Hi all, Our app was initially rejected for 5 minor issues, which we promptly fixed and resubmitted within 24 hours. However, it was rejected again for 4 of the same issues, even though we 100% know they've been addressed. We submitted two follow-up messages to the App Review team via App Store Connect over 5 days ago but haven't received any acknowledgment or response. Does anyone know if we need to resubmit a new build with notes, or how long it typically takes to get a reply from App Review through App Store Connect? Thanks in advance!

Hi! I'm having a question that I can't really find an specific answer to, if anyone could help me. If I make an app, tag it as 18+ and restrict access to under 18's am I allowed to make custom ads with redirect to casinos(if users tap on them)?

Hello Developers & Apple Team, Our app was recently rejected by Apple under Guideline 5.0 (Legal) due to concerns that it "enables mass texting, calling, and other spamming activities." However, our app strictly follows Apple’s guidelines and does not support mass messaging in any form. Key Features Ensuring Compliance: ✅ No Mass Messaging: Users must manually select contacts, preventing bulk messaging. ✅ Explicit User Consent: A pop-up confirmation appears every time a message is sent, ensuring user awareness. ✅ Regulatory Compliance: We are a Meta Business Partner, RCS Messaging Partner, and a registered Telemarketer, operating within legal frameworks. ✅ No Promotional Content: The app is strictly for communication and informational messages only—never for spam. 📢 Apple Review Team, please review our case and assist us in resolving this misunderstanding so we can move forward with our app approval as soon as possible. Has anyone else faced a similar rejection? Any suggestions on how we can best clarify our compliance to Apple? We appreciate any guidance from the community and Apple. 🚀

While I found a solution to check if debugger is attached to a process following this Q&A. My query is mostly with regards to distribution aspect to it. My use-case is to have this check as an SDK that is shipped as XCFramework. I have verified no submission error being generated if app including this code is submitted to TestFlight. However, I am unsure what will happen if app having this check is submitted to appstore. Will this submission be rejected? Or having this check in an appstore submitted app doesn't impact anything?

Have a new app that we plan to release to the App Store and we want to support it only on iPhone for now. We have removed all the supported destinations in app's target -> general settings and it only has iPhone now. Please note that this app has never been released to app store before. We do plan to add iPad support in upcoming releases. For this first release of our app, will the end user be still able to download the app on iPad in compatibility mode? Or what would be the behavior when the user would search for my app on iPad?

Hello, My app was recently rejected due to App Review Guideline 4.3(a), which states: "Don’t create multiple Bundle IDs of the same app. If your app has different versions for specific locations, sports teams, universities, etc., consider submitting a single app and provide the variations using in-app purchase." The feedback provided was: "We noticed your app shares a similar binary, metadata, and/or concept as apps submitted to the App Store by other developers, with only minor differences. Submitting similar or repackaged apps is a form of spam that creates clutter and makes it difficult for users to discover new apps." This has left me quite confused. I have only one app, "Fly2enjoy," which I originally uploaded on Android and am looking to upload it also to iOS. I don't have any other active apps on the Apple App Store. The app was developed with the intention of being unique, and I have not repackaged or copied another app. Additionally, I only have one Bundle ID associated with my app. On Android, the only app similar to mine is "Fly2enjoy," which is my own. Based on my understanding, my app’s concept is relatively distinct. I am struggling to understand why my app was rejected. I acknowledge that the uploaded screenshots might not be polished or final, but they can certainly be improved in the next updates. If the issue is related to "similar binaries or metadata," I am not sure how to address or resolve this. Any assistance or guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mohammad.

Hello, Thank you for your message. Regarding 3.2, we still find that your app is intended to be used by a specific business or organization, including partners, clients, or employees, but you've selected public distribution on the App Store in App Store Connect. To resolve this issue, it would be appropriate to review the other distribution options available for apps designed for specific businesses or organizations and choose a distribution option that works for your app and users. You can review these app distribution options on Apple Developer. I appreciate the help to get out of this inconvenience. Thank you.

I am currently trying to upload my app to my Apple Developer account, but I keep encountering an issue. The submission process prompts me to provide a Privacy Policy URL. However, when I attempt to enter the URL, I receive an error message stating, "We can't process your request." Contacted support multiple times but they do not have any solution yet it's been more than a week now

Hi all, I have an app that is already released in the App Store, and I recently submitted a new version for bug fixes only. Normally, updates are accepted within 24 hours. However, this time, my submission was unexpectedly rejected for the following reason: The app preview includes content that does not sufficiently show the app in use. Specifically, the app preview: Shows footage other than the app in use, such as images of the home screen. This feedback is surprising because the app preview video has been approved in previous versions, and I made no changes to it in this submission. Importantly, the reason for including the iPhone's Home Screen is to showcase a critical function of the app—interacting with it via Siri when the phone is locked. I am unsure how to demonstrate this key feature without showing the phone's Lock Screen. I have attempted to explain this in my responses and even uploaded a YouTube video to clarify the app's functionality, but I continue to receive generic, templated feedback. I also raised an appeal, but it has been over 7 days without a response. Has anyone else experienced similar issues? How did you manage to navigate this situation? Thank you for your help!

Hi all, I have an app that is already released in the App Store, and I recently submitted a new version for bug fixes only. Normally, updates are accepted within 24 hours. However, this time, my submission was unexpectedly rejected for the following reason: The app preview includes content that does not sufficiently show the app in use. Specifically, the app preview: - Shows footage other than the app in use, such as images of the home screen. This feedback is surprising because the app preview video has been approved in previous versions, and I made no changes to it in this submission. Importantly, the reason for including the iPhone's Home Screen is to showcase a critical function of the app—interacting with it via Siri when the phone is locked. I am unsure how to demonstrate this key feature without showing the phone's Lock Screen. I have attempted to explain this in my responses and even uploaded a YouTube video to clarify the app's functionality, but I continue to receive generic, templated feedback. I also raised an appeal, but it has been over 7 days without a response. Has anyone else experienced similar issues? How did you manage to navigate this situation? Thank you for your help!

Hi, I am a freelance developer who built a CRM and as part of the package provide a ToDo application. I managed to convince a client to get a White-Labeled solution for the application from me & uploaded in the client's developer profile (My profile has full developer access). Now, when I am uploading my original app for my other CRM users - App Store Review team is rejecting the app with the following message: "We noticed your app shares a similar binary, metadata, and/or concept as apps submitted to the App Store by other developers, with only minor differences.Submitting similar or repackaged apps is a form of spam that creates clutter and makes it difficult for users to discover new apps.". They mention - "other developers"; but the other developer is me - having full access rights. I have replied to the rejection 4 times with these comments & I feel they are just not reading my comments. Its disheartening to see that all the work you put in, apps get rejected for absolutely no reason. I have already appealed and I am unsure what I should do next.

Hi fellow developers, I built Video Restore AI which uses a number of models with CoreML on macOS to provide simple one-blick video upscaling and colorization. After uploading my archive, I received the following notification through email. ITMS-91109: Invalid package contents - The package contains one or more files with the com.apple.quarantine extended file attribute, such as “{com.kammerath.VideoRestore.pkg/Payload/Video Restore AI.app/Contents/Resources/ECCV16Colorize.mlmodelc/weights/weight.bin}”. This attribute shouldn’t be included in any macOS apps distributed on TestFlight or the App Store. Starting February 18, 2025, you must remove this attribute from all files within your macOS app before you can upload to App Store Connect. How do I deal with this? Is there a way to get Apple to just accept the model contents or do I need to convert it again with coremltools? Many thanks in advance! Jan

Hi all, I am a student trying to launch an app on the App store. The tool is a wait time predictor for bars and restaurants in the area. For months I have been failing the design minimum requirement and was hoping to get some assistance. Here some features: Push notifications, Check wait times at every different time on different, days on graphs, Favorite Venues, Discover other venues via a map system , Enter address into maps via map, Below are some pngs of my project. If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it

Hey everyone, I’m dealing with a frustrating situation and hoping someone here can share insights. My app has been rejected multiple times under Guideline 4.3(a) - Spam, with Apple stating it resembles an app from a terminated Apple Developer account. Here’s the context: A month ago, my teammate purchased an Apple Developer account from a 3rd party. Then after the app was submitted, we got rejection after that, a couple of hours later. The old account was terminated. The termination notice cited Section 3.2(f) of the ADP Agreement, mentioning "commit any act intended to interfere with any of the Apple Software or Services, the intent of this Agreement, or Apple’s business practices including, but not limited to, taking actions that may hinder the performance or intended use of the App Store, Custom App Distribution, TestFlight, Xcode Cloud, Ad Hoc distribution, or the Program…". This old account was purchased from a suspicious source, which may be why it was terminated and you can imagine my relationship with the old teammate now. Anyway, we never know the real reason because it was a broad message The app was never published, only submitted, but it's now stuck in the terminated account. Then I created a second account on my own, and resubmitted the app. Good thing, I was never been terminated ever since despite multiple attends to resubmit. Bad things, I got rejected because of Guideline 4.3(a) - Spam, they said my app is similar to an app from a terminated account multiple times. Since the termination, I've: Rebranded my app completely, including a new app name, bundle ID, logo, and additional features. I've added like 6 pages alongside 10 other APIs. It's just amazing and terrifying to me at the same time how Apple can track my app linkage to the old account even after though changes Yet, I keep getting rejections claiming similarity to the app in the terminated account. My Questions: How long does it take for app metadata, features, and concepts to be fully released for reuse from a terminated account to be fully removed from Apple's system? Has anyone successfully resolved a similar rejection under 4.3(a)? Now it has been 1 month, should I resubmit the app? I will be joining an online meeting with an Apple Reviewer consultant to discuss the App Review matter one-on-one. What would you guys recommend me to discuss/ask them? About my app information, since I was not allowed to upload screenshots before getting a successful publishing by my CEO I can only share the below information, I pretty sure the app itself is not making any serious fault since I never got rejection in the 2nd account. The app have 2 main features: Chat with generative AI model: it provides finance information and insights linked to real-time finance data No nsfw, nsfl contents, I pre-process and chat and make sure those contents are flagged and the AI will answer in the way that discouraging the topic An overall finance information: volume, info, articles, and charts (we have access rights) Any guidance or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hi all, My app was rejected because of Guideline 4.3(a). Below is the response: We noticed your app shares a similar binary, metadata, and/or concept as apps submitted to the App Store by other developers, with only minor differences. Submitting similar or repackaged apps is a form of spam that creates clutter and makes it difficult for users to discover new apps. Next Steps Since we do not accept spam apps on the App Store, we encourage you to review your app concept and submit a unique app with distinct content and functionality. Resources Some factors that contribute to a spam rejection may include: Submitting an app with the same source code or assets as other apps already submitted to the App Store Creating and submitting multiple similar apps using a repackaged app template Purchasing an app template with problematic code from a third-party Submitting several similar apps across multiple accounts Is due to another Beta Build of the same app that is also under App Review currently? Because the app idea, UI, code, everything is ideated by me without any inspiration

Hi everyone, We are developing an app, Video Tradie, which operates as a marketplace platform connecting customers with independent tradespeople for consultations. The app facilitates scheduling, communication, and payments but does not directly provide any services—our role is strictly as a facilitator. For payment processing, we are currently integrating Stripe to handle invoicing, payment splits to tradespeople, and detailed reporting features that are essential to our business model. However, we want to ensure compliance with Apple’s App Store guidelines, particularly regarding: Digital Services vs. Physical Services: Since the app facilitates consultations (virtual services), would it fall under Apple’s in-app purchase requirements, or could it qualify for exemptions, similar to apps facilitating physical services? Stripe Integration: If we continue using Stripe for payments, are we allowed to remit Apple’s 15% commission (under the Small Business Programme) while not using Apple’s payment infrastructure? Marketplace Positioning: Does positioning our app as a marketplace rather than a direct service provider exempt us from using Apple’s in-app payment system? Alternative Billing Options: If operating in regions like the EU or South Korea, where alternative billing is permitted, are there specific steps we need to follow to comply? We are seeking clarification to ensure we develop the app in a way that aligns with Apple’s expectations. If anyone has experience with similar setups or advice on communicating with Apple during the submission process, I’d greatly appreciate your input! Thank you!

I previously written here, and some advices were to appeal to rejection sending them message describing uniqueness of the app. Nothing is working. In short, i have a vpn app (of course by design shares some concept with other apps that are in the app store). But since the rejection i have completely changed the ui, added built in browser, p2p messenger so users could interact with each other without any interference. The app is completely free with no ads. I thought this is it, there's no way it would reject this time, but... i get a notification with rejection repeating the same old message. I'm extremely frustrated and don't know what to do. Tried changing the logo of the app, the name to "Incognito - Messenger, VPN", app store screenshots. I've already appealed with screenshots describing unique features that other vpn apps don't have, but the message just repeats from app review team. Submission ID: 1a49ee0b-c4e2-4a36-8372-e4d3b9a8b13f Does anybody have an advice what i can do?

Our problem is that our app was rejected for "Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase". Specifically, "the app uses a ********** to unlock or enable paid features in store". Our app does use promo codes. But these codes do not directly unlock paid functionality. What our app actually does with promo codes is as follows... We have products with ids "Product1" and "Product1_Discount1". These are both valid product definitions in Apple IAP. They enable the same features within the app but have different price definitions. We allow the user to enter an optional **********. We consult our backend to see if the ********** allows the user the opportunity to purchase "Product1_Discount1", and if it does we display the info defined by "Product1_Discount1", otherwise, we display the info defined by "Product1". We are trying to understand a) is it always going to be a guideline violation to offer our own promo codes for in-app purchases (these are not Apple generated codes, we generate them)?, or b) is there a scenario where it is acceptable to manage our own promo codes for in-app purchases? We didn't see anything in the guidelines that prohibited us to define multiple IAP products that have different prices but enable the same functionality. Is this allowed? Our business goal is to share revenue of purchases that our partners promote which we track using their designated promo codes. Is our approach a definite guideline violation? If so then what is the recommendation to achieve our business goal? Thanks

Was working ok, then after my latest attempt at submitting a .PKG it crashes right after displaying the list of previous submitted things. This make it impossible to make progress with my project, unless there's another way of getting it to TestFlight (not using Xcode). Transporter 1.3.2 on Intel Mac Sequoia 15.0

We recently received feedback under Guideline 4.3(b) suggesting our app duplicates functionality found in other apps in this category. However, our app is fundamentally not a dating app. It is a conversation facilitator designed to foster meaningful connections for friendships, networking, and shared interests. While romantic connections may occur naturally, they are not the primary focus. Thus, we are seeking insights on this key question: How do developers effectively demonstrate feature differentiation to reviewers? We want to clearly show how our app’s functionality uniquely addresses user needs and provides value beyond existing solutions. Our Core Features: Our app introduces distinct features that differentiate it from traditional apps in this space: Paths: Psychology-based prompts embedded in chats encourage users to explore meaningful topics like values and aspirations. These prompts are dynamically triggered to keep conversations engaging and productive. Aura: A rewards system that incentivizes thoughtful, high-quality engagement by awarding points for meaningful conversations, which can unlock additional features. Spark Matches: Real-time, themed events pair users for structured, 15-minute conversations on topics like technology or travel. Curated prompts ensure the focus is on shared interests, not romance. Flame Matches: AI-personalized matches adapt to user conversations, connecting individuals based on compatibility. Chats begin anonymously, focusing on personalities rather than appearances, and are designed for platonic, professional, or friendship connections. Market Analysis: Our app addresses key gaps in the connection space: No apps embed conversation prompts directly into chats; nor do they trigger them regularly or dynamically, to foster deeper discussions over a sustained period. No apps have rewards systems designed to specifically incentivize meaningful engagement. No apps have matchmaking systems that adapt dynamically based on users’ past conversations. No apps support the combination of real-time, one-on-one themed conversations with curated prompts. Traction: As an incorporated business with over a year of experience, we have helped thousands of users build platonic, professional, and interest-based connections. For example, users in relationships join our events to find new friends, and professionals use Spark Matches to discuss shared interests like technology. Consistent feedback highlights our prompts and structured events as refreshing alternatives to superficial, appearance-driven platforms. Our rapidly growing user base has validated the demand for these features, and we would like to bring this experience natively to them via a mobile app on the App Store. Additional Context: While some basic chat functionality may overlap with existing platforms, our focus is on facilitating meaningful conversations and incentivizing a thoughtful conversation culture that represents a novel approach validated by user research and feedback. We welcome advice from developers who have successfully highlighted their app’s uniqueness when facing similar review challenges. Thank you in advance! :)