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Here are all the reasons why Apple might have rejected your app

Published Sep 2nd, 2014 1:40PM EDT
Apple Common App Rejections

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Although the App Store is occasionally subjected to a flood of ridiculous clones, Apple is notorious for its strict guidelines for reviewing apps before they can be put up for sale. It’s not uncommon for noted app developers with multiple successful releases on the App Store to have to resubmit an update after Apple finds a bug or something objectionable within the app. In order to make the process easier for developers in the future, Apple has added a page to its developer website for the express purpose of letting developers know why their apps are being rejected.

The following is a list of the most common issues Apple finds when reviewing apps:

  • Crashes and bugs
  • Broken links
  • Placeholder content
  • Incomplete information
  • Inaccurate descriptions
  • Misleading users
  • Substandard User Interface
  • Advertisements
  • Web clippings, content aggregators, or a collections of links
  • Repeated submission of similar apps
  • Not enough lasting value

Below the explanations for each issue, Apple listed the top 10 reasons that apps were rejected from the App Store from August 22nd – 28th. The most common reason was that the developers simply didn’t provide enough information. If a developer doesn’t explain the app in detail, Apple won’t waste time reviewing it. Bugs and bad UIs were also near the top of the list.

We’ve known for quite some time that Apple has a relatively high standard for apps it publishes on the App Store, but it’s nice to finally see all the rules in one place.

Jacob Siegal
Jacob Siegal Associate Editor

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.