How Do You Fix Common App Store Rejection Problems?

App Store rejection rates hover around 40% for first-time submissions—that's nearly half of all apps getting knocked back before they even reach users. After spending years shepherding apps through both Apple's App Store and Google Play approval processes, I can tell you that most of these rejections are completely avoidable if you know what to look for.

The thing is, app store rejection isn't just frustrating; it's expensive. Every rejection means delays, lost revenue, and potentially missed market opportunities. I've seen startups burn through their launch budgets whilst stuck in rejection cycles, and established companies miss their go-to-market deadlines because of silly guideline violations that could have been caught early.

What makes this even more maddening is that the same issues keep cropping up again and again. Privacy policy problems, UI inconsistencies, performance hiccups, dodgy in-app purchase implementations—honestly, it's like watching people make the same mistakes on repeat. The review teams aren't trying to be difficult (well, most of the time), they're just enforcing rules that exist for good reasons.

The best time to fix app store rejection issues is before you submit your app in the first place—prevention is always cheaper than cure

But here's what I've learned after countless submissions and rejections: once you understand the common patterns and know what the review teams are actually looking for, fixing these problems becomes much more straightforward. Sure, the guidelines can seem overwhelming at first glance, but they follow predictable patterns. And with the right approach, you can turn those rejection emails from sources of panic into simple checklists to work through.

Right, let's talk about App Store guidelines—because honestly, they're the bane of every app developer's existence. I've seen brilliant apps get rejected for the most ridiculous reasons, and trust me, it never gets less frustrating. The thing is, both Apple and Google have their own sets of rules, and they're not always crystal clear about what they want.

Understanding App Store Guidelines and Common Violations

The App Store guidelines aren't just suggestions—they're hard rules that can make or break your app launch. Apple's particularly strict about their Human Interface Guidelines and content policies, while Google Play has its own quirks around permissions and user data. What really gets me is how these guidelines change regularly; something that was fine six months ago might suddenly be a violation.

Most Common Rejection Reasons

After dealing with hundreds of app submissions, I've noticed the same issues crop up again and again. Here are the big ones that'll get you rejected faster than you can say "resubmission":

• Apps that crash on launch or during basic functionality testing
• Missing or incomplete privacy policies, especially around data collection
• Using deprecated APIs or outdated SDKs
• In-app purchases that don't work properly or bypass store payment systems
• Apps that request unnecessary permissions without clear justification
• Content that violates intellectual property rights
• Poor user interface design that doesn't follow platform conventions
• Apps with minimal functionality or that are essentially web wrappers

Why These Guidelines Exist

Look, I get why developers find these rules annoying, but they actually serve a purpose. The app stores are protecting their users from dodgy apps, maintaining platform quality, and yes—protecting their own business interests too. When you understand the why behind the rules, it's easier to build apps that sail through the review process.

The key thing I've learned? Read the guidelines before you start coding, not after you've built your entire app. It'll save you weeks of painful revisions.

Fixing Technical Issues That Cause Rejections

Right, let's talk about the technical stuff that trips up most app submissions. I've seen apps get rejected for the most basic technical problems—things that could've been caught with proper testing but somehow slip through the cracks.

The biggest culprit? Crashes. If your app crashes during the review process, it's an instant rejection. Apple's review team won't give you the benefit of the doubt here; they expect your app to run smoothly from the moment they open it. I always tell my clients to test their apps on actual devices, not just simulators. There's a world of difference between how an app performs in a simulator versus real hardware with varying memory constraints and processing power.

Memory Management and Performance Issues

Memory leaks are another common rejection reason that many developers overlook. Your app might run fine during short testing sessions, but if it's slowly consuming memory without releasing it, the review team will notice. They typically spend more time with each app than your average user during their first session.

Loading times matter too—if your app takes forever to start up or if screens take ages to load content, that's grounds for rejection. The reviewers aren't patient with slow apps, and neither are users in the real world.

API and Network Problems

Here's something that catches people off guard: broken API connections. If your app relies on external services and those services are down during review, you're getting rejected. Always have fallback mechanisms and proper error handling in place.

Test your app thoroughly on multiple devices with different iOS versions, and always include proper error handling for network requests and API failures.

Resolving User Interface and Design Problems

Design rejections are honestly some of the most frustrating ones to deal with because they often feel subjective. But after years of dealing with Apple and Google's review teams, I've noticed they're actually quite consistent about what they don't like. The trick is understanding their perspective—they want apps that feel native to their platform and don't confuse users.

The biggest design sin I see? Apps that look identical on both iOS and Android. Sure, it saves development time, but it's a red flag for reviewers. iOS users expect certain interaction patterns, like swiping back from the left edge; Android users expect a back button. When you ignore these conventions, you're setting yourself up for rejection.

Common Design Issues That Get Apps Rejected

• Buttons that look like system UI elements but behave differently
• Text that's too small to read comfortably (especially on older devices)
• Poor contrast ratios that fail accessibility standards
• Missing dark mode support on iOS (it's basically required now)
• Inconsistent navigation patterns that confuse users
• Splash screens that display for too long or serve no purpose

Here's something that catches many developers off guard—your app icon matters more than you think. I've seen apps rejected because their icon was too similar to existing system icons or popular apps. It needs to be distinctive and represent your app's function clearly.

The good news? Most design rejections are fixable without major architectural changes. Focus on platform-specific design guidelines, test on multiple device sizes, and always check your app in both light and dark modes. Ensuring your app meets UK accessibility requirements isn't just good practice—it'll help prevent rejection issues down the line. And please, test with real users before submitting—what makes sense to you as the developer might be completely confusing to someone seeing your app for the first time.

Addressing Privacy and Data Collection Issues

Privacy rejections have become one of the most common reasons apps get bounced back from the App Store—and honestly, I see why Apple's being so strict about this. Users are more aware than ever about how their data gets used, and the app stores are responding accordingly. The tricky bit is that privacy requirements keep evolving, so what worked six months ago might not fly today.

The biggest culprit I see is apps that collect data without properly explaining why they need it. Your privacy policy can't just be a generic template you downloaded; it needs to specifically explain what data you're collecting and what you're doing with it. If your app asks for location data, camera access, or contacts, you better have a bloody good reason that users can understand. Getting this right from the start with a GDPR-compliant privacy policy will save you significant headaches during the review process.

Getting Your Permissions Right

Here's where most developers trip up—requesting permissions they don't actually need. I've seen apps ask for microphone access when they don't record audio, or location services when they're just a calculator app. The review team will catch this every time.

Apple's review guidelines are clear: you can only collect data that's directly relevant to your app's core functionality, and users must understand exactly why you need it

Before you start collecting any user data, I'd strongly recommend conducting a privacy impact assessment to identify potential issues before they become rejection problems. This upfront investment in understanding your data handling practices can prevent weeks of back-and-forth with review teams.

Third-Party SDKs Can Sink You

Actually, one of the sneakiest privacy rejection causes is third-party SDKs that collect data without you realising it. That analytics SDK or ad network you integrated? It might be hoovering up user data in ways that violate Apple's guidelines. You're responsible for everything your app does, even the bits you didn't write yourself. Always check what permissions and data collection your SDKs require—it'll save you weeks of back-and-forth with the review team.

Fixing In-App Purchase and Monetisation Problems

In-app purchases are where a lot of apps get tripped up during review—and honestly, it's usually because developers try to be too clever with Apple's rules. I've seen apps rejected for everything from sneaky subscription practices to trying to bypass Apple's payment system entirely. The thing is, Apple takes monetisation violations seriously because money is involved, and they want to protect users from dodgy practices.

The most common mistake? Not being crystal clear about what users are buying. Your app needs to spell out exactly what people get when they purchase something, how much it costs, and when they'll be charged. If you're doing subscriptions, you must include the price and billing period in your app's interface—not buried in some terms and conditions nobody reads. Apple will reject apps that are vague about pricing or try to hide subscription terms.

Subscription and Auto-Renewal Issues

Auto-renewing subscriptions cause more rejections than almost any other monetisation feature. You need clear disclosure that the subscription will auto-renew, easy cancellation instructions, and proper management of subscription states in your app. Many developers forget to handle edge cases like when a user's payment fails or when they cancel mid-cycle. Your app should gracefully handle these scenarios without breaking or showing error messages.

Payment Method Compliance

Here's where things get tricky—you cannot direct users to external payment methods for digital content or services consumed within your app. No "buy cheaper on our website" buttons, no links to PayPal, nothing. All digital purchases must go through Apple's system. However, if you're selling physical goods or services consumed outside the app, you can use external payments. The line isn't always clear, but when in doubt, stick to Apple's payment system.

Testing your purchase flow thoroughly before submission saves massive headaches. Use sandbox accounts to verify every purchase scenario works correctly, including failed transactions and restored purchases.

Solving Content and Legal Compliance Issues

Content and legal compliance rejections can be some of the trickiest to handle because they often involve subjective judgements about what's appropriate. I've seen apps get knocked back for everything from having too much user-generated content without proper moderation to accidentally using copyrighted material in their interface designs.

The big app stores are particularly strict about content that could be harmful to minors, offensive material, or anything that promotes illegal activities. But here's the thing—what counts as "offensive" can vary quite a bit between review teams. I've had apps rejected for content that seemed perfectly reasonable, only to get approved on resubmission without changing anything!

Common Content Violations

Most content rejections fall into these categories; each one needs a different approach to fix. The key is understanding which category your rejection falls into so you can address it properly.

• User-generated content without adequate moderation systems
• Copyrighted images, sounds, or text used without permission
• Age-inappropriate content in apps marked for younger users
• Medical or health claims that aren't backed by proper disclaimers
• Gambling or contest features that don't comply with local laws
• Religious or political content that could be considered inflammatory

Legal Compliance Red Flags

Legal issues are usually more black and white than content problems, but they can be expensive to fix if you've built functionality that needs to be completely reworked. The most common legal problems I see involve data handling, age verification systems, and location-specific regulations like GDPR requirements. Don't forget that you'll also need to secure IP rights before your app launch to avoid intellectual property violations that could sink your submission.

If your app collects any personal information—and most apps do, even if its just crash reports—you need proper privacy policies and data handling procedures. Missing or inadequate privacy policies are one of the fastest ways to get rejected, and honestly, they're easy to fix with the right legal guidance.

Always test your app's content with the strictest possible interpretation of the guidelines. What seems acceptable to you might not pass review, especially if your app targets multiple age groups or markets.

Handling Performance and Functionality Rejections

Performance rejections are some of the most frustrating ones I see—mainly because they often catch developers off guard. Apple and Google are pretty strict about apps that crash, load slowly, or just don't work as expected. And honestly? They should be.

The most common performance issues I've dealt with over the years include apps that take too long to launch (anything over 3-4 seconds is pushing it), frequent crashes during basic functionality, and apps that drain battery life like there's no tomorrow. Memory leaks are another big one; if your app is hogging device resources, you're going to get rejected faster than you can say "optimisation."

Here's what I always check when a client gets hit with a performance rejection: crash logs first, then launch times, then overall memory usage. The crash logs will tell you exactly where things are going wrong—don't ignore them! Most crashes happen during app launch or when switching between views, so pay special attention to those transitions.

Common Performance Problems and Quick Fixes

• App crashes on launch: Usually memory issues or missing dependencies
• Slow loading times: Compress images, optimise API calls, reduce initial data loads
• Battery drain: Check background processes, location services, and network requests
• Memory leaks: Review object retention, image caching, and data structures
• Unresponsive interface: Move heavy processing off the main thread
• Network timeouts: Implement proper error handling and retry logic

One thing that's caught me out before—test on older devices! Just because your app runs smoothly on the latest iPhone doesn't mean it'll work on a three-year-old Android device. Apple and Google both test across multiple device types, and they expect your app to perform reasonably well on all of them. If you're only testing on high-end devices, you're setting yourself up for rejection.

Resubmission Best Practices and Communication with Review Teams

Right, so you've fixed all the issues from your rejection and you're ready to resubmit—but hold on a minute. I've seen too many developers rush this step and end up back at square one. The resubmission process is just as important as the fixes themselves; honestly, its where a lot of people mess up what should be a straightforward approval.

First thing—and I can't stress this enough—create a detailed changelog for the review team. Don't just tick the box saying "fixed bugs." Be specific about what you changed. If they rejected you for privacy policy issues, explain exactly how you've updated your data collection practices and where reviewers can find the new policy. The review team are human beings doing their job, not mind readers trying to guess what you might have changed.

Writing Effective App Review Notes

Your "Notes for Review" section is basically your chance to have a conversation with the reviewer. I always tell my team to think of it as explaining your app to a smart colleague who's never seen it before. If you've got test accounts, include them. If certain features need specific steps to access, spell it out clearly. And if you're addressing a previous rejection? Reference it directly and explain your solution.

The review notes section isn't optional—it's your opportunity to guide the reviewer through your app and show them exactly why it deserves approval

Here's something that catches people out: don't resubmit immediately after getting rejected. Take a day, maybe two. Review everything one more time with fresh eyes. I've caught silly mistakes doing this—things like forgetting to update version numbers or missing obvious UI issues that would have caused another rejection. Sure, you want to get your app live quickly, but another rejection means another week of waiting, and frankly, that's just not worth the rush.

Getting your app through the review process doesn't have to be a nightmare—honestly, it's just about understanding what Apple and Google are looking for and giving it to them. I've seen developers spend months building brilliant apps only to get stuck in rejection hell because they missed some basic guidelines. But here's the thing: most rejections are completely avoidable if you know what to watch out for.

The key is treating the app store review as part of your development process, not something that happens afterwards. When I'm working with clients, we're thinking about privacy policies, content guidelines, and technical requirements from day one. Sure, it adds a bit more planning upfront, but it saves weeks of back-and-forth with review teams later on.

What I find mad is how many developers still treat app store rejections like personal attacks. The reviewers aren't out to get you—they're just doing their job of keeping low-quality apps off the platform. When you get rejected, read the feedback carefully, fix the issues they've highlighted, and resubmit with a clear explanation of what you've changed. Most of the time, you'll get approved on the second try.

Remember, every successful app you use today probably got rejected at least once during development. It's part of the process, not the end of the world. Focus on building something users genuinely want, follow the guidelines we've covered, and don't take shortcuts with privacy or content policies. Your app will get through—and more importantly, it'll be better because of the review process.