Hello, We are currently using Apple Notarization (notarytool) for distributing a macOS app, and we are experiencing very long notarization times for large app bundles.
[Issue]
For apps with large binary sizes, notarization consistently takes around 3.5 to 4.5 hours from submission to completion.
This delay is causing practical issues in our release pipeline, especially when:
- A hotfix or urgent update is required
- Multiple builds must be notarized in a short time
- CI/CD-based distribution is expected to complete within a predictable timeframe
[Environment]
- Platform:
macOS - Notarization method:
notarytool - Distribution:
Outside Mac App Store - App size:
100 GB~(compressed ZIP) - Signing:
Hardened Runtime enabled,codesigned correctly - Submission status: Successfully accepted, but processing time is very long
[What we have confirmed]
- The notarization eventually succeeds (no failures)
- Re-submitting the same build shows similar processing times
- Network upload itself completes normally; the delay is in Apple-side processing
- Smaller apps complete notarization much faster
[Questions]
- Is a 3–4+ hour notarization time expected behavior for large macOS apps?
- Are there recommended best practices to reduce notarization processing time for large binaries?
- For example, splitting components, adjusting packaging, or specific signing strategies
- Is there any official guidance or limitation regarding notarization queueing or processing based on app size?
- Are there known service-side delays or regional differences that could affect processing time?
Any insight or confirmation would be greatly appreciated, as this directly impacts our production release workflow.
Thank you.