Top Reasons Why Your App Could Be Rejected by Apple

Every day, hundreds of app developers submit their new and shiny apps to the App Store only to get rejected by Apple’s strict requirements. As you may already imagine, it’s not that easy anymore to get approved and have your app on the second-largest app store today.

Nobody wants to get rejected. What you want is to have the highest chances of getting approved and have your app on Apple’s App Store. That’s why it pays when you know the common reasons apps could be rejected by Apple. By knowing these reasons, you will know how to eliminate roadblocks to your app’s success.

Why is it hard to get your app approved in the App Store?

Apple wants to ensure that they only have the best apps on its platform. They always aim to provide the right customer experience that would improve their reputation and level of professionalism.

For this reason, Apple has strict guidelines that everyone should follow. Even if your app is already approved, it can still be removed if you don’t continually follow their guidelines. In fact, Apple is generally considered to be stricter compared to Google Play Store when it comes to accepting new apps.

Moreover, there are already 3.5 million apps available on the App Store. So, there’s really no shortage of apps. It won’t be a loss for the App Store to reject any apps that don’t comply with their requirements.

With this in mind, here are the most common reasons Apple rejects apps on its platform:

No. 1: Crashes

Without proper testing, your app might have undiscovered crashes that just pop up when you have submitted it for review. Be sure to test your app as much as possible to remove potential crashes.

No. 2: Bugs

Like in any type of coding, there’s always the possibility that bugs would appear. Bugs can cause your app to slow down, malfunction, and even crash.

No. 3: Broken links

Every user expects that when they click or tap on your link, it would work as intended. If you have broken links and Apple sees them, you would surely decrease your chance of getting approved. So, check your links for user support, privacy policy, and other external links.

No. 4: Incomplete information

When submitting your app for review, you must provide all the needed details. If not, then you can expect a rejection coming from Apple’s team of moderators. You would need to add all the needed details in the App Review Information section found in the App Store Connect platform.

No. 5: Too vague details

Even if you have already given all the needed information in the App Review information section, but they are vague or unclear, you will just annoy the moderators. That’s why you need to be as specific as possible.

For example, don’t just mention that you have app features that can be accessed by creating an account. Don’t stop there, but give the review team a valid demo account with a username and password. That way, the team would be able to check your app completely.

No. 6: Poor user interface

Image source: Apple Developer

Apple puts great importance on great user experience. If you have a poorly designed user interface, Apple will not allow your app to be on their platform.

No. 7: Outdated contact information

Check the contact details that you have provided. They will not only be used by your future users, but also by the review team. If they can’t contact you, then that raises a red flag on their end.

No. 8: Incorrect privacy policy

The privacy policy should follow the guidelines of Apple. You need to clearly identify what data your app will collect, how it will be collected, and how it will be used. Any third-party tools or software should also be mentioned to the user. The privacy policy should include a clear explanation of how you retain and delete data.

No. 9: Obscure data access request process

When requesting data, you need to clearly explain to the user why your data is needed, what data will be collected, and how it will be used.

No. 10: Unclear or misleading screenshots

Image source: Apple Developer

The screenshots that you submit must accurately describe your app. It should also highlight how the user would go through the app and what the app would look like.

No. 11: The placeholder content 

The presence of placeholder content is a string of words or characters that temporarily takes the place of the final data. Placeholder content appears when you haven’t fully uploaded or added text and images to your app. Having placeholder content can prevent your app from getting approved.

No. 12: Repeatedly submitting a similar app

If your app has been declined, don’t submit it again unless you are confident that you have addressed the highlighted issues.

No. 13: Misleading advertisement and promotion

You need to be truthful in your description. The way you advertise and promote your app should not make your app look like it is not. Whatever you promise to the user, you need to deliver it.

No. 14: No lasting value

Be sure that the core features of your app would deliver a great deal of value to the user. If it has a limited feature plus it doesn’t cater to a greater niche market, then you might not be able to pass Apple’s rigorous submission process.

No. 15: Incorrect entity

There are apps that should be submitted by a legal entity rather than just the developer itself. You must be sure that you submit the app and identify the real owner and provider.

No. 16: Failure to meet specific documentation

If your app is for kids, you need to send the team publicly documented policies and practices that would be appropriate for the right age. If your app involves the use of medical hardware, you need to send a copy of regulatory clearance. Those are just some examples of specific documentation needed to support your app.

How to ensure your app gets approved?

The best way for you to increase your approval rate is to review the different guidelines that Apple requires. Here are some helpful links:

• App Store Review Guidelines
• Usage of Apple Trademarks and Copyrights Guidelines
• Human Interface Design Guidelines

Once you have submitted your app, you can wait for at least 24 hours for a result. Apple claimed that 90% of app submissions get their results within the day. However, reviews may take longer. Of course, you can also go to your App Store Connect’s My Apps section where you can check your submission status.

Get your app on the App Store

These are the most common reasons that apps get rejected in the App Store. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of work and it can be overwhelming at times. Thankfully, you don’t need to work on this alone. ShyftUp has your back.

ShyftUp has the relevant knowledge, experience, and skills to help developers get their apps on the platform. They can guide you through the process and provide tips on how to increase your chance of approval. Aside from that, ShyftUp’s best service is to help you get more app users in the quickest and most cost-effective way possible.

Get in touch with them today to learn more!

 

What should you do when Apple rejects your app?

You need to know the reason for the rejection. From there, you get to have a sense of direction and determine the best action to take. You can ask the App Store community and experts for advice.

What is the most common reason apps get rejected by Apple?

According to Apple, about 14% of apps get rejected because they didn’t provide enough information. Bugs and crashes are also considered to be common reasons.

Is it free to submit an app in the App Store?

No, you would need to register an Apple Developer account, which may cost $99. You would also need to renew this on a yearly basis.