Developers Able to Respond to Customer Reviews in iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 [Updated] - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Developers Able to Respond to Customer Reviews in iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 [Updated]

by

App StoreAlongside iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4, Apple is introducing new App Store review features for developers.

Going forward, developers will be able to respond to customer reviews on the App Store "in a way that is available for all customers to see." This will allow developers to address negative reviews for the first time ever, something that has long been a point of contention in the iOS and Mac App Stores.

Previously, developers have had no way to respond to issues that customers report via an app review, or to further converse with a customer that has been having trouble with an app.

Developers are also able to ask customers to provide App Store ratings and reviews while using an app, allowing developers to get immediate feedback without requiring a customer to switch over to the App Store.

Apps are currently able to ask for reviews and ratings during usage, but doing so requires the App Store app to be opened up, interrupting an app or gameplay experience.

The new App Store ratings and reviews changes will be available to developers when iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 are made available to the public.

Update: Apple also plans to limit the number of times developers can ask customers to write an App Store review for an app. Only three requests per year will be permitted.

Tag: App Store

Top Rated Comments

Corrode Avatar
Corrode
125 months ago
Glad they're improving this. Even when I've wanted to leave a review after being asked, I have to switch to the App Store, click reviews, click leave a review, then type my App Store password, then write it. Rarely do I make it through that process.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
andy.ringwood
125 months ago
This is good news. One thing I hope they change is, instead of inserting your Apple ID password EVERYTIME you want to submit a review, they allow Touch ID.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IGI2 Avatar
IGI2
125 months ago
This is good news. One thing I hope they change is, instead of inserting your Apple ID password EVERYTIME you want to submit a review, they allow Touch ID.
Exactly!

I can purchase (or my kid when I'm asleep by touching with my finger!) but I can't write a review? TouchID too insecure to validate COMMENTS?!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
OldSchoolMacGuy
125 months ago
Great news. Though, hopefully people will also learn that reviews are NOT the spot to go for support. If you have an issue, take it to the support channels. In many cases the problem is easy to solve or caused by the user, rather than the app itself. Developers don't deserve to have their product rankings drop because of easily solved issues, yet few will go back and revise their review once the problem is resolved.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
iDento
125 months ago
Brilliant!

I'm not a developer, but this will make me pay more for apps with better support, which is better for the AppStore ecosystem in general.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
otternonsense Avatar
otternonsense
125 months ago
Imagine if it was Apple's developers actually conversing with their disgruntled product users. Maybe macrumors would be pretty vanilla after all the frustration is vented where it should instead of complaining on a forum ;)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

app store blue banner uk fixed

Apple Says UK App Store Steering Rules Would Be 'Highly Intrusive'

Wednesday July 29, 2026 3:43 pm PDT by
Apple said new UK App Store rules would give regulators a "highly intrusive" role dictating how it runs its business, reports Reuters. Apple submitted feedback to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority as it considers forcing Apple to change its App Store rules around steering. The CMA wants Apple to let developers link to payment options outside of the App Store, which the CMA says will ...
Read Full Article • 183 comments
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

Apple Says App Store Changes and Mobile Gaming Softness Affected Services Revenue

Thursday July 30, 2026 4:40 pm PDT by
Softness in mobile gaming and Apple's changes to the App Store business model in some countries impacted the performance of the App Store, Apple CFO Kevan Parekh said during today's earnings call. Apple's services revenue was $30.7 billion, a 12% increase over the $27.4 billion it earned in the year-ago quarter. Though the category saw growth, revenue came in under expectations, prompting...
Read Full Article • 48 comments
telegram app icon

Telegram Briefly Removed From App Store

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:39 am PDT by
Apple briefly removed Telegram from the App Store on Monday night after a review found content that violated its guidelines against child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but restored the app a short while later, according to Reuters. Reports of the removal began circulating around 9:30 p.m. ET on Monday, with searches for Telegram on the App Store returning nothing and the app's direct listing ...
Read Full Article • 49 comments