Top App Store Rejections and Their Solutions
As an iOS Developer, we are happy to see our apps in the store, which makes us proud and positive impact on the resume by getting attention from companies.
The Apple App Store rules are getting more strict year by year. The apps that don’t get updates for so long are getting removed from the store at the beginning of every year from Apple.
The other side of the rules is rejection. We face some critical rejections during the submission to the store. Those happen mostly at the first submission.
Let’s take a look at the most common rejections we probably might face.
Before starting the top rejections, make sure you read and understand Apple’s official App Review Guidelines document that includes all the rejection subjects.
Minimum Functionality (Guideline 4.2)
The apps mostly get this rejection 99% at the first submission. As the subject tells us, the app doesn’t have enough functionality to provide users.
Solution
The developer is required to add more features to the app. They might be new screens, more actions, or else.
What we recommend is having at least 3 screens, which are Splash, the screen representing the main feature, and Settings.
Splash is the first screen that shows up. It includes the logo and app name, that’s all. The initial data can be checked and handled at Splash.
When everything is okay at Splash, the user routes into the main feature screen. It might be called Home, Dashboard, or anything else associated with the app. The main feature screen is recommended to be the first screen of the tab group.
The second tab bar group item is Settings which might include Appearance (Light/Dark), Language, Rate Us, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and more.
The conclusion, the app must have enough functionality to submit again. Increase the build number and upload a new build after the development.
Design: Spam (Guideline 4.3)
Spam is one of the biggest problematic rejection reasons.
There are 2 main reasons to have it.
Same Code Base
The code base is the copy of another app’s code base. The code base might be purchased as a template from a template store. So, every template buyer submits their apps to the App Store with the same or too similar code base. So, this occurs as the spam rejection reason.
The solution is refactoring the property and object names in the code base and making small touches to change UI/UX. The project will be different than other projects.
Saturated Categories
Some of the categories are overloaded by developers. Apple describes these categories in the guideline, fart, burp, flashlight, fortune telling, dating, drinking games, and Kama Sutra apps
If the app is one of them, it must have some unique features to be different than others. Add new features, and promote them as the app’s main feature. Therefore, Apple will review the app from a different perspective.
Performance: App Completeness (Guideline 2.1)
The tester is looking for something to test, but can not find or the app must have more details about the permission strings.
For example, the app has a camera feature and the user takes a selfie. The app must explain how to use or store that photo since it is the private data of the user.
Solution
Rewrite the permission text clearly with more details.
Also, the tester can not find the in-app purchase location. The developer who is responsible for the review must explain the in-app purchase location to the tester.
In some cases, the tester needs only some answers, not extra development.
All you need to do is answer their questions. They might be these,
- What face data does the app collect?
- Provide a complete and clear explanation of all planned uses of the collected face data.
- Will the face data be shared with any third parties? Where will this information be stored?
- How long will face data be retained?
- Where in the privacy policy is the app’s collection, use, disclosure, sharing, and retention of face data explained? Identify the specific sections in the privacy policy where this information is located.
- Quote the specific text from the privacy policy concerning face data.
Business — Payments — Subscriptions (Guideline 3.1.2)
The paywall might not contain the subscription details clearly.
The developer must check if the paywall includes this info,
- Title of auto-renewing subscription, which may be the same as the in-app purchase product name
- Length of subscription
- Price of subscription, and price per unit if appropriate
- Functional links to the privacy policy and Terms of Use (EULA)
The app also must have the privacy policy and Terms of Use (EULA) links at least at a point in the app. If they are on the settings screen, they are not required to be on the paywall.
Another common reason for this rejection is missing privacy policy and Terms of Use (EULA) links in the app metadata.
They must be at the bottom of the store description.
Identify Rejection Risks Before Submission
When working as a team, even a small oversight by a developer can lead to an unexpected rejection from the App Store. So, is there a way to catch these issues before submission? With Appcircle Publish Module, the answer will be yes.
The Appcircle Publish Module already handles every step required for an iOS developer to release an app on the App Store. By isolating users from the App Store Connect interface, it streamlines the entire release process in one place. It automatically checks all necessary metadata, screenshot requirements, app information, localizations, and validations according to Apple’s guidelines, allowing you to update everything without ever accessing App Store Connect.
On top of that, Appcircle is actively working on an advanced feature to detect potential rejection risks before your app even reaches Apple’s review process. By running automated checks based on common rejection reasons, it will identify possible issues such as missing privacy policy links, insufficient permission descriptions, minimal functionality concerns, and other frequent problem areas.
With these proactive warnings, your team can catch and fix problems early, reducing the risk of rejection and saving valuable time. Instead of waiting days to discover issues during the review, the Publish Module helps you address them directly within your deployment workflow — turning it into a vital safeguard for smooth, successful, and efficient App Store submissions.
Conclusion
Seeing your app live on the Apple App Store is a proud moment for any iOS developer and a strong addition to your professional portfolio. However, with Apple’s guidelines becoming stricter each year, it’s essential to understand common rejection reasons and prepare your app to meet these standards.
By addressing key rejection risks like minimum functionality, spam risks, permission clarity, and subscription transparency and leveraging automated tools like Appcircle’s Publish Module, you can streamline the submission process and increase your app’s chances of approval. Staying informed, applying best practices, and proactively identifying potential issues are essential for a smooth App Store release.
