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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Most App Store submission problems are fixable once you identify whether the issue is an unfinished or inaccessible app, incorrect listing information, or a specific guideline concern. Start with the message and status in App Store Connect; then correct the item Apple identifies. For a metadata-only rejection, Apple says you can fix the metadata and resubmit the same build.
Why was my app rejected or not sent for review?
First distinguish a submission that has not been sent from one Apple has reviewed. In App Store Connect, Ready for Review means the version has been added to a submission but has not been sent to Apple. Waiting for Review means Apple received it and has not started review; In Review means review is underway. A Rejected item was not accepted. Apple lists these status meanings in its App and submission statuses guidance.
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Apple’s common review issues include crashes or bugs, broken links, placeholder content, incomplete review information, unclear explanations for data access, and screenshots that do not accurately represent the app. These are starting points, not a diagnosis: use the rejection message and the guideline or issue it names to determine what applies to your app. Apple says, on average, over 40% of unresolved issues relate to Guideline 2.1, App Completeness; that is an overall figure, not a prediction about an individual rejection. See Apple’s App Review guidance.
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Adding a version to a submission and sending it to Apple are separate actions. Apple instructs developers to provide required metadata and choose the build before submitting an app version.
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- Complete the required metadata. Open the app version in App Store Connect and fill in the required information for that version.
- Select and verify the build. Confirm that the attached build is the intended one before continuing.
- Add the version to a submission. Choose Add for Review. This places the version in a draft or new submission and sets its status to Ready for Review; it does not start review.
- Send the submission. Choose Submit for Review to send it to Apple.
Apple describes this sequence in its Submit an app instructions. If a version remains Ready for Review, check whether the final submit action is still outstanding.
Make the app complete and test its important flows
Fix crashes, bugs, and unfinished features
Before submitting, exercise the app’s important flows on the devices and software versions it supports. Fix reproducible crashes and defects, and remove placeholder screens, unfinished copy, or incomplete content. Apple groups crashes, bugs, and incomplete experiences under App Completeness (Guideline 2.1); the specific rejection message should identify the concern to address. Apple’s App Review page outlines common submission issues.
Check links and contact details
Test every link in the reviewed build, including the user support and privacy policy links. Apple expects a functional support link with current contact information. Confirm that contact details are accurate and monitored, and that the links resolve to the intended destinations.
Give App Review the access and context it needs
Use the App Review Information section in App Store Connect to explain how to reach the features under review. If sign-in is required, provide valid demo credentials. Include instructions for special configurations or setup that would otherwise prevent the reviewer from reaching the relevant experience. Keep the review contact information complete and current.
If a feature depends on difficult-to-replicate conditions, specific hardware, or an unusual environment, Apple advises preparing a demo video or the required hardware. Supply what is necessary for the reviewer to evaluate that feature rather than assuming they can reproduce your setup. Apple’s App Review guidance covers review access and common problems.
Explain permissions and sensitive data access clearly
When the app requests permission to access user or usage data, explain why in clear, complete language that matches what the app actually does. Apple notes that an example can help make the purpose understandable. If the app’s code references APIs that access sensitive user data, include a user-facing purpose string in the Info.plist that clearly explains the need. A vague prompt or mismatch between the explanation and actual use can leave reviewers unable to assess the request.
Correct screenshots and listing information
Match screenshots to the app and device
Screenshots should show the app’s actual value and functionality, must not obscure its user interface, and need to correspond to the device type. Apple’s current screenshot specifications call for at least one screenshot, with a maximum of ten per device size. The reference specifies at least one iPhone screenshot for an iPhone with Dynamic Island (medium display), and at least one 13-inch iPad screenshot if the app supports iPadOS.
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Apple says that when the interface and localizations are consistent across device sizes, you can provide the highest required resolution and have it scaled down. Check the live upload instructions and specifications before preparing assets, since requirements can change.
Verify name, subtitle, and privacy policy URL
Apple’s App information reference states that an app name must be 2 to 30 characters and a subtitle is limited to 30 characters. It also provides a privacy policy URL field. Check the current field rules in App Store Connect rather than relying on an older third-party checklist.
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How to respond to a rejection and resubmit
- Read the full rejection message. Identify the App Review Guideline or other issue Apple cites, along with the specific feature, content, metadata, or behavior involved.
- Address that concern directly. Decide whether the correction requires a metadata edit, a change to code or content, a settings adjustment, or additional review information. The notice—not a generic checklist—determines the appropriate remedy.
- Reply in App Store Connect. Use the App Review section to explain what you changed or clarify how the app works. Attach relevant supporting material when it helps demonstrate the correction.
- Resubmit the item. If the rejection is metadata-only, Apple says you can correct the metadata and resubmit the same build. For a functional or policy issue, make the change Apple’s message requires; a generic fix cannot guarantee acceptance.
Apple’s instructions for replying to App Review messages explain how to respond and note that a metadata issue can be resolved without uploading a new build when the same build remains appropriate.
Know what happens when a submission contains multiple items
A submission can include more than an app version. Depending on platform and submission rules, items may include in-app purchases, subscriptions, events, custom product pages, product page optimization tests, and Apple-hosted asset packs. Apple says submissions are generally managed per platform, and app versions for different platforms are submitted separately; do not assume one platform’s status determines another’s. See Apple’s overview of submitting for review.
Items submitted together can be reviewed as part of the same submission, and Apple says all items in a submission must be accepted for the submission to complete. An accepted item may therefore remain unpublished while another item is rejected. The rejected item can be edited and resubmitted or removed from the submission, according to Apple’s status guidance.
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