Common Reasons for App Store Review Rejection: Screenshot Specs and Permission Description Pitfalls
Anyone who does iOS development has likely encountered this situation: after submitting your app with great effort, you receive an App Store review rejection email the next day with a variety of reasons—incorrect screenshot sizes, missing privacy policy links, unclear permission usage descriptions, and so on. Most rejection reasons can be avoided in advance, without waiting to be rejected before…
Developers submitting apps to the App Store frequently face rejection, often due to issues with screenshots, privacy policies, and permission descriptions. By addressing these common pitfalls beforehand, developers can avoid delays and ensure smooth app review processes. Screenshot specifications are crucial. Screenshots must adhere to App Store size guidelines, which differ for iPhone (6.5 inches and 5.5 inches) and iPad.
Transparent backgrounds are not supported, so transparent areas should be converted to opaque before submission. Tools like Appuploader can streamline this process by allowing batch uploads of screens for multiple device sizes. Privacy policies are another common area of concern. Apps that collect user data must provide a clear, accessible privacy policy link.
This policy should cover all data collection methods, including third-party SDKs for advertising, analytics, and payment processing. For apps with user-generated content, providing mechanisms for reporting and blocking content is essential. Permission descriptions must be explicit. When requesting permissions like location, camera, contacts, or photo access, developers must explain why each permission is necessary.
General statements like "requires permission" are insufficient. Instead, provide specific reasons, such as using location data to recommend nearby merchants or using the camera for QR code scanning. Additionally, if an app requires login for core features, developers should provide a working test account and clear instructions for reviewers.
Finally, the use of deprecated APIs, such as UIWebView, can lead to rejection. Developers should replace deprecated APIs with their updated counterparts, such as switching from UIWebView to WKWebView. This requires a thorough project-wide search and replacement of deprecated API calls. Tools that check for build warnings during the development process can help identify these issues early, preventing them from reaching the review stage.
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