Guideline explainers
Apple App Review guideline explainers
Source-backed explainers for the App Store Review Guidelines developers most often run into during submission and rejection recovery.
Apple guidelines
1. Safety
App Store Guideline 1.1 Explained: Objectionable Content
App Store Guideline 1.1 explained for iOS developers: Objectionable Content, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.1.1 Explained: Discriminatory or harmful content
App Store Guideline 1.1.1 explained for iOS developers: Discriminatory or harmful content, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.1.2 Explained: Graphic violence and abuse
App Store Guideline 1.1.2 explained for iOS developers: Graphic violence and abuse, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.1.3 Explained: Weapons and dangerous behavior
App Store Guideline 1.1.3 explained for iOS developers: Weapons and dangerous behavior, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.1.4 Explained: Sexual content and adult services
App Store Guideline 1.1.4 explained for iOS developers: Sexual content and adult services, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.1.5 Explained: Religious commentary and quotations
App Store Guideline 1.1.5 explained for iOS developers: Religious commentary and quotations, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.1.6 Explained: False information and prank functionality
App Store Guideline 1.1.6 explained for iOS developers: False information and prank functionality, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.1.7 Explained: Harmful use of current events
App Store Guideline 1.1.7 explained for iOS developers: Harmful use of current events, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.2 Explained: User-Generated Content
App Store Guideline 1.2 explained for iOS developers: User-Generated Content, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.2.1 Explained: Creator Content
App Store Guideline 1.2.1 explained for iOS developers: Creator Content, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.3 Explained: Kids Category
App Store Guideline 1.3 explained for iOS developers: Kids Category, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.4 Explained: Physical Harm
App Store Guideline 1.4 explained for iOS developers: Physical Harm, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.4.1 Explained: Medical accuracy and diagnosis risk
App Store Guideline 1.4.1 explained for iOS developers: Medical accuracy and diagnosis risk, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.4.2 Explained: Drug dosage calculators
App Store Guideline 1.4.2 explained for iOS developers: Drug dosage calculators, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.4.3 Explained: Regulated substances
App Store Guideline 1.4.3 explained for iOS developers: Regulated substances, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.4.4 Explained: DUI checkpoints and reckless behavior
App Store Guideline 1.4.4 explained for iOS developers: DUI checkpoints and reckless behavior, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.4.5 Explained: Physical harm and risky challenges
App Store Guideline 1.4.5 explained for iOS developers: Physical harm and risky challenges, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.5 Explained: Developer Information
App Store Guideline 1.5 explained for iOS developers: Developer Information, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.6 Explained: Data Security
App Store Guideline 1.6 explained for iOS developers: Data Security, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 1.7 Explained: Reporting Criminal Activity
App Store Guideline 1.7 explained for iOS developers: Reporting Criminal Activity, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
Apple guidelines
2. Performance
App Store Guideline 2.1: App Completeness
Understand App Store Guideline 2.1, why Apple asks for more information, and how to prepare reviewer notes, demo accounts, and test steps.
App Store Guideline 2.3: Accurate Metadata
Learn how App Store Guideline 2.3 applies to app names, descriptions, screenshots, previews, keywords, claims, and reviewer-facing metadata.
App Store Guideline 2.2 Explained: Beta Testing
App Store Guideline 2.2 explained for iOS developers: Beta Testing, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.1 Explained: Accurate Metadata requirement
App Store Guideline 2.3.1 explained for iOS developers: Accurate Metadata requirement, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.2 Explained: In-app purchase disclosure in metadata
App Store Guideline 2.3.2 explained for iOS developers: In-app purchase disclosure in metadata, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.3 Explained: Screenshots that show the app in use
App Store Guideline 2.3.3 explained for iOS developers: Screenshots that show the app in use, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.4 Explained: App preview accuracy
App Store Guideline 2.3.4 explained for iOS developers: App preview accuracy, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.5 Explained: App category selection
App Store Guideline 2.3.5 explained for iOS developers: App category selection, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.6 Explained: Age rating accuracy
App Store Guideline 2.3.6 explained for iOS developers: Age rating accuracy, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.7 Explained: App names, keywords, and metadata
App Store Guideline 2.3.7 explained for iOS developers: App names, keywords, and metadata, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.8 Explained: Age-appropriate metadata
App Store Guideline 2.3.8 explained for iOS developers: Age-appropriate metadata, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.9 Explained: Screenshot and icon rights
App Store Guideline 2.3.9 explained for iOS developers: Screenshot and icon rights, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.10 Explained: Platform-focused metadata
App Store Guideline 2.3.10 explained for iOS developers: Platform-focused metadata, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.11 Explained: Pre-order accuracy
App Store Guideline 2.3.11 explained for iOS developers: Pre-order accuracy, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.12 Explained: What's New text
App Store Guideline 2.3.12 explained for iOS developers: What's New text, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.3.13 Explained: In-app event metadata
App Store Guideline 2.3.13 explained for iOS developers: In-app event metadata, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.4 Explained: Hardware Compatibility
App Store Guideline 2.4 explained for iOS developers: Hardware Compatibility, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.4.1 Explained: iPhone apps on iPad
App Store Guideline 2.4.1 explained for iOS developers: iPhone apps on iPad, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.4.2 Explained: Battery, heat, and resource use
App Store Guideline 2.4.2 explained for iOS developers: Battery, heat, and resource use, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.4.3 Explained: Apple TV input requirements
App Store Guideline 2.4.3 explained for iOS developers: Apple TV input requirements, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.4.4 Explained: System setting changes
App Store Guideline 2.4.4 explained for iOS developers: System setting changes, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.4.5 Explained: Mac app technical requirements
App Store Guideline 2.4.5 explained for iOS developers: Mac app technical requirements, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5 Explained: Software Requirements
App Store Guideline 2.5 explained for iOS developers: Software Requirements, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.1 Explained: Public APIs and current OS support
App Store Guideline 2.5.1 explained for iOS developers: Public APIs and current OS support, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.2 Explained: Self-contained app bundles
App Store Guideline 2.5.2 explained for iOS developers: Self-contained app bundles, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.3 Explained: Harmful code
App Store Guideline 2.5.3 explained for iOS developers: Harmful code, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.4 Explained: Background modes
App Store Guideline 2.5.4 explained for iOS developers: Background modes, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.5 Explained: IPv6-only network support
App Store Guideline 2.5.5 explained for iOS developers: IPv6-only network support, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.6 Explained: Web browsing and WebKit
App Store Guideline 2.5.6 explained for iOS developers: Web browsing and WebKit, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.8 Explained: Alternate home screen environments
App Store Guideline 2.5.8 explained for iOS developers: Alternate home screen environments, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.9 Explained: Native controls and expected behavior
App Store Guideline 2.5.9 explained for iOS developers: Native controls and expected behavior, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.11 Explained: SiriKit and Shortcuts
App Store Guideline 2.5.11 explained for iOS developers: SiriKit and Shortcuts, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.12 Explained: Call and SMS blocking
App Store Guideline 2.5.12 explained for iOS developers: Call and SMS blocking, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.13 Explained: Facial authentication
App Store Guideline 2.5.13 explained for iOS developers: Facial authentication, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.14 Explained: Recording consent
App Store Guideline 2.5.14 explained for iOS developers: Recording consent, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.15 Explained: Files app document access
App Store Guideline 2.5.15 explained for iOS developers: Files app document access, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.16 Explained: Widgets and extension relevance
App Store Guideline 2.5.16 explained for iOS developers: Widgets and extension relevance, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.17 Explained: Matter support
App Store Guideline 2.5.17 explained for iOS developers: Matter support, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 2.5.18 Explained: Display ads and sensitive targeting
App Store Guideline 2.5.18 explained for iOS developers: Display ads and sensitive targeting, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
Apple guidelines
3. Business
App Store Guideline 3.1.1: In-App Purchase
Understand Guideline 3.1.1 for digital goods, in-app purchases, payment rules, and App Store review risks.
App Store Guideline 3.1.2: Subscriptions
Learn how Guideline 3.1.2 affects subscriptions, free trials, paywalls, restore purchases, and reviewer notes.
App Store Guideline 3.1 Explained: Payments
App Store Guideline 3.1 explained for iOS developers: Payments, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 3.1.3 Explained: Other Purchase Methods
App Store Guideline 3.1.3 explained for iOS developers: Other Purchase Methods, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 3.1.4 Explained: Hardware-Specific Content
App Store Guideline 3.1.4 explained for iOS developers: Hardware-Specific Content, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 3.1.5 Explained: Cryptocurrencies
App Store Guideline 3.1.5 explained for iOS developers: Cryptocurrencies, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 3.2 Explained: Other Business Model Issues
App Store Guideline 3.2 explained for iOS developers: Other Business Model Issues, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 3.2.1 Explained: Acceptable
App Store Guideline 3.2.1 explained for iOS developers: Acceptable, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 3.2.2 Explained: Unacceptable
App Store Guideline 3.2.2 explained for iOS developers: Unacceptable, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
Apple guidelines
4. Design
App Store Guideline 4.1: Copycats
Understand Guideline 4.1 copycat rejections, misleading references, third-party content, and documentary evidence requests.
App Store Guideline 4.2: Minimum Functionality
Understand Guideline 4.2 minimum functionality rejections and how to show Apple that your app provides enough native value.
App Store Guideline 4.3: Spam
Learn why Apple rejects apps under Guideline 4.3 spam and how to reduce template, duplicate, and low-differentiation risk.
App Store Guideline 4.2.1 Explained: Meaningful AR experiences
App Store Guideline 4.2.1 explained for iOS developers: Meaningful AR experiences, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.2.2 Explained: Not just marketing or web content
App Store Guideline 4.2.2 explained for iOS developers: Not just marketing or web content, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.2.3 Explained: Minimum Functionality requirement
App Store Guideline 4.2.3 explained for iOS developers: Minimum Functionality requirement, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.2.6 Explained: Commercial templates and app generators
App Store Guideline 4.2.6 explained for iOS developers: Commercial templates and app generators, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.2.7 Explained: Remote Desktop Clients
App Store Guideline 4.2.7 explained for iOS developers: Remote Desktop Clients, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.4 Explained: Extensions
App Store Guideline 4.4 explained for iOS developers: Extensions, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.4.1 Explained: Keyboard extensions
App Store Guideline 4.4.1 explained for iOS developers: Keyboard extensions, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.4.2 Explained: Safari extensions
App Store Guideline 4.4.2 explained for iOS developers: Safari extensions, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.5 Explained: Apple Sites and Services
App Store Guideline 4.5 explained for iOS developers: Apple Sites and Services, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.5.1 Explained: Apple RSS and scraping restrictions
App Store Guideline 4.5.1 explained for iOS developers: Apple RSS and scraping restrictions, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.5.2 Explained: Apple Music services
App Store Guideline 4.5.2 explained for iOS developers: Apple Music services, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.5.3 Explained: Apple services spam and phishing
App Store Guideline 4.5.3 explained for iOS developers: Apple services spam and phishing, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.5.4 Explained: Push notification consent and marketing
App Store Guideline 4.5.4 explained for iOS developers: Push notification consent and marketing, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.5.5 Explained: Game Center Player IDs
App Store Guideline 4.5.5 explained for iOS developers: Game Center Player IDs, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.5.6 Explained: Apple emoji usage
App Store Guideline 4.5.6 explained for iOS developers: Apple emoji usage, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.7 Explained: Mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, plug-ins, and game emulators
App Store Guideline 4.7 explained for iOS developers: Mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, plug-ins, and game emulators, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.7.1 Explained: Mini apps, games, and streaming experiences
App Store Guideline 4.7.1 explained for iOS developers: Mini apps, games, and streaming experiences, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.7.2 Explained: Native API exposure in in-app software
App Store Guideline 4.7.2 explained for iOS developers: Native API exposure in in-app software, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.7.3 Explained: Permissions for in-app software
App Store Guideline 4.7.3 explained for iOS developers: Permissions for in-app software, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.7.4 Explained: Index of in-app software
App Store Guideline 4.7.4 explained for iOS developers: Index of in-app software, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.7.5 Explained: Age restrictions for in-app software
App Store Guideline 4.7.5 explained for iOS developers: Age restrictions for in-app software, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.8 Explained: Login Services
App Store Guideline 4.8 explained for iOS developers: Login Services, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 4.9 Explained: Apple Pay
App Store Guideline 4.9 explained for iOS developers: Apple Pay, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
Apple guidelines
5. Legal
App Store Guideline 5.1.1: Privacy
Understand Guideline 5.1.1 privacy rejections, privacy policies, data collection, permission prompts, and App Privacy declarations.
App Store Guideline 5.1 Explained: Privacy
App Store Guideline 5.1 explained for iOS developers: Privacy, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.1.2 Explained: Data Use and Sharing
App Store Guideline 5.1.2 explained for iOS developers: Data Use and Sharing, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.1.3 Explained: Health and Health Research
App Store Guideline 5.1.3 explained for iOS developers: Health and Health Research, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.1.4 Explained: Kids
App Store Guideline 5.1.4 explained for iOS developers: Kids, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.1.5 Explained: Location Services
App Store Guideline 5.1.5 explained for iOS developers: Location Services, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.2 Explained: Intellectual Property
App Store Guideline 5.2 explained for iOS developers: Intellectual Property, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.2.1 Explained: Generally
App Store Guideline 5.2.1 explained for iOS developers: Generally, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.2.2 Explained: Third-Party Sites/Services
App Store Guideline 5.2.2 explained for iOS developers: Third-Party Sites/Services, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.2.3 Explained: Audio/Video Downloading
App Store Guideline 5.2.3 explained for iOS developers: Audio/Video Downloading, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.2.4 Explained: Apple Endorsements
App Store Guideline 5.2.4 explained for iOS developers: Apple Endorsements, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.2.5 Explained: Apple Products
App Store Guideline 5.2.5 explained for iOS developers: Apple Products, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.3 Explained: Gaming, Gambling, and Lotteries
App Store Guideline 5.3 explained for iOS developers: Gaming, Gambling, and Lotteries, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.3.1 Explained: Developer-sponsored contests
App Store Guideline 5.3.1 explained for iOS developers: Developer-sponsored contests, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.3.2 Explained: Contest rules and Apple non-involvement
App Store Guideline 5.3.2 explained for iOS developers: Contest rules and Apple non-involvement, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.3.3 Explained: Real-money gaming and in-app purchase
App Store Guideline 5.3.3 explained for iOS developers: Real-money gaming and in-app purchase, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.3.4 Explained: Real-money gaming licensing
App Store Guideline 5.3.4 explained for iOS developers: Real-money gaming licensing, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.4 Explained: VPN Apps
App Store Guideline 5.4 explained for iOS developers: VPN Apps, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.5 Explained: Mobile Device Management
App Store Guideline 5.5 explained for iOS developers: Mobile Device Management, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.6 Explained: Developer Code of Conduct
App Store Guideline 5.6 explained for iOS developers: Developer Code of Conduct, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.6.1 Explained: App Store Reviews
App Store Guideline 5.6.1 explained for iOS developers: App Store Reviews, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.6.2 Explained: Developer Identity
App Store Guideline 5.6.2 explained for iOS developers: Developer Identity, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.6.3 Explained: Discovery Fraud
App Store Guideline 5.6.3 explained for iOS developers: Discovery Fraud, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.
App Store Guideline 5.6.4 Explained: App Quality
App Store Guideline 5.6.4 explained for iOS developers: App Quality, common rejection risks, fix checklist, and reviewer reply guidance.