Hello Apple Developer Community / App Review Team,
I am writing to ask for guidance regarding an App Review process that appears to be stalled, and also to raise a broader concern about review transparency and communication.
I submitted my app for review on July 1, 2026, at around 1:23 PM. As of July 8, 2026, at 2:37 PM, it has been waiting for more than 7 days.
During this period, my app appears to have been accessed by three different reviewers. Based on the activity I can see, they entered the app and reviewed it, but the submission status in App Store Connect never formally moved to “In Review.”
This creates a difficult situation for developers. It is unclear whether the app is actively being reviewed, stuck in an internal step, waiting for further action, or simply forgotten in the queue.
I have been developing for iOS for approximately 7 years, and I have not experienced a review process where it was this difficult to find a clear point of contact or receive a meaningful status update.
I have contacted App Store Connect Help multiple times — approximately 3 or 4 times — but I have not received an email response. I have also tried reaching out through other public and professional channels, including LinkedIn and X, not to create pressure, but because I could not find a reliable way to understand what is happening with the submission.
My concern is not only about one app or one review delay. I believe this is also an operational issue that affects the broader Apple developer ecosystem.
A more transparent, accessible, and trackable App Review process would benefit both developers and Apple users. When developers have clearer visibility into review timelines and status transitions, they can plan releases better, respond to users faster, fix issues more responsibly, and ship higher-quality products.
This directly improves the experience of people using Apple products every day.
I would appreciate clarification on the following:
- Is it expected that reviewers may access an app before the submission status changes to “In Review”?
- What does it mean when reviewer activity is visible, but App Store Connect does not reflect an active review state?
- Is there currently a backlog or operational delay affecting App Review timelines?
- What is the recommended path for developers when a submission appears to be stalled for more than 7 days with no response from App Store Connect Help?
- Are there any planned improvements to make App Review status transitions more transparent, predictable, and easier to follow?
Apple holds developers to high standards, which is understandable and valuable for the platform. At the same time, developers need a process that is easier to track, easier to understand, and more responsive when something appears to be stuck.
I would appreciate any guidance from Apple or the developer community on how to proceed with this specific review, and I hope Apple continues improving communication and visibility around App Review operations.
Respectfully.