App Review

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App review is the process of evaluating apps and app updates submitted to the App Store to ensure they are reliable, perform as expected, and follow Apple guidelines.

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Handling ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest
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
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6.9k
Mar ’25
Preventing Copycat and Impersonation Rejections
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.
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4.6k
Nov ’25
App stuck in "Waiting for Review" since June 13 while related app was approved
Hello, I am looking for advice regarding an unusually long App Review delay. Our app, Bien App (ID: 6769135685), has remained in "Waiting for Review" status since June 13, 2026 without any review activity or communication from App Review. Some additional context: The app is a financial services application. We have already submitted updated builds. We have opened support cases with Apple. The app has not entered "In Review" at any point. There have been no requests for additional information. What makes this situation particularly confusing is that our related application, Bien Plus, was submitted under the same developer account during this period and has already completed review and been approved. Because Bien Plus has already been reviewed and approved, we know that our developer account is in good standing and that our financial services business model has already been reviewed by App Review. At this point, Bien App has been sitting in "Waiting for Review" for several weeks. Has anyone experienced a similar situation where an app remained in "Waiting for Review" for an extended period while other apps under the same account continued through review normally? If so: Did Apple eventually review the app? Did you need to escalate through App Review Support? Did withdrawing and resubmitting help? Was there ultimately a queue issue or another explanation? Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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iOS 26.4 — How to return from main app to host app after a keyboard-extension dictation round-trip, without private APIs?
I'm building a custom keyboard extension that offers voice dictation. Because keyboard extensions are constrained (memory cap ~30–48 MB, restricted audio session access), I delegate recording to my container app: User in a host app (e.g., Safari) taps the mic in my keyboard extension. The keyboard calls extensionContext.open(URL("myapp://dictation")) to launch the container app. The container app records audio via AVAudioEngine + SFSpeechRecognizer, writes the final transcript to the App Group, and signals completion via a Darwin notification. 4. The user is expected to be returned to the original host app (Safari) automatically so they can keep typing. The problem (step 4): On iOS 26.4 I can no longer identify which app was the host. Every previously-known path returns nil for the keyboard extension's host: parent.value(forKey: "_hostBundleID") → returns the literal string parent.value(forKey: "_hostApplicationBundleIdentifier") → returns NSNull xpc_connection_copy_bundle_id on the underlying XPC connection (via PKService.defaultService.personalities[…]) → returns NULL NSXPCConnection.processBundleIdentifier on extensionContext._extensionHostProxy._connection → returns nil proc_pidpath(hostPID, …) → EPERM from the keyboard sandbox LSApplicationWorkspace.frontmostApplication → selector unavailable from the extension RBSProcessHandle.handleForIdentifier:error: → returns an RBSServiceErrorDomain error Without the host's bundle ID, the container app has no way to call LSApplicationWorkspace.openApplicationWithBundleID: (the technique that worked on iOS 25 and earlier). UIApplication.suspend() correctly sends the container to background, but iOS treats us as a "fresh launch" — it returns the user to the Home Screen instead of Safari, because the container app was launched by an extension, not directly by Safari. KeyboardKit's maintainer reached the same conclusion (issue #1014) and shipped 10.4 without the feature. My questions: Is there a public, App-Store-safe API in iOS 26+ for a custom keyboard extension to identify its host application, or for the container app (launched via the extension's openURL) to identify which app initially hosted the extension that opened it? UIOpenURLContext.options.sourceApplication reports the extension's own container, not the actual host. 2. Is there a public mechanism for "return to source app" when the container app was launched by an extension's openURL? Equivalent to the ← Source affordance iOS shows for normal inter-app openURL, but triggered programmatically by the launched app. 3. Some popular keyboards (e.g., 微信输入法 / WeChat Keyboard) still appear to round-trip through their container app on iOS 26.4 and return the user to the original host — including the iOS ← WeChat back affordance in the host's status bar afterward. What's the recommended approach to achieve this? If it requires a specific scene-activation flow, NSUserActivity pattern, or extension-context configuration, please point at the relevant docs. 4. If there is no public path today, is FB22247647 (or a related radar) the right place to track this? Should developers in this position migrate to in-extension audio capture (which has its own significant constraints in keyboard extensions)? I'd much rather not rely on private APIs. Concrete guidance — or even an acknowledgment of which direction Apple intends — would help thousands of custom-keyboard developers who currently have a degraded voice-input experience on iOS 26.4+. Tested on iPhone 12 Pro Max running iOS 26.4.2 (build 23E261), Xcode 26.x, Swift 5. Thanks!
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App stuck in "Waiting for Review" for 10 days + History of extremely long review times (1-1.5 months)
Hello everyone, I am facing a severe issue with my app's review process and urgently need some guidance or advice on how to resolve this bottleneck. Current Situation: Our latest version has been stuck in the "Waiting for Review" status for the past 10 days. Yesterday, after reading some community advice, I used "Cancel Submission" and re-submitted the build to try and refresh the queue. Unfortunately, it is still completely stuck in the exact same "Waiting for Review" status with no progress. Past History: This seems to be an ongoing issue with our account. For our previous versions, the App Review team took an incredibly long time—between 1 to 1.5 months for each submission—only to ultimately issue a rejection. We have already tried sending 5-6 standard support requests and even requested an expedited review 3 times, but we have received absolutely zero response or feedback from Apple. It feels like our app or account is stuck in some sort of dead-end queue. Has anyone else experienced such extreme delays just waiting for the review to start? Is there any alternative way to escalate this to a human specialist at Apple who can check if there's an account-level glitch? App Store URL: https://apps.apple.com/uz/app/fonus-kids/id6742020368 Thank you in advance for any insights or help!
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App stuck In Review for 10+ days, TestFlight also Waiting for Review
Hi all, My first app submission appears to be stalled (16+ days) and I’m completely in the dark as to what is going on. Apple ID: 6776835006 Submission ID: 236039a0-1668-448a-aae6-486d52e6c5b9 Timeline: Ready for Review: Jun 10, 2026 at 3:22 AM Waiting for Review: Jun 10, 2026 at 3:23 AM In Review: Jun 15, 2026 at 5:05 PM Current status: still In Review as of Jun 26, 2026 I have also submitted 2 support cases that are past 48 hour SLA and an expedited review request, but I haven’t received a response yet. Our TestFlight external build has also been stuck in Waiting for Review for 5+ days now. There are no visible unresolved issues, App Review messages, or missing compliance warnings in App Store Connect. Review notes and demo/testing information are provided. Thank you.
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3 weeks, 4 rejections, 4 expedited requests, $10,000+ in losses — our app is still “Waiting for Review” with no end in sight
Hello App Review Team, I’m writing this as a last resort after 3 weeks of an exhausting and costly review process for our app Hook — Smart Message Assistant (iOS 1.0.0). Full timeline: • May 3: First submission • June 4: Rejected (marketing language) • June 4: Resubmitted with all fixes • June 8: Rejected (Guideline 3.1.2c — subscriptions) • June 9: Resubmitted with every issue fully addressed June 17: Rejected (Guideline 2.1a — app crash + sign-in bug) • June 17: Resubmitted same day with critical fixes • June 23: Resubmitted again with additional bug fixes • Today: Still “Waiting for Review” — no movement, no communication We have submitted 4 expedited review requests — all approved. We have contacted Developer Support multiple times. Every time we are told “it will begin shortly.” It never does. Business impact: We have a contractual launch deadline and active paid marketing campaigns running. Every week of delay costs us thousands of dollars in direct losses. We have already lost over $10,000 in sunk marketing costs and missed revenue. We have addressed every single issue Apple raised — promptly, thoroughly, and without complaint. We are not asking to skip the process. We are asking for someone to actually look at our submission and tell us if something is blocking it. Apple ID: 6766006483 This is not a normal delay. This is 3-4 weeks of a small team’s work being held hostage with no explanation. Thank you.
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Clarification on the Definition of "Drug Dosage Calculators" in Guideline 1.4.2
Hello, I am looking for a better understanding of Guideline 1.4.2, which states that "Drug dosage calculators" must be developed by drug manufacturers, hospitals, universities, or other approved entities. My main question is: What is Apple’s exact definition of a "Drug Dosage Calculator"? - Does the term exclusively refer to apps that calculate dosage (dose, interval, and treatment duration)? - Are apps that do not make clinical decisions, but only display bibliographic references based on user-entered data, also considered Drug Dosage Calculators? - If an app only performs basic mathematical operations on a dose value entered by the user, without suggesting medications or treatments, does it still fall under this restriction? I would like to better understand how Apple differentiates a medical support app (which only presents data) from a dosage calculator (which makes clinical decisions). I appreciate any insights from the community!
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Waiting for reviews
1 week and still no answer and response from apple. i have submitted my new application and ” they say ”, we will get back to you in 48 hours. guys ! its more than 48 hours!! i have been waiting for 1 week. how can i get their attention! I raised a case ID and still no one reply to me !!!!!!! i need a solution ! Why they are treating me like this ? instead of raising a ticket and knowing that i will get a solution, i pray to god every night that I don’t want any issue with my application to not deal with this circle all over again!
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App rejected under 1.4.3 — identical app (My Humidor) live on App Store
Details: I'm looking for clarification on how Guideline 1.4.3 is applied to tobacco related apps. My app, The Leaf Cellar, was rejected under 1.4.3 with the reasoning that its "current concept is not appropriate" because it relates to tobacco. The app is a private inventory manager. It has no store, no purchasing, no vendor or affiliate links, no discovery feed, and no content directed at encouraging or using tobacco. its only function is personal record-keeping (logging inventory you already own, aging dates, humidity readings). A 21+ age gate is enforced on launch. What I'm trying to understand is the consistency of the guideline, because functionally identical apps are currently live on the store and receiving updates (which means apple must approve the submitted updates.) Existing Apps (not being enforced by 1.4.3): "My Humidor – Cigar Journal": [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-humidor-cigar-journal/id6639582700] "Humidor Journal Pro": [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/humidor-journal-pro/id6751737114] Questions: Is there a specific feature or distinction that separates an approvable cigar-journal app from one rejected under 1.4.3 as a "concept"? If apps in this category are already approved, what's the correct path to have an inconsistent rejection reviewed beyond the standard Resolution Center reply? I have already submitted to the App Review Board.
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App stuck "In Review" pipeline for nearly 1 month
Hello, My app has been stuck in the review pipeline for nearly one month, which seems very unusual to me App ID: 6767853355
 Bundle ID: com.ttm.photocleaner
 Timeline: Submitted, waiting for review: May 28, 2026
 In Review: since June 9

 I also submitted a support request via the Contact Us form on June 15 but have not received any response. 
Could you please verify if this submission is correctly queued or if there is an internal issue blocking the review ?
 Thank you
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No response from Apple Developer Support – how to proceed?
Hi everyone, I’m facing an issue with the App Store review / support process and would really appreciate some guidance from others who may have experienced something similar. I have contacted Apple Developer Support multiple times regarding my app, but unfortunately I have not received any meaningful response so far. At this point, I am unsure how to move forward or how to get proper feedback to resolve the issue. The lack of response is making it difficult to proceed with my app submission and address any potential problems on Apple’s side. Has anyone encountered a similar situation? How did you successfully escalate the issue? Is there a specific way to get a response from the review team or developer support? Any advice on how to move forward would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
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Apple not replying at all and senior advisor has gone SILENT.
Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone from Apple or a senior community member can help escalate my situation. About four weeks ago, I received a termination warning on my developer account related to an app called Checklist Buddy (originally named Cessna Checklist Buddy). I renamed it after realizing I didn't have formal written permission from Textron Aviation, even though I had verbal approval. I believe that name change — or possibly code similarity between apps — may have triggered a flag. I have three apps on the store: WIB 26, Checklist Buddy, and Pure International 2026. WIB 26 is live and functioning fine. Pure International 2026 is the critical one — it's an event app for a pageant happening next week and delegates are counting on it. I have submitted multiple appeals and tickets over the past four weeks with zero acknowledgment from Apple. Last week I called Apple Support and spoke with a representative. He pulled up my account and confirmed there were notes showing an appeal on file, but no reason whatsoever was documented for the termination warning — even he couldn't see why. He escalated my case to a senior advisor and told me I would hear back within 3 business days. It has now been 7 days with no contact. I understand Apple has a high volume of cases, but this is affecting my livelihood. I have a real event with real attendees next week who need this app, and I cannot distribute it or push updates because my account is in a restricted state pending this appeal. If any Apple staff reads this — my case has been escalated to the senior advisor team and is sitting in an email queue. I just need a resolution or at minimum a reason for the original warning so I can address it properly. Any advice or help from the community is also appreciated. Thank you.
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Repeated generic 4.2.2 rejection despite detailed native feature documentation in App Review Notes
Hello, My app (Gezo Gündem, a Turkish news app) has been rejected twice under Guideline 4.2.2 (Minimum Functionality), both times with the same generic template: "the app only includes links, images, or content aggregated from the Internet with limited or no native functionality." For the second submission, I provided detailed App Review Notes listing 8 distinct native iOS features with step-by-step testing instructions for each: A native AI summary modal with native favoriting A native theming engine (5 modes) + dynamic "Club Mode" theming via native state management Native offline article storage using the device's file system (fully functional in airplane mode) A native Text-to-Speech engine reading article content aloud Native push notifications when followed authors publish new content A native source/favorites aggregation dashboard A native pinch-to-zoom newspaper cover gallery WebView is used only to render the body text of individual articles — nothing else in the app relies on it. Despite this, the second rejection used the exact same template language, with no reference to any of the listed features. I've since replied via Resolution Center asking the reviewer to re-test following the specific steps in the notes, but I'm unsure if this is the right channel to get a reviewer to actually engage with documented native functionality rather than reissue a template rejection. Has anyone successfully gotten a reviewer to revisit a 4.2.2 rejection by providing this level of detail? Is there a more effective way to ensure the review notes are actually read before a decision is made? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.
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My Authenticator App is in 'Wating for Review' state since March 23, 2026
Hello Apple, I am looking for guidance regarding an app that has been waiting for review for an unusually long time. It's the first build and the app details are : App ID: 6771651289 App Title: Authenticator App Status: Waiting for Review Submission Date: March 23, 2026 Submission Type: First App Store Submission My app has remained in the "Waiting for Review" state since March 23, 2026, and I have not yet received any feedback, requests for additional information, or review outcome. I understand that review times can vary depending on workload and review requirements. However, the extended waiting for review period is causing a significant delay to my planned launch, and I would be grateful if the App Review Team could provide an update on the status of the review or advise whether any additional information is needed from my side. Thank you for your time and assistance. I appreciate the work of the App Review Team and look forward to your response. Kind regards, Sufyan
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Pending Termination Notice under Section 3.2(f) — Appeal for the App Review Board
Hello, We are seeking guidance regarding our developer account, which is under a Pending Termination Notice under Section 3.2(f). We deeply respect the App Store Review Guidelines and the standards Apple sets to keep the ecosystem safe and trustworthy. We take these rules seriously and submitted an appeal to the App Review Board and, following our correspondence on May 29, provided a full set of additional corrective actions to address the issues identified and bring our products into full compliance — including a mandatory internal compliance process to ensure we meet Apple's standards going forward. It has now been about two weeks, and we have not yet received a response on these latest materials. We have an 8-year history as an Apple Developer Program member, and we want to resolve this properly and rebuild trust. We would be grateful for any guidance from Apple Team or the community on the best way to confirm our materials are under active review, and on any additional steps that would help. Thank you. Reference details: Case ID: 102900026351 Appeal Ticket: APL444296
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StoreKit returns 0 subscriptions on TestFlight — Apple IAP payment sheet never opens (Capacitor + RevenueCat)
Hello, I'm developing a Capacitor/Next.js iOS app with RevenueCat for auto-renewable subscriptions. On a real iPhone via TestFlight, StoreKit never returns my subscription products, so the Apple payment sheet never appears. App TestFlight builds tested: 110, 111, 112 (iOS 1.1.0) In-App Purchase capability enabled on App ID Paid Applications Agreement: active Banking/tax: active Subscription product IDs (auto-renewable, same subscription group) vytalai_premium_monthly vytalai_premium_yearly vytalai_premium_yearly_intro (exit offer) What happens Install app from TestFlight on physical iPhone Navigate to paywall App calls RevenueCat → Purchases.getProducts() with the 3 product IDs above StoreKit returns 0 products (or configure/getProducts times out) UI shows: "Apple Store: 0 subscriptions on this device — Sandbox popup cannot open" Tapping subscribe does not open the Apple payment sheet Fallback prices appear (3.49 / 29.99) instead of live App Store prices (3,49 € / 29,99 €), which suggests StoreKit is not returning products. What we already verified Correct bundle ID in build metadata NEXT_PUBLIC_REVENUECAT_API_KEY_IOS (appl_*) embedded in EAS production build Provisioning profile regenerated and active Subscription metadata corrected (was Rejected, now Waiting for Review) All 3 subscriptions attached to app version submission RevenueCat offering "default" with monthly, annual, and annual_intro packages App Store Server Notifications URL configured to RevenueCat Legal pages open in-app (no external cookie banner on native) Testing on TestFlight only (not Safari/web) App Review context We received Guideline 2.1(b) rejections because: Error on purchase page Exit offer (50% OFF / €1.91 per month equivalent) referenced product vytalai_premium_yearly_intro which was not submitted for review initially — now added and submitted with the app version. Question Even with subscriptions in "Waiting for Review" state and metadata completed, should StoreKit Sandbox/TestFlight return these products on device so we can test the payment sheet before approval? If not, what exact App Store Connect state is required for StoreKit to return products on TestFlight? Any guidance on why getProducts would return 0 for valid product IDs on a TestFlight build would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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App stuck in “Waiting for Review” since May 28
Hello, My app has been in “Waiting for Review” status since May 28. App ID: 1471317275 The app was transferred to my developer account about two months ago. Since the transfer, previous reviews were completed without any issue, and I have not received any message in the Resolution Center or any indication that something is wrong with this submission. I am not sure if the app transfer could have affected the review queue, but the current submission has now been waiting for an unusually long time. Could someone from Apple please advise what I should do in this situation? Should I continue waiting, contact App Review Support directly, or resubmit the build? Thank you for your help.
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Handling ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest
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
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6.9k
Activity
Mar ’25
Preventing Copycat and Impersonation Rejections
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.
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Nov ’25
App stuck in "Waiting for Review" since June 13 while related app was approved
Hello, I am looking for advice regarding an unusually long App Review delay. Our app, Bien App (ID: 6769135685), has remained in "Waiting for Review" status since June 13, 2026 without any review activity or communication from App Review. Some additional context: The app is a financial services application. We have already submitted updated builds. We have opened support cases with Apple. The app has not entered "In Review" at any point. There have been no requests for additional information. What makes this situation particularly confusing is that our related application, Bien Plus, was submitted under the same developer account during this period and has already completed review and been approved. Because Bien Plus has already been reviewed and approved, we know that our developer account is in good standing and that our financial services business model has already been reviewed by App Review. At this point, Bien App has been sitting in "Waiting for Review" for several weeks. Has anyone experienced a similar situation where an app remained in "Waiting for Review" for an extended period while other apps under the same account continued through review normally? If so: Did Apple eventually review the app? Did you need to escalate through App Review Support? Did withdrawing and resubmitting help? Was there ultimately a queue issue or another explanation? Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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2h
iOS 26.4 — How to return from main app to host app after a keyboard-extension dictation round-trip, without private APIs?
I'm building a custom keyboard extension that offers voice dictation. Because keyboard extensions are constrained (memory cap ~30–48 MB, restricted audio session access), I delegate recording to my container app: User in a host app (e.g., Safari) taps the mic in my keyboard extension. The keyboard calls extensionContext.open(URL("myapp://dictation")) to launch the container app. The container app records audio via AVAudioEngine + SFSpeechRecognizer, writes the final transcript to the App Group, and signals completion via a Darwin notification. 4. The user is expected to be returned to the original host app (Safari) automatically so they can keep typing. The problem (step 4): On iOS 26.4 I can no longer identify which app was the host. Every previously-known path returns nil for the keyboard extension's host: parent.value(forKey: "_hostBundleID") → returns the literal string parent.value(forKey: "_hostApplicationBundleIdentifier") → returns NSNull xpc_connection_copy_bundle_id on the underlying XPC connection (via PKService.defaultService.personalities[…]) → returns NULL NSXPCConnection.processBundleIdentifier on extensionContext._extensionHostProxy._connection → returns nil proc_pidpath(hostPID, …) → EPERM from the keyboard sandbox LSApplicationWorkspace.frontmostApplication → selector unavailable from the extension RBSProcessHandle.handleForIdentifier:error: → returns an RBSServiceErrorDomain error Without the host's bundle ID, the container app has no way to call LSApplicationWorkspace.openApplicationWithBundleID: (the technique that worked on iOS 25 and earlier). UIApplication.suspend() correctly sends the container to background, but iOS treats us as a "fresh launch" — it returns the user to the Home Screen instead of Safari, because the container app was launched by an extension, not directly by Safari. KeyboardKit's maintainer reached the same conclusion (issue #1014) and shipped 10.4 without the feature. My questions: Is there a public, App-Store-safe API in iOS 26+ for a custom keyboard extension to identify its host application, or for the container app (launched via the extension's openURL) to identify which app initially hosted the extension that opened it? UIOpenURLContext.options.sourceApplication reports the extension's own container, not the actual host. 2. Is there a public mechanism for "return to source app" when the container app was launched by an extension's openURL? Equivalent to the ← Source affordance iOS shows for normal inter-app openURL, but triggered programmatically by the launched app. 3. Some popular keyboards (e.g., 微信输入法 / WeChat Keyboard) still appear to round-trip through their container app on iOS 26.4 and return the user to the original host — including the iOS ← WeChat back affordance in the host's status bar afterward. What's the recommended approach to achieve this? If it requires a specific scene-activation flow, NSUserActivity pattern, or extension-context configuration, please point at the relevant docs. 4. If there is no public path today, is FB22247647 (or a related radar) the right place to track this? Should developers in this position migrate to in-extension audio capture (which has its own significant constraints in keyboard extensions)? I'd much rather not rely on private APIs. Concrete guidance — or even an acknowledgment of which direction Apple intends — would help thousands of custom-keyboard developers who currently have a degraded voice-input experience on iOS 26.4+. Tested on iPhone 12 Pro Max running iOS 26.4.2 (build 23E261), Xcode 26.x, Swift 5. Thanks!
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5h
App stuck in "Waiting for Review" for 10 days + History of extremely long review times (1-1.5 months)
Hello everyone, I am facing a severe issue with my app's review process and urgently need some guidance or advice on how to resolve this bottleneck. Current Situation: Our latest version has been stuck in the "Waiting for Review" status for the past 10 days. Yesterday, after reading some community advice, I used "Cancel Submission" and re-submitted the build to try and refresh the queue. Unfortunately, it is still completely stuck in the exact same "Waiting for Review" status with no progress. Past History: This seems to be an ongoing issue with our account. For our previous versions, the App Review team took an incredibly long time—between 1 to 1.5 months for each submission—only to ultimately issue a rejection. We have already tried sending 5-6 standard support requests and even requested an expedited review 3 times, but we have received absolutely zero response or feedback from Apple. It feels like our app or account is stuck in some sort of dead-end queue. Has anyone else experienced such extreme delays just waiting for the review to start? Is there any alternative way to escalate this to a human specialist at Apple who can check if there's an account-level glitch? App Store URL: https://apps.apple.com/uz/app/fonus-kids/id6742020368 Thank you in advance for any insights or help!
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5h
App stuck In Review for 10+ days, TestFlight also Waiting for Review
Hi all, My first app submission appears to be stalled (16+ days) and I’m completely in the dark as to what is going on. Apple ID: 6776835006 Submission ID: 236039a0-1668-448a-aae6-486d52e6c5b9 Timeline: Ready for Review: Jun 10, 2026 at 3:22 AM Waiting for Review: Jun 10, 2026 at 3:23 AM In Review: Jun 15, 2026 at 5:05 PM Current status: still In Review as of Jun 26, 2026 I have also submitted 2 support cases that are past 48 hour SLA and an expedited review request, but I haven’t received a response yet. Our TestFlight external build has also been stuck in Waiting for Review for 5+ days now. There are no visible unresolved issues, App Review messages, or missing compliance warnings in App Store Connect. Review notes and demo/testing information are provided. Thank you.
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5h
APP Waiting for Review 10 day ago
Hello, my app id 6756081224 Waiting for Review 10 day ago Help me please
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283
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7h
3 weeks, 4 rejections, 4 expedited requests, $10,000+ in losses — our app is still “Waiting for Review” with no end in sight
Hello App Review Team, I’m writing this as a last resort after 3 weeks of an exhausting and costly review process for our app Hook — Smart Message Assistant (iOS 1.0.0). Full timeline: • May 3: First submission • June 4: Rejected (marketing language) • June 4: Resubmitted with all fixes • June 8: Rejected (Guideline 3.1.2c — subscriptions) • June 9: Resubmitted with every issue fully addressed June 17: Rejected (Guideline 2.1a — app crash + sign-in bug) • June 17: Resubmitted same day with critical fixes • June 23: Resubmitted again with additional bug fixes • Today: Still “Waiting for Review” — no movement, no communication We have submitted 4 expedited review requests — all approved. We have contacted Developer Support multiple times. Every time we are told “it will begin shortly.” It never does. Business impact: We have a contractual launch deadline and active paid marketing campaigns running. Every week of delay costs us thousands of dollars in direct losses. We have already lost over $10,000 in sunk marketing costs and missed revenue. We have addressed every single issue Apple raised — promptly, thoroughly, and without complaint. We are not asking to skip the process. We are asking for someone to actually look at our submission and tell us if something is blocking it. Apple ID: 6766006483 This is not a normal delay. This is 3-4 weeks of a small team’s work being held hostage with no explanation. Thank you.
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356
Activity
13h
Clarification on the Definition of "Drug Dosage Calculators" in Guideline 1.4.2
Hello, I am looking for a better understanding of Guideline 1.4.2, which states that "Drug dosage calculators" must be developed by drug manufacturers, hospitals, universities, or other approved entities. My main question is: What is Apple’s exact definition of a "Drug Dosage Calculator"? - Does the term exclusively refer to apps that calculate dosage (dose, interval, and treatment duration)? - Are apps that do not make clinical decisions, but only display bibliographic references based on user-entered data, also considered Drug Dosage Calculators? - If an app only performs basic mathematical operations on a dose value entered by the user, without suggesting medications or treatments, does it still fall under this restriction? I would like to better understand how Apple differentiates a medical support app (which only presents data) from a dosage calculator (which makes clinical decisions). I appreciate any insights from the community!
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16h
Waiting for reviews
1 week and still no answer and response from apple. i have submitted my new application and ” they say ”, we will get back to you in 48 hours. guys ! its more than 48 hours!! i have been waiting for 1 week. how can i get their attention! I raised a case ID and still no one reply to me !!!!!!! i need a solution ! Why they are treating me like this ? instead of raising a ticket and knowing that i will get a solution, i pray to god every night that I don’t want any issue with my application to not deal with this circle all over again!
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17h
App rejected under 1.4.3 — identical app (My Humidor) live on App Store
Details: I'm looking for clarification on how Guideline 1.4.3 is applied to tobacco related apps. My app, The Leaf Cellar, was rejected under 1.4.3 with the reasoning that its "current concept is not appropriate" because it relates to tobacco. The app is a private inventory manager. It has no store, no purchasing, no vendor or affiliate links, no discovery feed, and no content directed at encouraging or using tobacco. its only function is personal record-keeping (logging inventory you already own, aging dates, humidity readings). A 21+ age gate is enforced on launch. What I'm trying to understand is the consistency of the guideline, because functionally identical apps are currently live on the store and receiving updates (which means apple must approve the submitted updates.) Existing Apps (not being enforced by 1.4.3): "My Humidor – Cigar Journal": [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-humidor-cigar-journal/id6639582700] "Humidor Journal Pro": [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/humidor-journal-pro/id6751737114] Questions: Is there a specific feature or distinction that separates an approvable cigar-journal app from one rejected under 1.4.3 as a "concept"? If apps in this category are already approved, what's the correct path to have an inconsistent rejection reviewed beyond the standard Resolution Center reply? I have already submitted to the App Review Board.
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147
Activity
23h
App stuck "In Review" pipeline for nearly 1 month
Hello, My app has been stuck in the review pipeline for nearly one month, which seems very unusual to me App ID: 6767853355
 Bundle ID: com.ttm.photocleaner
 Timeline: Submitted, waiting for review: May 28, 2026
 In Review: since June 9

 I also submitted a support request via the Contact Us form on June 15 but have not received any response. 
Could you please verify if this submission is correctly queued or if there is an internal issue blocking the review ?
 Thank you
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151
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1d
No response from Apple Developer Support – how to proceed?
Hi everyone, I’m facing an issue with the App Store review / support process and would really appreciate some guidance from others who may have experienced something similar. I have contacted Apple Developer Support multiple times regarding my app, but unfortunately I have not received any meaningful response so far. At this point, I am unsure how to move forward or how to get proper feedback to resolve the issue. The lack of response is making it difficult to proceed with my app submission and address any potential problems on Apple’s side. Has anyone encountered a similar situation? How did you successfully escalate the issue? Is there a specific way to get a response from the review team or developer support? Any advice on how to move forward would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
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1d
Apple not replying at all and senior advisor has gone SILENT.
Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone from Apple or a senior community member can help escalate my situation. About four weeks ago, I received a termination warning on my developer account related to an app called Checklist Buddy (originally named Cessna Checklist Buddy). I renamed it after realizing I didn't have formal written permission from Textron Aviation, even though I had verbal approval. I believe that name change — or possibly code similarity between apps — may have triggered a flag. I have three apps on the store: WIB 26, Checklist Buddy, and Pure International 2026. WIB 26 is live and functioning fine. Pure International 2026 is the critical one — it's an event app for a pageant happening next week and delegates are counting on it. I have submitted multiple appeals and tickets over the past four weeks with zero acknowledgment from Apple. Last week I called Apple Support and spoke with a representative. He pulled up my account and confirmed there were notes showing an appeal on file, but no reason whatsoever was documented for the termination warning — even he couldn't see why. He escalated my case to a senior advisor and told me I would hear back within 3 business days. It has now been 7 days with no contact. I understand Apple has a high volume of cases, but this is affecting my livelihood. I have a real event with real attendees next week who need this app, and I cannot distribute it or push updates because my account is in a restricted state pending this appeal. If any Apple staff reads this — my case has been escalated to the senior advisor team and is sitting in an email queue. I just need a resolution or at minimum a reason for the original warning so I can address it properly. Any advice or help from the community is also appreciated. Thank you.
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156
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2d
Repeated generic 4.2.2 rejection despite detailed native feature documentation in App Review Notes
Hello, My app (Gezo Gündem, a Turkish news app) has been rejected twice under Guideline 4.2.2 (Minimum Functionality), both times with the same generic template: "the app only includes links, images, or content aggregated from the Internet with limited or no native functionality." For the second submission, I provided detailed App Review Notes listing 8 distinct native iOS features with step-by-step testing instructions for each: A native AI summary modal with native favoriting A native theming engine (5 modes) + dynamic "Club Mode" theming via native state management Native offline article storage using the device's file system (fully functional in airplane mode) A native Text-to-Speech engine reading article content aloud Native push notifications when followed authors publish new content A native source/favorites aggregation dashboard A native pinch-to-zoom newspaper cover gallery WebView is used only to render the body text of individual articles — nothing else in the app relies on it. Despite this, the second rejection used the exact same template language, with no reference to any of the listed features. I've since replied via Resolution Center asking the reviewer to re-test following the specific steps in the notes, but I'm unsure if this is the right channel to get a reviewer to actually engage with documented native functionality rather than reissue a template rejection. Has anyone successfully gotten a reviewer to revisit a 4.2.2 rejection by providing this level of detail? Is there a more effective way to ensure the review notes are actually read before a decision is made? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.
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2d
My Authenticator App is in 'Wating for Review' state since March 23, 2026
Hello Apple, I am looking for guidance regarding an app that has been waiting for review for an unusually long time. It's the first build and the app details are : App ID: 6771651289 App Title: Authenticator App Status: Waiting for Review Submission Date: March 23, 2026 Submission Type: First App Store Submission My app has remained in the "Waiting for Review" state since March 23, 2026, and I have not yet received any feedback, requests for additional information, or review outcome. I understand that review times can vary depending on workload and review requirements. However, the extended waiting for review period is causing a significant delay to my planned launch, and I would be grateful if the App Review Team could provide an update on the status of the review or advise whether any additional information is needed from my side. Thank you for your time and assistance. I appreciate the work of the App Review Team and look forward to your response. Kind regards, Sufyan
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2d
Pending Termination Notice under Section 3.2(f) — Appeal for the App Review Board
Hello, We are seeking guidance regarding our developer account, which is under a Pending Termination Notice under Section 3.2(f). We deeply respect the App Store Review Guidelines and the standards Apple sets to keep the ecosystem safe and trustworthy. We take these rules seriously and submitted an appeal to the App Review Board and, following our correspondence on May 29, provided a full set of additional corrective actions to address the issues identified and bring our products into full compliance — including a mandatory internal compliance process to ensure we meet Apple's standards going forward. It has now been about two weeks, and we have not yet received a response on these latest materials. We have an 8-year history as an Apple Developer Program member, and we want to resolve this properly and rebuild trust. We would be grateful for any guidance from Apple Team or the community on the best way to confirm our materials are under active review, and on any additional steps that would help. Thank you. Reference details: Case ID: 102900026351 Appeal Ticket: APL444296
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177
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2d
StoreKit returns 0 subscriptions on TestFlight — Apple IAP payment sheet never opens (Capacitor + RevenueCat)
Hello, I'm developing a Capacitor/Next.js iOS app with RevenueCat for auto-renewable subscriptions. On a real iPhone via TestFlight, StoreKit never returns my subscription products, so the Apple payment sheet never appears. App TestFlight builds tested: 110, 111, 112 (iOS 1.1.0) In-App Purchase capability enabled on App ID Paid Applications Agreement: active Banking/tax: active Subscription product IDs (auto-renewable, same subscription group) vytalai_premium_monthly vytalai_premium_yearly vytalai_premium_yearly_intro (exit offer) What happens Install app from TestFlight on physical iPhone Navigate to paywall App calls RevenueCat → Purchases.getProducts() with the 3 product IDs above StoreKit returns 0 products (or configure/getProducts times out) UI shows: "Apple Store: 0 subscriptions on this device — Sandbox popup cannot open" Tapping subscribe does not open the Apple payment sheet Fallback prices appear (3.49 / 29.99) instead of live App Store prices (3,49 € / 29,99 €), which suggests StoreKit is not returning products. What we already verified Correct bundle ID in build metadata NEXT_PUBLIC_REVENUECAT_API_KEY_IOS (appl_*) embedded in EAS production build Provisioning profile regenerated and active Subscription metadata corrected (was Rejected, now Waiting for Review) All 3 subscriptions attached to app version submission RevenueCat offering "default" with monthly, annual, and annual_intro packages App Store Server Notifications URL configured to RevenueCat Legal pages open in-app (no external cookie banner on native) Testing on TestFlight only (not Safari/web) App Review context We received Guideline 2.1(b) rejections because: Error on purchase page Exit offer (50% OFF / €1.91 per month equivalent) referenced product vytalai_premium_yearly_intro which was not submitted for review initially — now added and submitted with the app version. Question Even with subscriptions in "Waiting for Review" state and metadata completed, should StoreKit Sandbox/TestFlight return these products on device so we can test the payment sheet before approval? If not, what exact App Store Connect state is required for StoreKit to return products on TestFlight? Any guidance on why getProducts would return 0 for valid product IDs on a TestFlight build would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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3d
App stuck in “Waiting for Review” since May 28
Hello, My app has been in “Waiting for Review” status since May 28. App ID: 1471317275 The app was transferred to my developer account about two months ago. Since the transfer, previous reviews were completed without any issue, and I have not received any message in the Resolution Center or any indication that something is wrong with this submission. I am not sure if the app transfer could have affected the review queue, but the current submission has now been waiting for an unusually long time. Could someone from Apple please advise what I should do in this situation? Should I continue waiting, contact App Review Support directly, or resubmit the build? Thank you for your help.
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89
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3d
App waiting for review
Hello App Review Team, My app, SUB PREMIUM TV (Apple ID: 6769972609, Version 1.0), has been in “Waiting for Review” status for several days. I would like to confirm whether there is any issue with my submission or if any additional information is needed from me. Thank you for your time and assistance. Best regards, Babucarr Ngum
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3d