App stuck in "Waiting for Review" for over 2 months

Question

YahyaBoulahia OP

Created May ’26

Replies 5

Boosts 1

Participants 6

Hello everyone,

I would like to ask whether other developers are currently experiencing unusually long App Review delays for new apps.

Here is the timeline for my app (Apple ID: 6759361892):

Build 1 — Feb 19, 2026: Initial build submitted Feb 21, 2026: Rejected because ads were not working properly Build 2 — Feb 23, 2026: Updated build submitted Build 3 — Feb 26, 2026: Another updated build submitted Mar 11–18, 2026: Status remained “Waiting for Review” and never entered the “In Review” stage Mar 18, 2026: Submission cancelled and resubmitted Current status: Still “Waiting for Review”

During this period, I have already tried several ways to resolve the issue:

Contacted Apple Developer Support multiple times Submitted an expedited review request Sent several follow-up emails regarding the delay Contacted Apple Support and asked them to leave messages for the App Review team

Each time, I was told that the situation would be checked or that the review would “begin shortly.” I have now received that same response multiple times, including after my expedited review request was accepted, but there has still been no visible progress or transition into active review.

While browsing the Developer Forums, I also noticed that several recent posts seem to describe similar situations, especially involving new app submissions remaining stuck in “Waiting for Review.”

So I would like to ask:

Are other developers currently experiencing similar delays? Has anyone recently seen their app finally move from “Waiting for Review” to “In Review” after a very long delay? Could this possibly be related to a broader App Review queue slowdown?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether this is an isolated issue or something other developers are also currently facing.

Any recent experiences or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer 1

achiever OP

May ’26

We are facing the same issue. Its been over a month and nothing, No response yet, before it use to take 2 days to process a review and now, i dont understand why its taking forever.

Answer 2

Groo_live OP

May ’26

We encountered the same problem; our app is awaiting review, and the official email only received a automated reply saying the review process would begin soon. They're terrible.

Answer 3

App Review OP

Apple

May ’26

Thank you for your post. We're investigating and will contact you in App Store Connect to provide further assistance. If you continue to experience issues during review, please contact us.

Answer 4

EoMathheuss OP

Jun ’26

Hi everyone,

My situation is slightly different but equally frustrating — and may be relevant to this thread. My app (v1.0.3) moved from "Waiting for Review" to "In Review" on April 15, 2026, and has been stuck there for 48 days with zero feedback or updates. So it seems the delays aren't limited to the "Waiting for Review" stage — apps that do enter active review are also getting stuck indefinitely.

Answer 5

AnnoyedT OP

3h

Game stuck in “Waiting for Review” for 3 weeks, with no meaningful response from Apple

I first submitted my game in the second week of September, and it’s been a frustrating experience so far.

The first rejection was because the privacy policy link needed to be included in the app description. I fixed that immediately, replied to the review team, and resubmitted.

The second rejection was due to a crash that I couldn’t reproduce. After investigating, I noticed that the reviewer was testing on iPadOS 27, which was still in beta on the device I checked. My game is designed for iPhone only, so I explained this to the review team and clarified that I couldn’t reproduce the reported crash.

The next rejection stated that the reviewer couldn’t proceed to the main game. There are instructions on the screen that need to be followed before gameplay can begin, so I explained the steps and attached a sample screen recording showing how to get into the game.

Since addressing that rejection, my submission has been stuck in “Waiting for Review” for around three weeks, with no further updates.

I’ve also submitted several requests through App Store Connect asking for an update. Only one received a response, which essentially said that my app hadn’t been forgotten. It was a generic reassurance, with no actual information about what’s happening or when the review might proceed.

I’ve addressed each rejection, provided explanations, and even attached a recording to help the reviewer understand how to play the game. At this point, I honestly don’t know what else I can do.

Has anyone else experienced a similar situation recently? Has anyone managed to get their submission moving after weeks of waiting and receiving only generic responses from Apple?

Honestly, I pay for the Apple Developer membership, and Apple takes a commission of up to 30% on app sales and in-app purchases, yet I can’t even get a meaningful update on my app review. What’s the point of being a paying developer if getting a response about your own submission is this difficult?