Hello everyone,
I've seen quite a few recent threads from developers stuck in long review queues, so greetings to all of you in the same boat.
Our iOS app has remained in "Waiting for Review" since its initial submission, with no movement, feedback, or messages in App Store Connect.
Timeline:
- Submitted: Aug 20, 2026
- Submission ID: 8ae4090b-e099-4eb1-8868-fc34af838cb2
- App ID: 6783428217
- Current status: still "Waiting for Review" (9+ days)
Steps already taken:
- Verified all agreements are accepted and there are no pending compliance items or messages on the submission
- Opened a support case on Aug 27 (Case ID: 20000148931150) — no response yet
- Filed an expedited review request, as our planned Aug 30 launch date is at risk
We haven't received any rejection or request for additional information. Could the App Review team please check whether this submission is stuck in the queue, and advise if any action is needed on our side?
Has anyone made it through a similar delay recently? What ended up unblocking it for you? the support case, an expedited request (if you had a planned release date?), or posting here?
I'll keep this thread updated with every step we take and every response we get, so others hitting this have a reference.
Update: resolved - the app is now approved. Posting the full timeline, since the cause turned out to be different from what we assumed.
The submission wasn't simply stuck in the queue. On Aug 29 it was reviewed and rejected under Guideline 2.1(b) - App Completeness: the app referenced subscriptions, but the In-App Purchase products hadn't been submitted for review along with the binary. Our mistake.
What followed:
- Aug 29: resubmitted with the subscription group and subscriptions attached
- Aug 31: resubmitted with the lifetime IAP added (5 items). An automated check flagged Guideline 3.1.2 - no functional Terms of Use (EULA) link in the App Store metadata. Fix: add a link to Apple's standard EULA in the App Description (or add a custom EULA in App Store Connect)
- Sep 2: rejected under Guideline 2.3.2 - Accurate Metadata, because we'd used identical promotional images for different promoted IAPs. Only the app version was rejected, so the IAPs stayed "Ready for Review" with the image field locked. We removed the submission, deleted the promotional images and resubmitted
- Sep 2: new submission (app 1.0 build 13 + subscription group, 2 subscriptions, 1 lifetime IAP) - all items approved
Lessons for anyone in the same spot:
- Check the App Review page (Distribution > App Review > open the submission) for messages. Rejections show up there even if you don't notice an email
- For a first release, submit all IAPs/subscriptions together with the app version
- If you offer auto-renewable subscriptions, put a Terms of Use (EULA) link in the description
- Each promoted IAP needs a unique promotional image, or none at all