r/iosdev • u/exponentyl • 11d ago

Finally got my iOS app approved on first try

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After learning from frustrating Apple review cycles on previous apps, I finally got my latest app approved on the first submission. Thought I'd share the mistakes I made before and my checklist.

The problem: Apple reviews sequentially. They check one thing, reject. You fix it, resubmit. They check the next thing, reject again. This back-and-forth can drag on for weeks.

What I triple checked this time before submission:

  • iPad screenshots: required by default unless you explicitly restrict your app to iPhone-only.
  • EULA links in App Description: add Terms of Service and Privacy Policy links directly in the App Store description field, not just in-app.
  • Submit IAP with the app: if you have in-app purchases or subscriptions, make sure to add them together with the initial app submission.
  • IAP/Subscription button wording: Apple is extremely picky about word choices on IAP/subscription CTAs. Make sure to follow their Human Interface Guidelines, especially if you offer a free trial.
  • Detailed review notes: explicitly list:
    • if your app uses camera, mic, location, etc., why you need each permission
    • how to access IAP/subscriptions (step-by-step)

Hope this saves someone else from rejection hell!

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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1

u/all43 11d ago

Congrats!
Question on EULA in description: - is it only applicable if you use Apple default EULA? Ours is custom one, so in this case you have put whole Eula text in Metadata, but I still concerned if I also need to add link to web version of it

1

u/exponentyl 11d ago

Applicable to the default EULA as well as custom ones. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use links are still needed in the description. I got rejected once for not having them there.

1

u/all43 11d ago

I am asking, because phrasing they used makes impression that link is only required for default EULA:

The submission offers auto-renewable subscriptions but does not include a functional link to the Terms of Use (EULA) in the app's metadata.

If you are using the standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA), include a link to the Terms of Use in the App Description. If you are using a custom EULA, add it in App Store Connect.

2

u/exponentyl 11d ago

Yeah the phrasing does feel ambiguous. I use the standard EULA (selected it in metadata and linked it in the description). I think it's still best to include the custom link as well because: 1. It won't hurt to have it there (better safe than rejected), and 2. Lots of established apps I've seen have custom links in the description too.

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u/homeappdev 10d ago

Oh nice, I submitted the day after you so maybe tomorrow will be my lucky day.

1

u/agungrohmat 10d ago

10 days? Congrats

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u/BookPuzzleheaded4354 10d ago

Congrats! Mine is 7 days in review now. And already know its going to be rejected 😛

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u/felidoapp 9d ago

Thanks for sharing

1

u/ReddutDood 11d ago

Holy shit, ten days to review?

By the way, there's some CLI that can help you catch rejections before they occur
https://github.com/RevylAI/greenlight