Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsStart with the rejection notice in App Store Connect: it identifies the guideline and issue Apple says your submission has. Then use this five-minute check to spot common, fixable problems before you respond or resubmit. The review itself may require more than five minutes to fix.
Why App Completeness is worth checking first
Apple says that, on average, over 40% of unresolved issues relate to guideline 2.1, App Completeness. Apple’s description includes crashes, placeholder content and incomplete information. That figure is about unresolved issues—not the percentage of all submitted apps that are rejected.
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Use the checklist as a first pass, not a diagnosis. Your rejection message is the guide to the specific problem Apple identified.
The five-minute pre-resubmission checklist
- Read the exact rejection. In App Store Connect, open the App Review message. Note the cited guideline and Apple’s explanation before changing anything. A generic rejection checklist cannot tell you which issue applies to your submission. Apple explains how to reply to App Review messages.
- Check the build for obvious incompleteness. Confirm you submitted the intended, final build. Test its main flows on devices, look for crashes and obvious bugs, and remove unfinished or placeholder content. If the app requires login, provide working reviewer access or appropriate demo information, and make sure the service the reviewer needs is available.
- Test the links. Open important in-app links. Check that the support contact and privacy policy links are current and usable.
- Review privacy disclosures and permission prompts. Make sure the privacy policy explains data collection and use, sharing, retention, deletion and consent revocation where applicable. Permission prompts and required purpose strings should clearly explain why the app needs the requested data. Include the behavior of relevant third-party SDKs in your audit.
- Compare the store listing with the actual app. Check screenshots and metadata against the experience users will get, including the relevant device type and available functionality. Remove or correct claims about features that do not work as described.
- Check the submitting entity. For some services, including sensitive or regulated categories, Apple may require submission by the legal entity providing the service. Where required, include authorization or partnership information.
- Choose a resolution route. If the cited issue is fixable, make the change and reply with a concise explanation and relevant supporting information. For a metadata-only problem, Apple says you can correct the metadata and resubmit the same build. If you believe the decision is wrong, appeal with specific reasons tied to the cited guideline; an appeal is not a substitute for making a needed product change.
Fix the issue or appeal?
| Choose | When it fits | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fix and resubmit | The rejection identifies a correctable problem, such as a crash, placeholder content, broken link, unclear permission explanation or inaccurate metadata. | Correct the issue, verify the affected flow or listing, then reply to App Review with a brief, factual description of the change. |
| Appeal | You can make a specific case that the app complies with the cited guideline and explain why the review misunderstood it or treated it incorrectly. | Address the guideline and the reviewer’s stated concern directly, with concrete supporting details. Apple’s App Review guidance describes the review and appeal process. |
What to expect after you respond
Apple’s App Review FAQ reports that 90% of apps are reviewed within 48 hours. That is a reported average, not a deadline or a guaranteed turnaround—particularly for a resubmission. Check the current status in App Store Connect; Apple documents its app and submission statuses.
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