app_store_logo Apple has posted a new page on its developer website (via Cult of Mac) outlining reasons why it rejects apps from the App Store, giving tips on how to better prepare an app for a review. The page also gives the top ten reasons for app rejections during the 7-day period ending last week:

Top 10 reasons for app rejections during the 7‑day period ending August 28, 2014.

14%: More information needed

8%: Guideline 2.2: Apps that exhibit bugs will be rejected

6%: Did not comply with terms in the Developer Program License Agreement

6%: Guideline 10.6: Apple and our customers place a high value on simple, refined, creative, well thought through interfaces. They take more work but are worth it. Apple sets a high bar. If your user interface is complex or less than very good, it may be rejected

5%: Guideline 3.3: Apps with names, descriptions, or screenshots not relevant to the App content and functionality will be rejected

5%: Guideline 22.2: Apps that contain false, fraudulent or misleading representations or use names or icons similar to other Apps will be rejected

4%: Guideline 3.4: App names in iTunes Connect and as displayed on a device should be similar, so as not to cause confusion

4%: Guideline 3.2: Apps with placeholder text will be rejected

3%: Guideline 3.8: Developers are responsible for assigning appropriate ratings to their Apps. Inappropriate ratings may be changed/deleted by Apple

2% Guideline 2.9: Apps that are "beta", "demo", "trial", or "test" versions will be rejected

Apple states that these top ten reasons account for 58% of all app rejections, as it asks that developers focus on a number of aspects to ensure quality before a review. Those aspects including removing any bugs, fixing broken links, removing placeholder content, optimizing user interfaces, and more.

Top Rated Comments

Glassed Silver Avatar
144 months ago
6%: Guideline 10.6: Apple and our customers place a high value on simple, refined, creative, well thought through interfaces. They take more work but are worth it. Apple sets a high bar. If your user interface is complex or less than very good, it may be rejected

Why do I still see too many HTML-wrappers then?

Glassed Silver:mac
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roadbloc Avatar
144 months ago
The lack of demos in the app store is the reason I bought so little from it. I like to try before I buy. Personally I think its a really bizarre rule to have. The app store should have a 'trial' or 'demo' button for developers who want to let users try their apps.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
144 months ago
But those fake lock screen apps are all ok


Lol
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
proline Avatar
144 months ago
I've downloaded apps before which are bugged to the point of being virtually unusuable.
So have we all. The reviewers only spend a couple minutes with each app, if that. That means that if they can find bugs in that time the app really doesn't deserve to be there. Apple isn't taking on the role of being the developer's QA department, but as a user of the device I'm glad they toss out at least some of the bugged apps.

----------

I really wish Apple would allow you to revert to a previous version of an app, when you try to install it you could have a simple list of why you are reverting, if Apple get a lot of the same feedback then they could pull the broken app quickly or force the developer to revert to an older version while it gets fixed.
This isn't a good idea. Allowing the user to revert would take pressure off developers to fix bugs quickly and to test thoroughly. It would also mean that developers would have to deal with even more users being on the previous version and the resulting support complexity that comes from that. And it would mean disabling automatic app updates for that app until the user remembers to re-enable them, which many people wouldn't causing them to miss the very update that is supposed to fix the bug! Finally, some apps would actually be further destroyed by the reversion process. For example, any app that uses Core Data would not be able to access any of its stored data if it was reversed after a Data Model update. If you don't understand what that means don't worry about it, just know that having users randomly deciding to revert would not improve the quality of iOS apps overall.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
144 months ago
I've downloaded apps before which are bugged to the point of being virtually unusuable.
Less than a month ago PayPal broke there app entirely if you were using the 12hr clock (was perfect with the 24hr clock). Couldn't login using a pin or password. I had to revert to an old version in iTunes that worked perfectly.

Took two more updates to correct the issue.

How do these very broken apps pass checks, not one but twice within two weeks.

Even Apples countdown timer has this bug on my 5, 5s and Mini Retina (iOS 7.1.2). Set the time to a 12hr clock and the timer reads as 00:00 on the locks screen, set the clock to 24hrs and the lock screen countdown works fine.

Even Apples own software has very obvious bugs that I really don't know how it passed testing. Actually worked perfectly on the original release of iOS 7. It broke after the first update and it's never worked properly since.

I really wish Apple would allow you to revert to a previous version of an app, when you try to install it you could have a simple list of why you are reverting, if Apple get a lot of the same feedback then they could pull the broken app quickly or force the developer to revert to an older version while it gets fixed.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Anitramane Avatar
144 months ago
I'm sure none of Apples software would've gotten on the app store with these rules :D
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Apple's Rumored MacBook Pro Redesign: 6 New Features Anticipated

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:26 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4: Here Are 5 New Features to Expect on Your iPhone

Tuesday September 16, 2025 11:17 am PDT by
iOS 26 was finally released on Monday, but the software train never stops, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 will likely be released soon. iOS 18.1 was an anomaly, as the first developer beta of that version was released in late July last year, to allow for early testing of Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of iOS 15.1, iOS 16.1, and iOS 17.1 were all released in the second ...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch These 10 Products in 'Coming Months'

Sunday September 14, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19. As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the...