App Store submission stuck in Waiting for Review for 3 days
A decision tree for an App Store submission that has stayed in Waiting for Review for three days, including when to wait, contact Apple, or request an expedite.
Open field guide →Evidence library · 130 field guides
Make the next review decision with evidence.
Each guide owns one developer question, cites current Apple sources, and ends with a test or decision you can complete. No recycled paragraphs and no invented review guarantees.
01One search intent
Every page answers a different decision, failure, or workflow.
02Primary sources
Policy claims link to current Apple developer documentation.
03Actionable proof
Checklists and templates turn guidance into reviewer evidence.
Review timing
Know which clock you are diagnosing.
How long can an App Store submission stay In Review?
Understand what the App Store In Review status means, why active review can pause, and what evidence to prepare before contacting Apple.
Open field guide →New app vs. update: compare App Store review time correctly
Why new apps and updates need separate App Store review-time baselines, and how to compare timelines without inventing a speed guarantee.
Open field guide →Does Apple review App Store submissions on weekends?
Apple does not publish a weekend review schedule. Learn what can be measured, what cannot be promised, and how to plan a Friday submission.
Open field guide →How to request an expedited App Store review
When an expedited App Store review request is appropriate, what evidence Apple asks for, and a concise request template for critical bugs or events.
Open field guide →Submission readiness
Find submission blockers before Apple does.
Avoid App Store metadata rejections for keywords and claims
Check names, subtitles, keywords, screenshots, preview text, support URLs, and claims before submitting metadata.
Open field guide →Complete the App Store age rating questionnaire without under-rating risk
Map content, UGC, web access, purchases, medical topics, gambling-like mechanics, and regional limits to age rating answers.
Open field guide →Answer App Store export compliance questions for encryption features
Prepare an encryption feature inventory, exemption rationale, documentation path, and release checklist for App Store Connect.
Open field guide →Use TestFlight to find App Review blockers before submission
Turn TestFlight into a release-candidate rehearsal for login, purchases, permissions, crashes, metadata promises, and reviewer notes.
Open field guide →Write App Review Notes that shorten clarification loops
Give reviewers a deterministic path through accounts, subscriptions, permissions, hardware, UGC, and hidden features.
Open field guide →External purchase links and App Store review readiness
Decide whether an iOS app can show an external purchase link, what entitlement evidence to prepare, and how to avoid StoreKit policy confusion during App Review.
Open field guide →Health and medical app review evidence checklist
Classify health, wellness, medical, diagnosis, and device claims before App Review, with evidence packets and reviewer notes that avoid unsupported promises.
Open field guide →Subscription group and level App Review checklist
Configure auto-renewable subscription groups, levels, offers, entitlement states, and sandbox tests so App Review can verify purchase behavior.
Open field guide →App Clip App Review checklist
Prepare App Clip experiences for App Review with invocation URLs, card metadata, lightweight task scope, privacy, and full-app handoff testing.
Open field guide →Custom product page App Review checklist
Submit App Store custom product pages with review-safe screenshots, keywords, deep links, campaign claims, and fallback behavior.
Open field guide →Product Page Optimization test review checklist
Run App Store Product Page Optimization tests with truthful variants, localized assets, review-safe screenshots, and a winner rollout process.
Open field guide →Widget App Review checklist
Prepare WidgetKit widgets for App Review with useful glanceable content, refresh behavior, privacy controls, deep links, and configuration tests.
Open field guide →watchOS App Review checklist
Prepare Apple Watch apps, complications, notifications, metadata, screenshots, and iPhone dependencies for App Review.
Open field guide →visionOS App Review checklist
Prepare visionOS apps for App Review with spatial purpose, input behavior, comfort, immersion, privacy, simulator/device testing, and reviewer notes.
Open field guide →Game Center multiplayer App Review checklist
Prepare Game Center leaderboards, achievements, matchmaking, multiplayer, account states, and abuse controls for App Review.
Open field guide →Finance and trading app review evidence checklist
Prepare finance, trading, crypto, wallet, investment, and regulated-money apps for App Review with entity, licensing, jurisdiction, risk, and test evidence.
Open field guide →Accessibility Nutrition Labels App Review checklist
Prepare Accessibility Nutrition Labels with task-based evidence for VoiceOver, Larger Text, contrast, captions, motion, and other accessibility claims.
Open field guide →Intellectual property permission checklist for App Review
Avoid App Review rejection for third-party music, video, brands, sports data, characters, trademarks, screenshots, and licensed content.
Open field guide →Contests and sweepstakes App Review checklist
Prepare app contests, sweepstakes, prize drawings, votes, rewards, and random promotions with eligibility, rules, regions, and Apple separation evidence.
Open field guide →Donations and nonprofit fundraising App Review checklist
Accept donations in an iOS app with Apple Pay nonprofit approval, clear recipient identity, donation flow, receipts, tax language, and review evidence.
Open field guide →Hardware accessory and Bluetooth App Review checklist
Prepare Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, MFi, and hardware companion apps for App Review with accessory setup, permissions, no-hardware fallback, and review evidence.
Open field guide →CarPlay App Review checklist
Prepare CarPlay apps for App Review with category eligibility, entitlement evidence, driver-safe templates, simulator tests, and reviewer notes.
Open field guide →App Intents and Siri Shortcuts review checklist
Prepare App Intents, Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight, and system actions with predictable parameters, privacy, authentication, and error handling.
Open field guide →HTML5 mini-app and downloaded-code App Review checklist
Avoid App Review rejection when an app uses HTML5 experiences, remote content, scripts, mini-apps, plug-ins, or server-driven feature bundles.
Open field guide →Subscription price increase consent review checklist
Plan auto-renewable subscription price increases with consent rules, storefront timing, entitlement behavior, subscriber messaging, and review evidence.
Open field guide →Family Sharing for IAP and subscriptions review checklist
Enable Family Sharing for in-app purchases or subscriptions with product eligibility, entitlement ownership, restore behavior, privacy, and support tests.
Open field guide →Consumable vs non-consumable IAP product type review checklist
Choose the correct in-app purchase product type before App Review, with entitlement lifetime, restore behavior, product ID, metadata, and migration evidence.
Open field guide →IAP price and availability App Review checklist
Prepare in-app purchase pricing and storefront availability with product status, regional access, remove-from-sale planning, sandbox behavior, and review evidence.
Open field guide →Subscription offer code and promotional offer review checklist
Use subscription offer codes, promotional offers, and win-back discounts with eligibility, redemption, disclosure, entitlement, and support tests.
Open field guide →Billing Grace Period subscription review checklist
Handle Apple subscription Billing Grace Period with entitlement access, billing retry, user messaging, server state, support, and App Review evidence.
Open field guide →Universal Links and Associated Domains App Review checklist
Prepare Universal Links, Associated Domains, AASA files, authentication routes, web fallbacks, and reviewer evidence before App Review.
Open field guide →Background Modes App Review checklist
Justify iOS background execution modes with a user-visible task, stop behavior, battery impact, notifications, and reviewer evidence.
Open field guide →Apple Pay App Review checklist
Prepare Apple Pay in-app checkout with merchant setup, goods classification, payment sheet behavior, failure states, and review evidence.
Open field guide →Wallet pass App Review checklist
Prepare Wallet passes with pass type, issuer identity, signed content, barcode behavior, web service updates, privacy, and review evidence.
Open field guide →Core NFC App Review checklist
Prepare NFC tag reader features for App Review with tag type, scan purpose, no-tag fallback, privacy, physical-world evidence, and reviewer notes.
Open field guide →HomeKit App Review checklist
Prepare HomeKit apps for App Review with home access, accessory setup, roles, simulator states, automations, privacy, and reviewer notes.
Open field guide →CloudKit and iCloud sync App Review checklist
Prepare CloudKit sync for App Review with iCloud-off states, containers, conflict handling, sharing, offline behavior, and privacy evidence.
Open field guide →Passkeys and AuthenticationServices App Review checklist
Prepare passkey login, registration, fallback, account recovery, device changes, security keys, and reviewer access before App Review.
Open field guide →Share Extension App Review checklist
Prepare iOS Share Extensions for App Review with accepted content types, extension UI, authentication, completion behavior, privacy, and host-app states.
Open field guide →File Provider Extension App Review checklist
Prepare File Provider extensions for App Review with domains, item identifiers, sync states, offline files, conflicts, errors, and privacy evidence.
Open field guide →Document Browser App Review checklist
Prepare document-based iOS apps for App Review with file creation, import, export, edit, conflicts, cloud locations, and review sample files.
Open field guide →iMessage app and sticker pack App Review checklist
Prepare iMessage apps and sticker packs for App Review with content rights, age rating, metadata, purchases, privacy, and conversation states.
Open field guide →MapKit and directions App Review checklist
Prepare MapKit apps for App Review with location purpose, map attribution, annotation accuracy, route behavior, offline states, and reviewer evidence.
Open field guide →ARKit App Review checklist
Prepare ARKit apps for App Review with camera permission, spatial safety, sample content, no-camera fallback, real-world claims, and reviewer notes.
Open field guide →WeatherKit App Review checklist
Prepare WeatherKit apps for App Review with weather data purpose, location minimization, attribution, caching, unavailable states, and reviewer evidence.
Open field guide →App Attest and DeviceCheck App Review checklist
Prepare App Attest and DeviceCheck server validation for App Review with environment handling, unsupported-device fallback, fraud checks, and reviewer access.
Open field guide →App screenshots and previews App Review checklist
Prepare App Store screenshots and app previews with truthful claims, device-state proof, localization checks, specs, and review-safe asset governance.
Open field guide →EU DSA trader status App Store review checklist
Complete EU Digital Services Act trader requirements in App Store Connect with accurate public business details, support alignment, and compliance records.
Open field guide →Support URL and review contact checklist
Prepare App Store support URLs, review contact information, escalation paths, and help pages so reviewers and users can verify support claims.
Open field guide →App icon App Review checklist
Prepare App Store app icons for review with truthful branding, rights evidence, visual legibility, platform variants, and metadata consistency.
Open field guide →App Store category selection review checklist
Choose App Store primary and secondary categories with user-job evidence, metadata alignment, regulated-category checks, and post-launch monitoring.
Open field guide →Bundle ID and capabilities App Review checklist
Align App ID capabilities, entitlements, provisioning, privacy behavior, and reviewer-visible features before submitting an app to App Review.
Open field guide →Guideline 2.5 software requirements review checklist
Avoid Guideline 2.5 rejection by auditing APIs, runtime behavior, device compatibility, resource use, networking, and unsupported software patterns.
Open field guide →Guideline 5.2 legal rights App Review checklist
Avoid Guideline 5.2 rejection with a rights-to-feature ledger for names, logos, media, services, data, regulated claims, and App Store metadata.
Open field guide →Third-party login options App Review checklist
Prepare third-party login, enterprise identity, social login, Sign in with Apple parity, fallback states, and reviewer access before App Review.
Open field guide →App Store localization review checklist
Localize App Store listings safely with claim checks, availability, screenshots, support, legal copy, and locale-specific review evidence.
Open field guide →App name, subtitle, and keywords review checklist
Set App Store name, subtitle, and keywords without keyword stuffing, trademark risk, misleading claims, or metadata-review friction.
Open field guide →Marketing URL App Review checklist
Prepare App Store marketing URLs with accurate claims, mobile access, privacy-safe tracking, localization, support alignment, and review-safe landing pages.
Open field guide →WebView and external content App Review checklist
Prepare apps with WebViews, remote content, CMS pages, external links, and embedded web tools for App Review without hidden functionality changes.
Open field guide →StoreKit sandbox testing checklist
Use StoreKit sandbox testing to verify products, purchases, renewals, refunds, restores, family states, and server entitlement parity before launch.
Open field guide →Transaction validation and entitlement checklist
Validate StoreKit transactions and app transactions with one entitlement source of truth across purchases, restores, refunds, upgrades, devices, and support.
Open field guide →Responsiveness and hang diagnostics checklist
Diagnose app hangs and responsiveness issues before App Review with critical path budgets, device testing, instrumentation, and user-facing fallbacks.
Open field guide →Rejection fixes
Fix the failed reviewer journey.
Fix an App Store Guideline 2.1 app completeness rejection
A root-cause workflow for App Store Guideline 2.1 rejections involving crashes, placeholder content, broken links, inaccessible features, or incomplete IAP.
Open field guide →Build a demo account that App Review can actually use
Prepare App Review credentials, sample data, roles, 2FA handling, and Review Notes so Apple can reach every account-gated feature.
Open field guide →Fix an App Store account deletion rejection
Implement App Store-compliant account deletion, including in-app initiation, associated data, manual delays, guest accounts, and Sign in with Apple tokens.
Open field guide →Pass App Review Guideline 1.2 for user-generated content
Translate App Review Guideline 1.2 into product controls for filtering, reporting, blocking, contact information, moderation response, and anonymous chat risk.
Open field guide →Fix an App Store subscription disclosure rejection
Audit an iOS subscription paywall for clear value, price, billing period, product availability, restore access, and reviewer verification.
Open field guide →Fix a Sign in with Apple App Review rejection
Determine when Sign in with Apple is required, repair login parity, and prove the reviewer can create and delete an account.
Open field guide →Fix In-App Purchases that do not load during App Review
Diagnose product status, identifiers, storefronts, metadata, sandbox purchase flow, and reviewer account state.
Open field guide →App Review Resolution Center response template
Write App Review Resolution Center replies that answer the reviewer, identify the changed build, cite evidence, and avoid vague rejection back-and-forth.
Open field guide →Unresolved App Review issues resubmission checklist
Manage App Store Connect unresolved issues with a release decision ledger, reviewer notes, retesting, and follow-up evidence.
Open field guide →Guideline 4.2 Minimum Functionality rejection checklist
Fix App Review Guideline 4.2 rejections by proving native value, task completion, durable functionality, offline behavior, and non-wrapper product depth.
Open field guide →Guideline 4.3 Spam and duplicate app rejection checklist
Fix Guideline 4.3 spam or duplicate app rejections with a portfolio overlap audit, differentiation proof, consolidation plan, and metadata cleanup.
Open field guide →Guideline 3.1.1 digital goods IAP rejection checklist
Fix Guideline 3.1.1 rejections by classifying digital goods, payment routes, entitlements, external links, reader-app exceptions, and StoreKit tests.
Open field guide →Privacy and safety
Make privacy and safety claims verifiable.
Prepare App Store privacy nutrition labels without guessing
Map SDKs, data types, purposes, tracking, and third-party sharing before completing App Store privacy details.
Open field guide →Pass App Review when your app may need tracking permission
Decide whether App Tracking Transparency applies, test the permission prompt, and align tracking disclosures before submission.
Open field guide →Kids Category App Review checklist for child-safe releases
Prepare a Kids category app for App Review with parental gates, ads, links, data collection, privacy, and age-appropriate feature evidence.
Open field guide →Location permission App Review checklist
Prepare foreground and background location requests for App Review with feature justification, denial paths, privacy wording, and test evidence.
Open field guide →Push notification marketing and App Review
Use push notifications for transactional and promotional messages without creating App Review risk around consent, settings, payloads, and privacy.
Open field guide →Privacy manifest and required reason API App Review checklist
Resolve privacy manifest, SDK, required reason API, tracking domain, and App Store privacy label mismatches before upload or App Review.
Open field guide →Live Activities App Review checklist
Prepare ActivityKit Live Activities for App Review with start, update, end, privacy, payload, notification, and deep-link evidence.
Open field guide →VPN and Network Extension App Review checklist
Prepare VPN, Personal VPN, content filter, and Network Extension apps for App Review with entitlement, traffic scope, privacy, logs, and reviewer evidence.
Open field guide →Photo Library permission App Review checklist
Prepare Photos access for App Review with limited-library behavior, picker alternatives, add-only access, privacy labels, and reviewer evidence.
Open field guide →Camera and microphone permission App Review checklist
Prepare camera and microphone capture for App Review with visible user intent, purpose strings, mute/off states, recording indicators, and privacy evidence.
Open field guide →Contacts permission App Review checklist
Prepare Contacts access for App Review with field minimization, picker alternatives, invitation controls, denial paths, and privacy disclosures.
Open field guide →Calendar and Reminders permission App Review checklist
Prepare Calendar and Reminders access for App Review with write-only versus full access decisions, event editing, denial paths, and privacy evidence.
Open field guide →HealthKit data access App Review checklist
Prepare HealthKit read and write access for App Review with data-type purpose, authorization, denial behavior, privacy, and sample evidence.
Open field guide →Keychain sharing and App Groups App Review checklist
Prepare shared keychain and app-group secrets for App Review with entitlement scope, extensions, logout, deletion, privacy, and companion-app states.
Open field guide →Safari Web Extension App Review checklist
Prepare Safari Web Extensions for App Review with narrow website permissions, script behavior, native-app communication, privacy disclosures, and test routes.
Open field guide →Notification Service Extension App Review checklist
Prepare notification service extensions for App Review with payload mutation, media downloads, decryption, timeout behavior, privacy, and fallback states.
Open field guide →Privacy policy URL App Review checklist
Prepare App Store privacy policy URLs with public access, data-use alignment, account deletion coverage, localization, and release-change monitoring.
Open field guide →Guideline 1.1 objectionable content App Review checklist
Avoid Guideline 1.1 rejection by auditing objectionable content risks across static content, UGC, ads, generated output, metadata, and moderation paths.
Open field guide →Guideline 1.4 physical harm safety review checklist
Prepare safety-sensitive apps for App Review with harm scenarios, claim limits, emergency fallbacks, expert evidence, and user-facing warnings.
Open field guide →Ads monetization App Review checklist
Ship ad-supported apps with reviewable ad placement, privacy labels, ATT decisions, content safety, kids restrictions, and support evidence.
Open field guide →Data retention and deletion App Review checklist
Align app data retention, deletion, account closure, processors, backups, analytics, and user-facing privacy promises before App Review.
Open field guide →App Store Connect API key security checklist
Secure App Store Connect API keys with ownership, role scope, storage, rotation, CI handling, incident response, and audit records.
Open field guide →Release operations
Control what happens after approval.
Choose phased release, manual release, or automatic release after approval
Plan what happens after App Review approves an update, including phased rollout, manual control, urgent fixes, and rollback signals.
Open field guide →App Store pre-order review and launch checklist
Prepare an App Store pre-order with review-ready metadata, build state, IAP readiness, availability dates, and launch runbook controls.
Open field guide →App transfer readiness before App Review and launch
Prepare an App Store Connect app transfer without blocking App Review, subscriptions, IAP, bundle services, metadata, or recipient acceptance.
Open field guide →In-App Events App Review checklist
Prepare App Store In-App Events for review with truthful event metadata, timing, regional availability, deep links, and an in-app verification path.
Open field guide →Unlisted App Distribution review checklist
Prepare an app for unlisted App Store distribution with App Review readiness, audience controls, direct-link handling, and release notes.
Open field guide →Private distribution App Review checklist for Business and School Manager
Prepare custom apps for Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager with distribution method, organization IDs, pricing, review access, and support readiness.
Open field guide →App availability countries and regions review checklist
Set App Store availability by country or region with legal, language, support, payment, privacy, and feature-readiness evidence before release.
Open field guide →Paid app pricing App Review checklist
Launch or update a paid app with correct price, availability, paid agreement readiness, entitlement expectations, storefront copy, and support states.
Open field guide →Version and build number App Review checklist
Prepare App Store version and build submissions with binary provenance, metadata sync, configuration freeze, release notes, and rollback evidence.
Open field guide →What’s New release notes App Review checklist
Write App Store What’s New release notes that match the submitted build, avoid unsupported claims, localize correctly, and support release operations.
Open field guide →Ratings and reviews prompt App Review checklist
Use App Store rating prompts safely with value moments, support routing, StoreKit review requests, no coercion, and post-release measurement.
Open field guide →Promo codes App Review checklist
Use App Store promo codes with clear campaign purpose, entitlement testing, redemption states, support ownership, and post-campaign measurement.
Open field guide →App Store Connect user access review checklist
Manage App Store Connect users, roles, permissions, contractors, approvals, and audit trails so metadata, pricing, privacy, and releases stay controlled.
Open field guide →App Analytics growth checklist
Use App Store Connect App Analytics to connect impressions, product page views, installs, retention, conversion actions, and App Store listing experiments.
Open field guide →Sales and Trends revenue operations checklist
Use App Store Connect Sales and Trends to reconcile units, proceeds, refunds, territories, pricing changes, and conversion experiments.
Open field guide →TestFlight public link beta operations checklist
Manage TestFlight public links with audience filters, build scope, feedback quality, support load, link shutdown, and App Review readiness.
Open field guide →App Store Server Notifications checklist
Implement App Store Server Notifications with secure delivery, idempotent event handling, entitlement updates, retries, monitoring, and support evidence.
Open field guide →App Store Server API operations checklist
Use App Store Server API for transaction lookup, entitlement support, audit trails, privacy-safe logging, and revenue operations without overcollecting data.
Open field guide →Subscription status URL checklist
Use subscription status URLs with clear subscriber self-service, entitlement language, support routing, privacy-safe tracking, and App Store listing consistency.
Open field guide →Pricing change experiment checklist
Run App Store pricing changes with hypothesis, market scope, support readiness, user impact, revenue measurement, and rollback criteria.
Open field guide →App information change control checklist
Control App Store app information edits with field ownership, proof, localization, approval, rollback, and audit history for safer SEO and release operations.
Open field guide →App Store Connect API automation checklist
Automate App Store Connect safely with scoped API workflows, dry runs, approval gates, audit logs, rollback plans, and release evidence.
Open field guide →Xcode Cloud release pipeline checklist
Use Xcode Cloud release pipelines with traceable workflows, tests, signing, artifacts, review notes, and deployment evidence.
Open field guide →Xcode Cloud TestFlight operations checklist
Connect Xcode Cloud to TestFlight operations with build notes, tester groups, feedback prompts, known issues, support paths, and closure rules.
Open field guide →Crash reports and device logs release checklist
Use crash reports and device logs to prioritize App Review-critical paths, reproduce failures, update release gates, and protect conversion flows.
Open field guide →Framework and module issues release checklist
Fix framework and module issues before release with dependency inventory, archive checks, CI parity, runtime validation, and rollback planning.
Open field guide →CI signing and provisioning App Review checklist
Align CI signing, provisioning profiles, entitlements, certificates, archive artifacts, and App Store Connect uploads before App Review.
Open field guide →Promote TestFlight build to App Review checklist
Promote a TestFlight build to App Review with frozen evidence, resolved beta feedback, metadata sync, review notes, and release monitoring.
Open field guide →App Store release incident rollback checklist
Handle App Store release incidents with severity classification, phased release decisions, rollback options, expedited fixes, support copy, and postmortems.
Open field guide →Before you resubmit
Run the free check