App Store rejected your app? Start here.
Last reviewed 3 November 2026
Most rejections come down to a handful of guidelines. Find yours below, read what Apple is reacting to, and follow the steps that get the app approved.
- Apple says it’s spam (Guideline 4.3)Apple sees your app as a duplicate: several versions of one app, or one more of a kind the store already has plenty of.
- Apple says it’s too basic (Guideline 4.2)Apple thinks the app is a website in a wrapper, a brochure, or too thin to be worth installing.
- Apple says it’s incomplete (Guideline 2.1)The reviewer hit a crash, a login they couldn’t pass, a server that was down, or something unfinished.
- In-app purchase and subscriptions (Guidelines 3.1.1 and 3.1.2)Digital features sold without in-app purchase, a missing Restore button, or a subscription screen that doesn’t say enough.
- Privacy and permissions (Guideline 5.1.1)Permissions, sign-up, account deletion or the privacy policy don’t meet Apple’s privacy rules.
- Account deletion (Guideline 5.1.1(v))People can create an account in your app but can’t start deleting it from inside the app.
- Sign in with Apple (Guideline 4.8)You offer Google, Facebook or another social login, without an equivalent privacy-focused option such as Sign in with Apple.
- Your App Store listing (Guideline 2.3)Your name, description, screenshots or review notes don’t match what the app really does.
- Moderation and user content (Guideline 1.2)People can post or generate content in your app, but it lacks filtering, reporting, blocking or contact details.
- How to reply to a rejection, and when to appealWhat to write back to App Review, when an appeal makes sense, and how to ask for an expedited review.
Which guideline is it?
Open the message from App Review in App Store Connect. Its first line names the guideline, usually in this form:
| What the message says | What it’s about | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Guideline 2.1 - Performance - App Completeness | Crashes, demo accounts, unfinished features | Our guide |
| Guideline 4.3(a) or 4.3(b) - Design - Spam | Duplicate apps or crowded categories | Our guide |
| Guideline 4.2 - Design - Minimum Functionality | Web wrappers, brochure or template apps | Our guide |
| Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase | Selling digital content, restore purchases | Our guide |
| Guideline 3.1.2 - Business - Payments - Subscriptions | Subscription terms and paywall details | Our guide |
| Guideline 5.1.1 - Legal - Privacy - Data Collection and Storage | Permissions, sign-up, privacy policy | Our guide |
| Guideline 5.1.1(v) - Legal - Privacy - Account Sign-In | Deleting an account from inside the app | Our guide |
| Guideline 4.8 - Design - Login Services | Sign in with Apple or an equivalent option | Our guide |
| Guideline 2.3 - Performance - Accurate Metadata | Listing doesn’t match the app | Our guide |
| Guideline 1.2 - Safety - User-Generated Content | Filtering, reporting and blocking | Our guide |
Another rejection founders ask about:
- 4.1 Copycats: the app copies another app’s name, look or concept.
What happens after you resubmit
- Timing: Apple says it typically reviews at least half of submissions within 24 hours and 90% within 48 hours (source). Complex apps can take longer, and Apple says apps repeatedly rejected for the same guideline take longer to review.
- Status: you’ll get an email at each change, and the status shows in App Store Connect and its iPhone app.
- Talking to the reviewer: use Reply to App Review on the app’s App Review page in App Store Connect. Our reply and appeal guide covers what to write.
- Appeals: if you’ve replied and still believe the app follows the guidelines, you can appeal to the App Review Board, once per rejected submission.
- Expedited review: for a critical bug fix or an event-related release only. Apple may refuse future requests if the system is overused.
- After approval: it can take up to 24 hours for the app to appear on every storefront you selected.
New to all this? Our guide to publishing an app covers the whole route, and our founder guides cover hiring, costs and contracts.
When to get help
Most rejections are quick to fix once you know what the reviewer saw. It’s worth getting a second pair of eyes when:
- the same guideline has come back two or more times;
- the message is vague, like many 4.2 and 4.3 rejections of an app built with AI tools or a template;
- the original developer isn’t available and the fix means real code changes (we take over stuck or inherited projects);
- a launch date, investor demo or marketing campaign depends on approval.
Based on Apple’s App Review Guidelines as last updated by Apple on 16 October 2026. Apple changes them from time to time, so check the current text on Apple’s developer site.