An ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest rejection email looks as follows: ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest- Your app includes "<path/to/SDK>", which includes , an SDK that was identified in the documentation as a privacy-impacting third-party SDK. Starting February 12, 2025, if a new app includes a privacy-impacting SDK, or an app update adds a new privacy-impacting SDK, the SDK must include a privacy manifest file. Please contact the provider of the SDK that includes this file to get an updated SDK version with a privacy manifest. For more details about this policy, including a list of SDKs that are required to include signatures and manifests, visit: https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. Glossary ITMS-91061: Missing privacy manifest: An email that includes the name and path of privacy-impacting SDK(s) with no privacy manifest files in your app bundle. For more information, see https://developer.apple.com/support/third-party-SDK-requirements. : The specified privacy-impacting SDK that doesn't include a privacy manifest file. If you are the developer of the rejected app, gather the name of the SDK from the email you received from Apple, then contact the SDK's provider for an updated version that includes a valid privacy manifest. After receiving an updated version of the SDK, verify the SDK includes a valid privacy manifest file at the expected location. For more information, see Adding a privacy manifest to your app or third-party SDK. If your app includes a privacy manifest file, make sure the file only describes the privacy practices of your app. Do not add the privacy practices of the SDK to your app's privacy manifest. If the email lists multiple SDKs, repeat the above process for all of them. If you are the developer of an SDK listed in the email, publish an updated version of your SDK that includes a privacy manifest file with valid keys and values. Every privacy-impacting SDK must contain a privacy manifest file that only describes its privacy practices. To learn how to add a valid privacy manifest to your SDK, see the Additional resources section below. Additional resources Privacy manifest files Describing data use in privacy manifests Describing use of required reason API Adding a privacy manifest to your app or third-party SDK TN3182: Adding privacy tracking keys to your privacy manifest TN3183: Adding required reason API entries to your privacy manifest TN3184: Adding data collection details to your privacy manifest TN3181: Debugging an invalid privacy manifest

In this post, we'll share tips to help you submit apps that deliver original ideas to your users. When working on your app, focus on creating interesting, unique experiences that aren't already available. Apps that actively try to copy other apps won't pass review, and accounts that repeatedly submit copycat apps or attempt to impersonate a service will be closed. The rules that prevent copycat and impersonator apps from being distributed on the App Store are described in App Review Guideline 4.1: 4.1 Copycats (a) Come up with your own ideas. We know you have them, so make yours come to life. Don’t simply copy the latest popular app on the App Store, or make some minor changes to another app’s name or UI and pass it off as your own. In addition to risking an intellectual property infringement claim, it makes the App Store harder to navigate and just isn’t fair to your fellow developers. (b) Submitting apps which impersonate other apps or services is considered a violation of the Developer Code of Conduct and may result in removal from the Apple Developer Program.(c) You cannot use another developer’s icon, brand, or product name in your app’s icon or name, without approval from the developer. These requirements help make the App Store both a safe place for people to discover apps and a platform for all developers to be successful. Best Practices Here are three best practices that will help you submit apps that follow App Review Guideline 4.1: 1. Submit apps with unique content and features. People want apps that provide unique experiences. Find areas that aren't currently being served and build compelling apps for those audiences. Do: Create apps that provide a new experience or a unique spin on an existing concept. Design original, delightful interfaces that elegantly meet your user's needs. Don't: Don’t imitate the features and functionality of other apps. Don’t copy the look and feel of other apps, such as using an identical user interface design. 2. Make sure App Store metadata only contains relevant information and content you either own or have permission to use. The metadata provided in App Store Connect is used to populate your app's product page on the App Store. People rely on this metadata to learn about your app and what it has to offer. Leveraging the popularity of another brand or app, either by including irrelevant references or protected content, is misleading and won't help your app succeed. Do: Use engaging, descriptive language to describe your unique app. Create original content that best represents your app, such as screenshots showing the actual app in use. Don't: Don't use protected material you do not have the necessary permission to use, such as app icons that are similar to icons of a popular app. Don’t include irrelevant references, such as popular app names or trademarked terms, in any metadata fields. 3. Provide information that is authentic and verifiable. People want to know the developers behind their favorite apps are who they say they are. It's important to continually review and provide up-to-date information, including the developer or company name listed on your Apple Developer Program account, the Support URL listed on your app's product page, and other helpful information. This will enable your users to contact you when they need help and it will also hinder people who may try to impersonate you, your app, or your service. Do: Make sure all information, resources, and documentation related to your account and apps are current and accurate. Don't: Don’t provide inaccurate information or resources, such as directing people to outdated support pages. Don’t provide fraudulent documentation. Accounts that submit fraudulent documentation will be removed from the Apple Developer Program. Support Incorporating these best practices into your app's development will help you submit apps that follow App Review Guideline 4.1. If you need additional assistance, consider taking advantage of one of the following support options available from App Review: If your submission has been rejected, reply to the message from App Review in App Store Connect and request clarification. Request an App Review Appointment to discuss the results of our review. Appointments are subject to availability, and take place during local business hours in your region on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you believe your app follows the App Review Guidelines, consider submitting an appeal to the App Review Board. Resources Learn about foundational design principles from Apple designers and the developer community. Learn how to create engaging App Store product pages. Note that apps that violate intellectual property rights are subject to removal through the App Store Content Dispute process. If you believe an app on the App Store violates your intellectual property rights, you can submit a claim.

Hi everyone, my name is Donovan, I am sharing here the official response I received from Apple following my appeal with App Review Board (image attached). For context, I am an independent developer and a student, working alone. This application was originally created as a student project, with a very simple goal: to improve my skills in mobile application development and to understand the entire creation cycle, from the initial idea to a genuinely usable application. What was meant to be an exercise gradually became a real product. Over time, many people tested the project, used it, provided positive feedback, and encouraged me to take it all the way. That is why I decided to continue it, structure it properly, and finalize it with the level of seriousness expected from a public-facing application. Today, the application is a dating and social connection app, entirely free, with no blocking paid features, funded only by light and optional advertising. It follows the rules, works correctly, and offers features that Apple itself acknowledged as useful and informative. And yet, after review, the message is clear: it is not the quality that is being questioned, but the category. Because it is a dating app, a category considered saturated, two years of independent, self-funded work, carried out seriously and in compliance with the rules, can simply be dismissed. What is being judged here is not the work itself. It is the right to enter. The “unique and very high-quality experience” being required appears to be a threshold reserved for those who are already established, visible, or funded. For a serious student project carried by a single developer, the door remains closed, cleanly, politely, definitively. For those who still wish to see what the application looks like, I have attached a few images illustrating the interface and the main features. Unfortunately, this will likely be the only way to discover it on iOS. Under these conditions, the conclusion is pragmatic. Rather than continuing to defend the very existence of an honest and free project, it becomes more coherent to invest my energy where it is genuinely accepted. On its side, Android validated the project without difficulty. It still allows an independent developer to propose an idea, let it evolve, and bring it to completion without requiring prior success just to earn the right to try. It is therefore very likely that these two years of development will never make it to the App Store. Not out of frustration. Out of clarity. I am publishing this message not to provoke, but to inform other independent developers: Apple is a remarkable platform, provided you are already established on it. And this is a reality worth knowing before turning a student project into a life project. Screenshots:

We are planning to migrate our application from an iOS In‑App Purchase (IAP) subscription flow to an external web purchase flow. The intended user journey is: The user taps a “Subscribe” button in the app. The user is redirected to a web-based checkout to complete the purchase. The user returns to the app, and subscription access is unlocked based on entitlement verification from our backend. Our app is currently listed in the Education category. Before we begin this refactor, we would like confirmation on the following: Entitlements / permissions Do we need to request any specific Apple entitlements or approvals to implement this external purchase flow (e.g., external link or alternative payment related permissions)? Compliance / review requirements Are there any specific App Review compliance checks, disclosures, or review process requirements we must satisfy when moving from IAP to an external purchase flow? If relevant, are there constraints based on app category (Education) or product type (subscription)?

I understand that private APIs are not permitted under Apple’s App Review Guidelines. However, our application requires I²C communication, and we are currently considering the following APIs: IOAVServiceReadI2C IOAVServiceWriteI2C IOI2CSendRequest Could you please confirm: Is there any provision to use these APIs in a Mac App Store–approved application? Are there public alternatives available for achieving I²C communication on macOS? Thank you for your guidance.

There’s still debate on what drives App Store rankings, but some confirmed factors include app name, subtitle, keyword field, downloads, ratings, and in-app events. Likely influences are stability, retention, conversion rate, and user behavior. Search relies most on metadata, Top Charts focus on download velocity, and Featured spots are editorially chosen. Elements like promo text, long description, and release notes don’t impact rankings.

I’m trying to clarify keyword usage in App Store Optimization. Apple’s docs suggest you can use phrases like “Near Me” instead of separating words with commas (“Near,Me”). Does assigning phrases directly improve ranking compared to letting Apple combine single keywords?

I have been exploring App Store Optimization and noticed that Apple primarily uses the App Name, Subtitle, and Keyword field as the main text based ranking signals according to official and third party sources. Are these the only factors that truly impact iOS ASO, or do elements like the app description and promotional text indirectly influence visibility, conversion, or ranking updates over time, and how frequently should subtitles and keywords be revised after launch.

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone here can help or share insight. I submitted my enrollment for the Apple Developer Program a little over a week ago. After submitting my documents, I was told by Apple that I should receive a response within two business days, but I haven’t received any update, approval, or follow-up yet. I’ve double-checked that all required documents were successfully submitted Everything appears to be in order, but the status hasn’t changed and I haven’t been contacted. This is becoming urgent, as my app is ready for submission and I’m blocked from moving forward until the developer account is approved. I want to make sure I didn’t miss a step or that there isn’t something additional Apple needs from me. Is there a recommended way to escalate or follow up? Should I expect additional verification beyond the initial submission? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hello, I am new application developer that has been developing several applications in the productivity and finance sections concurrently for about 1 year. One of my applications is nearly ready to be submitted to the App Store. I have received a lot of discouragement from people who have submitted apps in regards to putting submitting as a paid app, however due to all of the upfront and ongoing investment I've made, I do not wish to release my application for free initially. (I am learning how to best integrate storekit and in-app purchases and subscriptions, but I'm not ready to implement that yet) QUESTION: When releasing an app as a paid app and then converting to a FREE app with subscription later on, is there anything I need to be aware of technically or in regards to guidelines so I don't shoot myself in the foot when changing pricing? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I want to publish my game next year in the Apple App Store but I want to choose the time period manually. Can I upload my game for app review without releasing it automatically afterwards? Where exactly can I choose in App Store Connect if my game is published automatically or manually after the app review process? Currently I only use TestFlight.

I launched my app on the App Store and Google Play about two months ago and despite improving the icon and screenshots I have only reached around 40 downloads which makes me believe ASO is my main challenge. I started using ASO tools like TryAstro and AppTweak but the keyword metrics such as volume 39 and difficulty 0 are confusing so I would appreciate guidance on interpreting this data and on effective ASO strategies for a new app with minimal downloads or ratings.

Hello, I have an app with a few essential asset packs currently totaling to ~8GB. I've noticed that when trying to install the app fresh from TestFlight, there is a significant delay between tapping install and the app appearing on the device in the loading state. The delay is long enough where it's hard to tell what's happening, or if the installation has failed. This also appears to be an issue in App Review, as I've had my app rejected twice due to the app not loading on the reviewers device. The reason they gave is UIRequiredDeviceCapabilities is blocking the installation, but UIRequiredDeviceCapabilities is empty. Note: I'm not looking for App Store review help, simply sharing the extent of the issue. Thank you

I'm an algo engineer-turned-entrepreneur. About two months ago, I signed up for the Apple Developer Program. Last month, I launched an AI avatar video calling app called Twome (pronounced "Two-me") on the App Store. But just a few days after launch, I used EAS Update (a React Native tool for hot updates) to push a quick bug fix, and soon after, I got hit with a "Pending Termination Notice." They said I violated the Apple Developer Agreement—my app got pulled, and my developer account was flagged for removal. (The App Review message was pretty vague: "App submissions from your account have engaged in concept or feature switch schemes to evade the review process." I'm guessing that's what triggered it.) I was totally shocked. I'd done my homework beforehand and seen tons of devs saying hot updates for bug fixes were fine. No choice but to appeal, so I filed one right away on the App Review Board. Then came the real nightmare: 28 whole days later, I finally got a response—and they upheld the rejection. The reasoning was even fuzzier this time; it felt like a copy-paste template. No specific evidence like before (at least the first notice had some details). Maybe they realized our update didn't actually change any features? Anyway, I'm trying another appeal now, but who knows when it'll come back. The waiting is brutal. We did a full internal audit and pinpointed just two things that might've raised red flags with App Review: Post-launch, we tested an unreleased "rate us" feature and posted a review using our developer account. We figured the App Store would know it was from the app owner and auto-remove it from public view. It was our only review, and we didn't think it'd count as misleading since Apple handles that stuff. The bug fix hot update I mentioned. Beyond that, our post-mortem showed zero other issues. All metadata, product descriptions, and screenshots are 100% compliant—no misleading claims, no dark patterns pushing payments, nothing. Before launch, friends were hyped, saying it'd blow up—it's the world's first realistic AI digital human real-time video calling app for everyday social/entertainment use, aimed at regular folks. But now we're tied up in knots with this appeal mess, desperate to get back on the Store ASAP. It's insane that appeals take a full month to get a response—especially when we didn't blatantly violate anything, or at worst, tripped over something unintentionally. We've already been down for over a month without even knowing the exact issue. Feels way too harsh. Posting here to ask: Has anyone dealt with something similar? Is a 28-day wait (or more) normal for appeals? Any ways to expedite the process? Any practical advice would be hugely appreciated!

Guideline 2.5.1 - Performance - Software Requirements The app uses or references the following non-public or deprecated APIs: Iobmobile Classes: • __SwiftValue The use of non-public or deprecated APIs is not permitted, as they can lead to a poor user experience should these APIs change and are otherwise not supported on Apple platforms. Can anyone she some light as to what __SwiftValue even means?

Hello, My app (App ID: 1616628950) is currently in the Waiting for Review state after resubmission. The app was resubmitted on December 24 following a previous rejection related to in-app purchase labeling. The issue has been addressed, and the updated build was submitted accordingly. Normally, our app updates enter review within 1–2 days, so this delay seems slightly unusual. I understand that review times may vary, especially during the holiday period, but I wanted to check in here in case the submission might be stuck or require additional information from our side. There were no major functional or policy-related changes in this update aside from addressing the previously noted issue. Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

I would like to ask for clarification regarding my app submission with Submission ID: d293828f-8f9a-4a6d-b138-9650258ab3f3, which has been in “Waiting for Review” status for more than 7 days. I understand that review times may vary depending on queue volume and other factors. However, this extended waiting period is impacting our release timeline, and there have been no status updates or requests for additional information. Could you please help check the status of this submission or let us know if any further action is required from our side? Thank you for your time and support. I look forward to your response.

My application does not compete with the developer. It’s an extension which sits on top of their website. Its only use is to work with their website. Without using their name, the extension does not make any sense. The developer not only has no issue with it - some of their own employees use the extension. To get documentation from developer, that’s easy. However, two questions: Developer wants to know what needs to be provided? An email, A statement? How / what format would be required they are asking? How does such above documentation get submitted / included in subsequent updates to Not hinder approval? The app went through 8 positive reviews / approvals and then all of a sudden this happened out of no where. So not understanding what changed on Apples side and how/what is sufficient documentation (email, statement, PDF, ????) from developer? thanks.

I’ve attempted uploading screenshots with the specified required dimensions and none seem to be working. Anybody else experiencing this problem?

I am submitting an app to the App Store and want to understand the best way to handle keywords that include special characters. If a keyword has accents like coração and users may search for coracao without accents, should I include both versions or rely on Apple to match them automatically?

Hi everyone, I am looking for guidance regarding a rejection under Guideline 3.1.1 – Payments / In-App Purchase. Our app is a **B2B SaaS platform for professional fitness coaches. Coaches subscribe through our website to access coaching management tools (client tracking, training programs, nutrition planning, messaging, etc.). The iOS app is only a companion app that lets existing coach accounts log in and access services they already purchased on the web. Important facts about our implementation: No subscriptions can be purchased in the app No pricing, plans, or commercial upsell screens in the app No sign-up in the app No external links to a website checkout or pricing The app is not usable at all without an existing paid account The content is professional B2B data, not consumer digital media Despite this, App Review keeps rejecting us for: “Your app accesses digital content purchased outside the app, and that content is not available through in-app purchase.” We tried referencing **3.1.3(b) Multiplatform Services, because our service is used on the web and mobile, and we only allow access with an existing account. We also provided examples of other coaching platforms in the App Store that appear to work the same way (Trainerize, Everfit for Coaches, Hubfit, etc.). But App Review still says the same thing, without pointing to a specific screen or UI element. I want to make sure we comply. To clarify: Do we need to completely block access to all content until login, even if the app already does this? Is it enough to display a disclaimer such as: “This app is for existing coach accounts only. No purchases, subscriptions, or account creation are available in the app.” For a B2B tool, does Apple still require In-App Purchase, even if users cannot sign up or buy anything inside the app? Is this considered a Reader-style app under Apple’s rules? Has anyone successfully passed review with a SaaS “login-only” model for professional software? We don’t want to violate any rule, we just need clear guidance on what is required to get approval. Any help or experience from other developers or Apple team members would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Robin

I wanted to add a new app and I’m having problems with it. When adding my previous apps or updating them, there were no issues at all. I submitted the app for review and waited two weeks without any response. I removed it and submitted it again, and now I’ve been waiting for several days once more. Is anyone able to help me? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the app, as it’s just a simple game.