What happens when your app is rejected
It's not uncommon for apps to face initial rejections during the review process. If your app is not approved on the first submission, don't worry! We've got your back. We'll assist you with any rejections from Apple by filing appeals on your behalf. When you need to take action we'll let you know and also guide you through the necessary steps to address the issues. Planning for potential rejections is a smart strategy when considering your app's release timeline.
Common reasons for App Rejections
Apps can be rejected on the first review for a wide variety of reasons, with far too many to list here. However, we have a lot of experience dealing with App submission and have identified a few common reasons for rejections and how you can prevent them to avoid delays to your release schedule.
This list is in no particular order and is certainly not exhaustive, but checking them will greatly increase your chances of approval.
Not enough content
We know how keen you are to get your app out there, but sometimes Apple need to see that your app shows a willingness to provide ongoing value for any subscriptions and that the app provides "lasting entertainment value or adequate utility".
We'd strongly recommend getting some of your content uploaded first before focusing on submitting your app.
Metadata issues
Metadata is the information you submit alongside your app build, this includes your description, release notes, app name, screenshots and any other information sent through to the store. It's important that your metadata is accurate and complies with the rules of the store, some common pitfalls include:
Inaccurate screenshots - such as stretching devices to inaccurate proportions or using devices that are not supported.
Including prices in the description or screenshots (this includes the word "free")
App names or descriptions that compare your app to others or could be confused for a competing service. Try to pick a distinctive name when first submitting your app and search the stores for your desired name to see if it is already taken.
Promoting external purchases - references to purchasing outside of the store are not allowed.
References to COVID-19 - it's particularly important to avoid this as it will result in longer review times until resolved.
Rights issues
The stores protect against "copycat" apps that seek to imitate notable individuals or organizations, or use their work without permission. If you're on a tight deadline it's important to establish your copyright before your initial submission. If you're licensing 3rd party material, including if the material is partially yours but requires publishing rights approval, then you'll need to declare this. If the material is all yours, you can declare that you do not use 3rd party material but may need to prove your ownership.
Gather together any supporting materials that prove you have the right to use this content. This could be any document that expresses your copyright, or right to license specific material. You do not have to submit this right away, but may be required to provide it as supplementary evidence at a later stage.
Write a signed letter affirming your content rights and that SupaPass has permission to publish your app. Please contact us for a template.
Create testimonial material talking about developing your app with SupaPass. We've found in the past that written or video testimonial material published publicly can provide strong support for rights issues rejections. This is particularly effective if you're a "notable individual" (for example, you have a Wikipedia page or a significant public following).
Your app contains videos but no audio
This may seem like a very strange reason for rejection, but it is surprisingly common! We use specific code to enable background audio in your app for videos and audio, but the app can be rejected if no audio content is found in your submission.
We're have a response to deal with this, so you're not required to include audio content if you have video content, but if you want to avoid an initial rejection you can do so by including at least one piece of audio content.
Technical issues
These can vary hugely and may not be easily understandable if you view them in App Store Connect. We have a lot of experience dealing with technical issues and it's unlikely we will need to contact you about them. Sit back and relax, we'll deal with it!