An ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest rejection email looks as follows: ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest- Your app includes "<path/to/SDK>", which includes , an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a privacy-impacting third-party SDK. Starting February 12, 2025, if a new app includes a privacy-impacting SDK, or an app update adds a new privacy-impacting SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. Glossary ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest: An email that includes the name and path of privacy-impacting SDK(s) with no privacy manifest files in your app bundle. For more information, see https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. : The specified privacy-impacting SDK that doesn't include a privacy manifest file. If you are the developer of the rejected app, gather the name of the SDK from the email you received from Apple, then contact the SDK's provider for an updated version that includes a valid privacy manifest. After receiving an updated version of the SDK, verify the SDK includes a valid privacy manifest file at the expected location. For more information, see Adding a privacy manifest to your app or third-party SDK. If your app includes a privacy manifest file, make sure the file only describes the privacy practices of your app. Do not add the privacy practices of the SDK to your app's privacy manifest. If the email lists multiple SDKs, repeat the above process for all of them. If you are the developer of an SDK listed in the email, publish an updated version of your SDK that includes a privacy manifest file with valid keys and values. Every privacy-impacting SDK must contain a privacy manifest file that only describes its privacy practices. To learn how to add a valid privacy manifest to your SDK, see the Additional resources section below. Additional resources Privacy manifest files Describing data use in privacy manifests Describing use of required reason API Adding a privacy manifest to your app or third-party SDK TN3182: Adding privacy tracking keys to your privacy manifest TN3183: Adding required reason API entries to your privacy manifest TN3184: Adding data collection details to your privacy manifest TN3181: Debugging an invalid privacy manifest

In this post, we'll share tips to help you submit apps that deliver original ideas to your users. When working on your app, focus on creating interesting, unique experiences that aren't already available. Apps that actively try to copy other apps won't pass review, and accounts that repeatedly submit copycat apps or attempt to impersonate a service will be closed. The rules that prevent copycat and impersonator apps from being distributed on the App Store are described in App Review Guideline 4.1: 4.1 Copycats (a) Come up with your own ideas. We know you have them, so make yours come to life. Don’t simply copy the latest popular app on the App Store, or make some minor changes to another app’s name or UI and pass it off as your own. In addition to risking an intellectual property infringement claim, it makes the App Store harder to navigate and just isn’t fair to your fellow developers. (b) Submitting apps which impersonate other apps or services is considered a violation of the Developer Code of Conduct and may result in removal from the Apple Developer Program.(c) You cannot use another developer’s icon, brand, or product name in your app’s icon or name, without approval from the developer. These requirements help make the App Store both a safe place for people to discover apps and a platform for all developers to be successful. Best Practices Here are three best practices that will help you submit apps that follow App Review Guideline 4.1: 1. Submit apps with unique content and features. People want apps that provide unique experiences. Find areas that aren't currently being served and build compelling apps for those audiences. Do: Create apps that provide a new experience or a unique spin on an existing concept. Design original, delightful interfaces that elegantly meet your user's needs. Don't: Don’t imitate the features and functionality of other apps. Don’t copy the look and feel of other apps, such as using an identical user interface design. 2. Make sure App Store metadata only contains relevant information and content you either own or have permission to use. The metadata provided in App Store Connect is used to populate your app's product page on the App Store. People rely on this metadata to learn about your app and what it has to offer. Leveraging the popularity of another brand or app, either by including irrelevant references or protected content, is misleading and won't help your app succeed. Do: Use engaging, descriptive language to describe your unique app. Create original content that best represents your app, such as screenshots showing the actual app in use. Don't: Don't use protected material you do not have the necessary permission to use, such as app icons that are similar to icons of a popular app. Don’t include irrelevant references, such as popular app names or trademarked terms, in any metadata fields. 3. Provide information that is authentic and verifiable. People want to know the developers behind their favorite apps are who they say they are. It's important to continually review and provide up-to-date information, including the developer or company name listed on your Apple Developer Program account, the Support URL listed on your app's product page, and other helpful information. This will enable your users to contact you when they need help and it will also hinder people who may try to impersonate you, your app, or your service. Do: Make sure all information, resources, and documentation related to your account and apps are current and accurate. Don't: Don’t provide inaccurate information or resources, such as directing people to outdated support pages. Don’t provide fraudulent documentation. Accounts that submit fraudulent documentation will be removed from the Apple Developer Program. Support Incorporating these best practices into your app's development will help you submit apps that follow App Review Guideline 4.1. If you need additional assistance, consider taking advantage of one of the following support options available from App Review: If your submission has been rejected, reply to the message from App Review in App Store Connect and request clarification. Request an App Review Appointment to discuss the results of our review. Appointments are subject to availability, and take place during local business hours in your region on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you believe your app follows the App Review Guidelines, consider submitting an appeal to the App Review Board. Resources Learn about foundational design principles from Apple designers and the developer community. Learn how to create engaging App Store product pages. Note that apps that violate intellectual property rights are subject to removal through the App Store Content Dispute process. If you believe an app on the App Store violates your intellectual property rights, you can submit a claim.

A month ago, a company filed a false complaint against one of my apps. I contacted Apple and informed them that this was untrue, uploading videos and screenshots proving that my account and apps comply with Apple's policies and that the complaint was baseless. Despite this, I was surprised to find all my apps deleted and my account flagged for deletion in the following days. What should I do? I've been wronged, and I've submitted numerous complaints and contacted technical support by phone and email, but so far, I haven't received any response or attention.

It's been a week waiting for the review Despite requesting a quick review and contacting technical support via email, there has been no change so far. What can I do? Apple ID: 6756184295

My app's Custom Product Page (CPP) submission has been stuck in "Waiting for Review" since its initial submission on November 28th, for over two weeks now. Key Timeline and Troubleshooting: Initial Wait and Self-Check: Initially thought it was a normal queue, but there was no progress after several days. Comprehensive Troubleshooting: I have confirmed: Developer account agreements and tax status are normal/valid. This CPP is associated only with the live, published version of the app and is not linked to any pending new version. There are no "Issues to Resolve" prompts in the App Store Connect backend. Attempted Standard Solutions: I have tried "Withdraw and Resubmit" multiple times. The operation completes successfully, but the status always reverts to "Waiting for Review" and never progresses to "In Review". Contacted Official Support: I have reported this issue multiple times through the App Store Connect "Contact Us" form and via email, explaining the suspected technical fault. However, I have not received any substantive feedback. My Core Question: Could this possibly indicate that my account or this specific CPP submission has encountered some rare "lock" or data synchronization failure within the backend system?

Hello everyone, I’ll be honest with you, the kind of honesty that comes when you’ve run out of places to turn. My name is Donovan, I’m a French student, and I’m writing here because at this point, I truly don’t know what else to do Two years ago, I started a small project to learn mobile development. Nothing ambitious at first just a personal exercise, a way to grow. But after countless late nights, weekends sacrificed, and lines of code no one will ever see… that small project became a real application. I finished it. Refined it. Carried it like something that genuinely mattered. And for the past two months, I’ve been fighting with App Review. Always for the same reason: Guideline 4.3(b) – Design – Spam. Each time, I respond. Each time, I explain. But each time, the door closes with the same cold, impersonal message: “We encourage you to reconsider your app concept and submit a new app that provides a unique experience not already found on the App Store.” Unique. Such an easy word to use… especially when no one seems willing to look closely at what’s actually in front of them. My application is a dating app, yes. I know there are many on the App Store. But I implemented a feature that no other dating app currently provides, and more importantly: the app is 100% free, no paywallsno mandatory subscription. As far as I know, there is no completely free dating application on the App Store. I even added features that were never planned, just to avoid being dismissed as “spam.” But nothing has changed. Two years of work. Two years of progressing 4–5 hours per week, between classes, exams, and everything else life throws your way. And now, it feels like all of that can be wiped away by a single generic sentence. So here I am, turning to you, the developer community, the only people who truly understand what it means to run into an invisible wall. I need your help. Your advice, your experiences, your strategies. How can I get Apple to finally accept my app? How can I avoid throwing away two year of work because of a vague, unexplained guideline? Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply

Our application, Yunlen, was unexpectedly rejected after a minor UI update, despite having been live on the App Store for nearly a year. The rejection cites "Crypto related content," an issue we have repeatedly clarified with the Apple Review Team; frustratingly, we have been forced to provide the same detailed explanation three separate times in the same review thread, indicating our responses are being ignored and resulting in a protracted and frustrating 10-day delay to a simple update.

Context After our latest update we received a termination notice referencing 3.2(f) (feature/concept switching after review). The update itself included performance/stability improvements, bug fixes, numeric balance tuning, and a small user-initiated News panel (globe icon in the main menu) that displays a single static announcement image and can be closed at any time. There are no links, no navigation, no login/UGC/ads, and no executable content in that panel. We do not collect personal data (no IDFA/ATT). What we’ve done so far Restricted any post-release changes to numeric balance values only. The News panel remains strictly informational (one static image from our own domain with offline fallback). Prepared a short screen recording and code excerpts that demonstrate these constraints. Questions for the community Has anyone faced a 3.2(f) action in a similar scenario (read-only announcement panel)? What clarifications or evidence helped your appeal? Which additional safeguards (domain allow-list, redirect blocking, formal release checklists, etc.) proved most convincing to App Review? Is it helpful to provide a short video (tap globe → panel shows a single image → close) along with code snippets confirming there’s no navigation or executable content? References / Illustrations Main menu and News button: /mnt/data/62591a87-a516-499a-a743-86ace7e9e3a4.png Store creative preview: /mnt/data/337413b0-e5db-466c-bd04-28efa7fb6b52.png News panel mock (single image): /mnt/data/A_screenshot_of_a_mobile_game's_update_news_screen.png Any practical advice or precedents would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone, We received a Pending Termination Notice on Nov 4, 2025, flagging our developer account for removal under Section 3.2(f) of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. The notice alleged that our app submissions "repeatedly violated the App Review Guidelines in an attempt to evade the review process." We unequivocally state that there was no intent to evade review or act dishonestly. The repeated submissions were actually a result of our efforts to resolve a trademark dispute regarding our app icon with a third party. We were in active legal negotiations to update our assets to a compliant design. The resubmissions were attempts to update the metadata to comply with these legal requests. Unfortunately, this overlapped with the App Review process and created the appearance of "evasion." Case Details: Case Number: 102748595474 App ID: 1599464287 Notice Date: Nov 4, 2025 Current Status: Appeal submitted; awaiting review. What we've done so far **Legal Resolution:** We are now in the final stages of a legal settlement with the third party. We have obtained a statement from our legal counsel and evidence of this settlement to demonstrate our Good Faith and commitment to the App Store Guidelines. **Appeals Submitted:** We have diligently followed standard procedures and submitted three formal appeals, with the latest one submitted on Nov 22. **Support Contact:** We have contacted Developer Support multiple times via email to follow up. Questions: * Given the expiration of the termination deadline, is there any way to confirm if our account is safe from automatic removal while the review is ongoing? * Are there any additional steps we should take to bring this to the App Review Board's attention? * Is there any other documentation we should submit to expedite the process? The 30-day appeal window ended on Dec 4, and this deadline has now passed. We are deeply concerned that our account may be automatically terminated despite our full cooperation and pending appeal. Having been a dedicated developer for over 8 years, we are eager to resolve this amicably. Thank you for your time and assistance.

Our solo traveler safety app has been rejected multiple times; for random reasons. Latest rejection demands "manual check-in each time" for location display — this requirement doesn't appear in published Guidelines 5.1.2 or 5.1.5. BUT!! We built the feature anyway: users invisible by default, must tap Check In to appear on map, auto-expires 24hrs. Submitted video proof, screenshots, detailed notes. Age rating set to 18+. (its not even adult but we did it anyway as to match our own policy) Comparable apps (Couchsurfing, Life360, Snap Map) approved without this requirement. Time-critical: investor meetings Bangkok Dec 11, flight Dec 10 11pm GMT - 15 months development. UK registered company. Has anyone dealt with unpublished requirements being applied inconsistently? Any advice appreciated - I cant get through to dev/app review team or senior advisors. And lovely call handlers in cork tried his. best but cannot do anything - ive not slept for near 24 hours due to unknown reasons - some minor make sense, and other just made - but we covered it anyway; im not sure what to do??? HELP

Hi! i have a problem with my app being rejected by spam, i believe this rejection may be a misunderstanding due to our account history This application provides unique and critical functionalities exclusively for our company's registered business partners. I suspect the "Spam" flag was triggered because we previously attempted to submit this app using an individual developer account During that review, your team correctly informed us that this app required an "Organization" account, not an "Individual" one. I try to delete the app from the old account and i have an error too "This app cant be deleted" That initial submission was never approved and never published on the App Store. Following your instructions, we spent the last three months securing our verified Organization account. This new submission is from the correct, official Organization account as you required. I try to appeal and i dont have an answer, recently i update another app with two new functionalitys and still rejected by spam. How can i fix that? The reviewers only says something "We still found the issue" and no help. We are a medical health company reconigzed in Uruguay and we need to make this app available for our clients. I cant request a call too explain because no option appear when i request support in the web. Please, tell me what can i do?

Noticed a sudden drop in my keyword rankings recently and after some digging, it looks like Apple rolled out a major ASO update, which a lot of developers seem to be talking about. Curious if anyone has insights on what specifically changed - it seems like the app title may no longer hold the same weight in keyword rankings.

I’ve been building iOS apps since 2011, took a 4-year break, returned with two new apps, and it feels like organic visibility and indexing have changed drastically compared to earlier releases. Has anyone else noticed slower indexing, fewer automatic mentions, and almost zero organic traction—has discovery changed, or is it just saturation?

Hello, I have a problem regarding my App review. The issue: "Guideline 3.1.2 - Business - Payments - Subscriptions Issue Description The submission did not include all the required information for apps offering auto-renewable subscriptions. The app's metadata is missing the following required information: A functional link to the Terms of Use (EULA). If you are using the standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA), include a link to the Terms of Use in the App Description. If you are using a custom EULA, add it in App Store Connect." My explanation: I'm using Apple's original EULA in my app. The EULA was already in the "About" section. It redirects to the EULA page on Apple's official website. However, since my app also has a payment screen, I added the same information below the payment screen and submitted it for review again. Unfortunately, it's still being rejected for the same reason. I've requested a full, detailed explanation via email, but they keep sending me the same copy-and-paste message. I want to resolve this issue as soon as possible, so I decided to ask you here. Please check the screenshots and let me know what's the problem. Best regards, DryreL

Hello Apple Dev Support, Our company is preparing to submit an iOS and iPadOS application. When development commenced nine months ago, the application name was available. However, during the submission process for internal and external testing via TestFlight, we discovered that the name is already in use. We are seeking a solution to secure our application name, ensuring its exclusive use for our purposes. We anticipate approximately four to five months of development before the application's release. If we submit our application for Apple review and receive approval but refrain from releasing it, would this action reserve or register the name for our exclusive use, preventing others from utilizing it? Thank you

Hello, I submitted my application for review and it's not being processed. Each time, I wait months for a response. This is incredibly frustrating because I'm already too late to announce my project. I've repeatedly requested an expedited review, but it doesn't work. Is anyone else experiencing the same issue?

Hello everyone, I'm a developer who has been facing a significant issue with my Apple Developer account and the app submission process. I hope to get some guidance or assistance from the community or Apple support. Timeline of Events Four months ago: I prepared an app and submitted it to TestFlight for review. Initial rejection: The app was rejected due to technical issues such as screenshots, app description, and insufficient permission explanations for features like location, camera, and microphone. Resubmission after fixes: I carefully addressed all the issues mentioned by the Apple review team and resubmitted the app. Second rejection: This time, the app was rejected citing general policy violations related to copyright issues. The rejection was vague, and I couldn’t understand the exact problem. Further attempts: To resolve the issue, I removed all video, photo, and media content from the app and resubmitted it. However, it was still rejected for the same reason. I went through this process about 7-8 times, each time getting rejected without clarity on the root cause. Account deletion notice: Eventually, I received an email stating that my account was set to be deleted in 30 days. This was alarming because I had been diligently trying to comply with Apple’s policies for months. Deleting the app: To prevent any harm to my account, I decided to delete the app from my account within the 30-day period, effectively abandoning the project. Account still deleted: Despite deleting the app, my account was still deleted after 30 days. Discovery of similar app name: Later, I noticed that there was another app on the App Store with a name very similar to mine. For example, my app was named "ABcdefgh," and the existing app was "AB.cdefgh," with the only difference being the "." I believe this name similarity might have been the cause of the copyright issue, but it was too late as my account had already been deleted. Contact with Apple Turkey: I reached out to Apple Turkey, and they were very attentive, spending about 40 minutes trying to help me. However, they ultimately informed me that they couldn’t intervene and that the issue could only be resolved through Apple America. Attempts to contact Apple America: I tried filling out forms multiple times to contact Apple, but since I had deleted the app, I couldn’t see the responses from the team. Impact of the Issue This situation has been very distressing as I’ve lost my developer account and the ability to publish apps. My users are constantly inquiring about the iOS versions of my apps, and I’m unable to provide them due to this issue. Request for Assistance I’m seeking advice on how to resolve this issue. Specifically: Has anyone else experienced a similar issue with app name similarity leading to account deletion? Are there any specific steps I can take to appeal the account deletion? Is there a direct way to contact Apple America for developer account issues? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I appreciate any help or suggestions you can provide. Best regards.

I'm having trouble with the app review process. My app has been in "Pending Review" status for almost 30 days, when normally it would be completed within 12 hours. We have a big launch event coming up, and this delay is significantly impacting our plans. I recently deleted my old review request and resubmitted it and it's still in Waiting for review status I need help Has anyone else experienced similar delays recently? Any advice on how to speed up the process or report the issue to Apple would be appreciated.

My app has been waiting for final approval for 7 days. Can you guys look into this Date Submitted Nov 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM Submission ID 20fd8579-f5fc-4abb-ab36-b4d16fbd4a5a Submitted By Joel Cohen Last Updated By Apple

Started an ASO challenge on an older mother-baby app and began by analyzing competitors’ ranked keywords to uncover gaps, relevance, and high-intent phrases using tools like Appvector. By identifying core keyword roots and filtering by context and search intent, I narrowed down high-value opportunities to expand from 146 to over 1,000 relevant search terms for the next steps in the ASO strategy.

Hello everyone, my game update got rejected with the following violations : Guideline 2.3.1 - Performance The app contains hidden features. Specifically, this app contains a switch which causes it to behave differently during review via alternative web content presentation. It would be appropriate to remove this feature entirely before resubmitting for review. Guideline 4.2 - Design - Minimum Functionality Your app provides a limited user experience as it is not sufficiently different from a web browsing experience. As such, the experience it provides is similar to the general experience of using a web browser. Including features such as push notifications, Core Location, or sharing do not provide a robust enough experience to be appropriate for the App Store. My game is a crossword mobile game made with Unity, and I am using the following 3rd party Sdks: -Playfab server : used to fetch configs, leaderboards and pvp matches. -Applovin : diplaying Ads -Adjust : for marketing measurement -Firebase : analytics/crashlytics -Facebook sdk : analytics but stopped using it for that and I kept the initialization(FB.Init() and FB.ActivateApp()) After doing some research and analysing the xCode project using Claude Code, I realised the only web views references I have come from Ads (which should be compliant with apple's privacy manifest) and facebook sdk web views including Example code that comes with the Sdk. My current plan is to remove Facebook Sdk entirely. Does anyone had a similar experience with these violations, what can you suggest ?

Hi Apple Developer Community and Support Team, I'm reaching out for advice and potential escalation on a stalled organization enrollment that's blocking our app launch. Here's a quick timeline: Initial enrollment hit issues with D-U-N-S verification (now resolved) and email code delivery, leading to multiple failed attempts and temporary blocks. After unblocking via support, we resubmitted and were directed to higher department review. Submitted all required docs (company formation, passport/ID, etc.) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. No updates since—it's now Day 6 with zero communication on ETA. This is critically urgent for our business: We have ~4,000 users pre-registered and waiting to download our personal development app (focused on habit-building and goal tracking). Projections show another 10,000 sign-ups in the next two weeks alone, pushing us to 15,000+ if resolved soon. These folks are already investing—our physical planners (promoting the app) are selling via Amazon and our website, http://www.freedommastery.com selling Life planners) and they're expecting seamless iOS access on launch day. Every day of delay risks churn, lost revenue, and momentum in a competitive space. I've followed up via phone/email multiple times, but frontline support can't provide timelines or status. Enrollment ID: [Redact or insert your anonymized ID here for tracking]. Has anyone navigated a similar higher-review holdup? Tips for bumping priority (e.g., additional proof of urgency like waitlist data)? Any rough ETAs from recent org approvals? Grateful for any insights—Apple's ecosystem is key to our growth, and we'd love to get these users onboard ASAP. Thanks in advance!