waiting, please let us know.

Summary I am seeking clarification regarding an App Store rejection under Guideline 4.2 – Design – Minimum Functionality, specifically around expectations for booking and payment flows in apps that rely on third-party, industry-standard reservation platforms. This app is a production application for a licensed transportation (black car / limo) service. It includes multiple native iOS features implemented via Capacitor and custom Swift plugins. However, the booking and payment flow depends on a third-party transportation platform (RideBits) that does not currently support deep linking with prefilled parameters or programmatic booking APIs. Before committing to a significant architectural change, I am hoping to understand whether Apple’s expectation under Guideline 4.2 is that all transactional booking and payment flows must be fully native and controlled by the app developer, even when third-party systems are operationally required. ⸻ App Context The app is designed for a real transportation business and is not a content, marketing, or browsing application. It is purpose-built for trip booking, pickup coordination, and customer interaction. The third-party platform (RideBits) handles: • Dispatch and driver assignment • Vehicle inventory and pricing rules • Payment processing • Trip lifecycle management This platform is central to business operations and is commonly used in this industry. ⸻ Native Functionality Implemented The app includes meaningful native iOS functionality beyond web content, including: • Native Core Location access (with permission handling) • Native reverse geocoding using CLGeocoder via a custom Swift Capacitor plugin • Native clipboard integration • Native iOS share sheet integration • Apple Maps deep linking • Custom CAPBridgeViewController with explicit plugin registration All native plugins were verified at runtime and tested on physical devices and simulators. ⸻ Booking Flow Constraint The third-party platform does not currently support: • Deep links with prefilled booking parameters • Passing pickup/dropoff data via URL • Native SDK embedding • APIs for programmatic booking creation As a result, even when pickup data is collected natively, users must re-enter details within the booking flow. ⸻ App Review Outcome Despite adding additional native functionality, the app was rejected again under Guideline 4.2, with feedback stating the experience is not sufficiently differentiated from web browsing and that features such as Core Location or sharing alone are not robust enough. ⸻ Clarification Requested I am hoping to better understand Apple’s expectations in this scenario: 1. Is Apple’s expectation that core booking and payment flows must be fully native to satisfy Guideline 4.2, regardless of industry-standard third-party dependencies? 2. Would an app be considered acceptable if the booking UI is native, but final transaction submission occurs through a third-party system? 3. Are there known precedents for service or transportation apps using third-party booking platforms that have successfully passed review? 4. Is the issue primarily technical (missing native features), or conceptual (core value relies on an external flow)? ⸻ Purpose of This Post Before undertaking a major rebuild of pricing, payments, and booking logic in-house, I want to ensure there is no App Store–acceptable architecture that allows: • Meaningful native functionality, and • Continued use of a third-party operational booking platform. Any guidance or shared experience would be greatly appreciated.

My TestFlight uploads are stuck in processing. I tried two different uploads, and both are showing "Processing". The first one was uploaded more than an hour ago 1.1 (39) Processing Nov 17, 2025 6:54 PM 1.1 (37) Processing Nov 17, 2025 6:09 PM