I'm posting here after 8 months of back-and-forth with Developer Support (case 102685152651) because I've exhausted that channel and need to know if others have experienced this or if any Apple engineers can advise. The issue: When a user types "Dabah" — the exact name of my app — the App Store autocorrects/redirects to "Sabah." My app does not appear in those results. It only appears when the user searches "Dabah recipes." This means users who know the app by name cannot find it unless they add a secondary keyword. What makes this clearly a system-level bug, not a ranking issue: The same behavior occurs inside Apple's own Developer Marketing Tools portal. Searching "Dabah" returns only Sabah-related apps. Searching "Dabah recipes" finds my app immediately. This is not a user-facing algorithm issue — it's happening in an internal Apple tool. "Dabah" is a unique, uncommon word with no major competing apps. There is no legitimate reason an exact-name search should be overridden. The app has been live on the App Store since mid-2024, is properly indexed (it surfaces on keyword searches), and has "Dabah" listed as a keyword. The problem is specifically in the autocorrect/normalization layer treating "Dabah" as a misspelling of "Sabah." I've submitted screen recordings demonstrating both behaviors. Developer Support has confirmed my ticket is with the engineering team, but I've received no resolution or timeline in 8 months. Has anyone else encountered autocorrect overriding an exact app name match? Is there a known path to escalate search indexing bugs beyond the standard Developer Support channel? App: Dabah (id6745241806) Category: Food & Drink

Hello Apple Developer commuinty! We have been developing a VPN client app with unique protocol for quite a while, and now it have come to publishing it in App Store/Google play. I know that publishing a VPN service requires organization(which i cant register because of my life situation), that why i have choosen to make a client. User is NOT necessarily required to use official hosting, theres an option of importing external key. App itself, doesnt contain any hardcoded server credentials and such, but it does have option to get free config from website by click. For some reason, my app review have not gone well. Apple have claimed my app have violated Guidelines 4.3(a) and 5.4. In all of my respect for App Review Team, but claim on Guideline 4.3(a) - Spam is completely ridiculous! App was completely written from the ground, not only including protocol, but the design itself. The "MONOGON" style, is unique application style which no other app on app store have seen(featuring dotted ASCII style, with blooms and contrast colors). In a million years, i would never guess what they have seen "identical to other apps on app store". Claim on Guideline 5.4 though, is a lot more reasonable, yet still not exactly correct. My app is mainly a client, not a service. The main function of it - bringing secure d1mension protocol to live on iOS and iPadOS platforms. The first setup, has both link to get official config(completely free without login, similar to AmneziaWG app), or to import own config. The code secures and encrypts packets such a way, that no external server could listen/decrypt it except for the original user destination, which makes it completely secure for the user. The main goal of DrochVPN app, is to bring users freedom in how they connect, to which server they connect. Any sort of help with publishing our app would be greatly appreciated, and we are ready to introduce changes, if they are required. App review identificator: 2f59adfb-ec49-4431-91c0-8e9b1984ad2e

Hello, I created an app using the latest version of Xcode (16.2), and I'm having a problem testing this app on my iPhones. I created this app just like all the others I've made for my clients, including one on (03/24/25), but when I went to upload another App to App Store Connect on (03/26/25) I couldn't test it on my phone. Points to consider: The app runs perfectly on the Emulator. All my terms and agreements with Apple are up to date. I tried to download the apps through Testflight on 2 different devices, iPhone 7 Plus (iOS 15.8.1) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (iOS 18.3.2), and I was unsuccessful in neither attempt. I can send my app to the internal testers, but when I click download, the following message appears: Could not install [APP NAME]. The requested App is not available or doesn't exist. I imagine this problem is with Apple itself, I have already contacted support, but I need to resolve this urgently for my customers. Has anyone experienced this and resolved it?

I’m trying to find out whether anyone has seen this kind of App Store Connect issue remain unresolved for this long. This is for a first auto-renewable subscription. Timeline: Original support case opened: Feb 27, 2026 Support initially repeated the normal guidance that the first subscription must be submitted with the app version I explained that the issue was not the process itself, but a stuck review state On Mar 25, 2026, I was told the case had been escalated to the appropriate internal team Since then, I have sent follow-up emails asking for status / owner / ETA As of Apr 12, 2026 (KST), there has still been no meaningful update Current state in App Store Connect: App version 1.0.10 is still “Prepare for Submission” Previous 1.0.10 submissions show as “Deleted” There is no active app review submission for 1.0.10 The subscription previously showed “Waiting for Review” Now the subscription itself shows “In Review” But its localization still shows “Waiting for Review” So the state looks inconsistent: no active app review submission app version still draft subscription partially moved into review anyway At this point I’m not asking about the normal first-subscription submission flow. I already understand that. What I’m trying to understand is: Has anyone seen a case like this stay stuck for 6+ weeks? Has anyone had Apple say it was escalated internally and then go silent for weeks? Did Apple eventually fix it manually? Is this something that can remain stuck indefinitely unless the internal team intervenes? Any comparable experience would be helpful.

Hi everyone, My new app, was recently approved and its status changed to "Ready for Sale" in App Store Connect. Everything seems to be working fine technically: I can download the app perfectly using the direct App Store link, and it also appears correctly when I click on my Developer Name. However, when I search for the exact and unique name in the App Store search tab, it doesn't show up at all. I am aware that search indexing can usually take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours, but I wanted to ask if anyone else is experiencing unusual delays with the search index right now? Is there anything else I can do to trigger the indexing process besides waiting or pushing a new update?

I’ve had an issue with all of my apps. Where I push my build to TestFlight and then the image pops up. I’ve troubleshooted EVERYTHING. My account has no issues on it, no payment or compliance issues. I’ve looked to reddit for advice, one user says they need there app to get approved by apple, i got a couple apps to have there update approve, still the bug persist. Whether the app is on the App Store or a work in progress nothing works.

I have an issue where I’m pushing out my builds to TestFlight, it goes through. sometimes there’s an error saying that it can’t download but if I try a couple times it goes through. but when I go through and look at my app (That TestFlight says is running the updated version) all I see is the old version

I need to bring attention to a very suspicious "copycat" incident that suggests a potential metadata scraping issue. I submitted my original sports insights app, KickPick, for review on April 2nd, 2024. To my shock, I discovered a competitor app already live on the store with same app name and nearly identical app information (descriptions, metadata) and a very similar UI structure. Domain Registration: The infringing developer registered their website domain on the exact same day I submitted my app for review (April 2nd). This is not a coincidence; it points to automated monitoring or scraping of new submissions/metadata. Plagiarized Legal Assets: While the UI has some variations, they have copied my Privacy Policy and Terms of Service verbatim. These documents were custom-written for my specific project logic, yet they appear on their site with only the company name changed. App Information: The app descriptions and store metadata are almost identical to what I provided in my pending submission. It is highly concerning that an original creator's work, is being "front-run" by a low-effort clone that appears on the store exactly when the original is submitted. I have filed a formal Rights Infringement report, but I want to ask the community: Has anyone else noticed clones popping up with domains registered on their exact submission date?

I have a submission that has been stuck in “Waiting for Review” significantly longer than expected, while other apps submitted from the same developer account during the same period were reviewed and approved quickly (under 2 days). Current pending submission App Store Connect ID: 6760300948 Waiting for Review - Mar 9, 2026 at 4:50 PM Related history (previous record for the same app functionality) App Store Connect ID: 6759011698 Status history: Waiting for Review - Feb 11, 2026 at 1:22 AM Developer Rejected - Feb 28, 2026 at 10:18 AM Ready for Review - Feb 28, 2026 at 11:31 AM Waiting for Review - Feb 28, 2026 at 11:31 AM Developer Rejected - Mar 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM I withdrew that earlier submission out of frustration after attempting to reduce review friction (first by changing metadata/review notes, then by withdrawing it altogether). The current pending submission (ID 6760300948) uses very conservative metadata and includes demo mode to allow straightforward testing. Can the App Review team check why submission ID 6760300948 is not progressing from “Waiting for Review”, and advise what the problem is or what information is needed to move it forward? Related similar thread: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/782319

Hi all, We've been rejected four times under Guideline 2.5.2 with identical responses, despite providing detailed clarifications each time. Hoping someone here has dealt with a similar situation. What our app is: A B2B SaaS companion app for our platform (Setgreet). Our customers — product managers and designers — create in-app engagement content (onboarding flows, feature announcements, surveys) on our web dashboard. This companion app lets their teammates and stakeholders view that content on a real device for review and approval before it goes live in the customer's own app via our SDK. The content is structured UI data (text, images, buttons, layout) fetched from our REST API. No executable code, no app binaries, no runtime interpretation, no app distribution. The rejection (verbatim, repeated 4 times): The app appears to be designed for clients or users to preview apps prior to being submitted to the App Store for review. This type of design allows you to change the app's behavior or functionality to differ from the intended and advertised primary purpose of the app, which is not in compliance with App Review Guideline 2.5.2 and section 3.3.2… What we've tried: Detailed written replies explaining the app is a content viewer, not an app preview tool Comparisons to approved App Store apps that work the same way (Figma Mirror, InVision, Braze, Notion — all render remotely-created content via shared links/codes) Filed an App Review Board appeal (waiting for response) Requested a 30-min App Review video call — declined by Apple Each reply gets the exact same rejection text back, with no engagement on our explanations. My questions: Has anyone successfully resolved a 2.5.2 rejection where the reviewer pattern-matched a content viewer as an "app preview tool"? Is the QR-code-to-view-content interaction the likely trigger? Should we de-emphasize it in favor of a login + flow list as the primary UX? Any advice on getting a senior reviewer to actually engage with the explanation vs. copy-pasting the same response? Submission ID: 2f079345-04df-4701-8089-5e55e982f99a Any insights appreciated. Happy to provide more detail. Thanks!

A few months back I migrated my account from an Individual account to an Organisation account. Since then, I published an app to the appstore. Under "Developer" in the app store, it still shows my Individual Account name, not the Business name I have entered since. I did open a case to try and fix this on March 30th but havent received any response or update. In the meantime our business also got a new phone number so I decided to update account information and in the Notes section reference the issue with the Developer field again, but also havent received an update. Am I looking in the wrong place or contacting the wrong people? Any help would genuinely he lifesaving.

Hello, My app has been approved on March 14, 2023 and has the status "Ready for sale" ever since. But the app is still not available on App Store, and whenever i use the link in App Connect to view on App Store it says "App Not available. This app is currently not available in your country or region". Initially I made the app only available in my country, after few days of getting that error, I made it available worldwide but still can't seem to find my app being available. I've sent a support ticket to apple a few days ago but got no reply. In the approval email it said it may take up to 24 hours for the app to be available on App Store, but few days have passed and still not available on app store. The app is free, and i checked all the countries and regions for availability. What can be the problem, how long does it take? Thank you

We are planning to distribute our app outside of TestFlight because our testing period exceeds the 90-day limit. Since we have an Apple Developer account, we are considering using Unlisted App Distribution for long-term testing. I have a few questions regarding this approach: After completing testing via Unlisted Distribution, is it possible to switch the same app to a public App Store release, or would we need to create and submit a separate app for public distribution? If a separate app is required, are there any restrictions from Apple on releasing essentially the same app under a different bundle identifier through another distribution channel? (Additionally, once testing is finalised, we plan to discontinue the Unlisted App version.) Are there any potential complications or limitations we should anticipate (e.g., app review concerns, versioning, or policy compliance) related to this matter? Any guidance or best practices in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Hello, I am trying to upload a watchOS standalone app to App Store Connect using Xcode 26.3, but Organizer does not show the “App Store Connect” upload option. It only displays: • Release Testing (Ad Hoc) • Enterprise • Debugging Project setup • Target type: watchOS App (standalone, not companion) • PRODUCT_TYPE = com.apple.product-type.application • PRODUCT_BUNDLE_PACKAGE_TYPE = APPL • WRAPPER_EXTENSION = app • SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = watchos watchsimulator • Archive configuration: Release • Base SDK: watchOS The app does not depend on iOS. Bundle ID Originally: com.example.app.watchkitapp Recreated as: com.example.app HealthKit capability enabled in: • Developer Portal • Xcode (Signing & Capabilities) Signing • Apple Distribution certificate active • App Store provisioning profile created • Manual signing configured for Release (Apple Distribution + App Store profile) • Also tested Automatic signing • Deleted old Ad Hoc profiles • Cleared Derived Data and regenerated archive App Store Connect • App created successfully using bundle ID com.example.app • Account role: Account Holder • No pending Agreements, Tax, or Banking items Despite a valid Release archive signed with Apple Distribution, Organizer only allows Ad Hoc distribution and never shows “App Store Connect”. Is this a known issue in Xcode 26 affecting independent watchOS apps, or is there an additional configuration step required? Thank you.

Hello, My app, Beezzy - Agenda Digital, had an Expedited Review request approved recently (confirmation received via email). However, the status remains stuck in 'Waiting for Review' for an unusual amount of time, even for an expedited process. This update is critical for our operations and addresses urgent fixes. Has anyone else experienced a delay between the expedited approval and the actual 'In Review' transition lately? Is there any additional step required from the developer side to trigger the priority queue? App ID: 6751509489 Thank you for any guidance.

The assets in the Asset.xcasset lesser than the asset in the Assets.car file. Because of this the iPA file size increased three times as Assets.car file inside the iPA increased. Why do the asset file size increased enormously. How do we prevent this ? I used Version 26.2 (17C52).

Re. APP ID 6758894172 This app was submitted on February 16, and since then it has been showing as waiting for review. I have contacted the support email multiple times as well as requesting the review to be expedited, but no response and no change in app status. Could you please investigate this matter and let me know what the issue is?

Enviei meu app (xek) pra revisão desde terça feira. Recebi a solicitação de ajustes na quarta e depois de ajusta-lo na quarta mesmo, ele ficou travado em “Aguardando revisão” desde então. Um app simples que está no processo de liberação desde terça e desde quarta sem nenhum retorno da Apple, isso eh normal? Tenho outro app que nunca demorou tanto nas aprovações. mandei mensagem por outros canais e nada. Vamos ver se por aqui tenho algum retorno.

Hello,I dunno if this is the right place to ask this, but i have tried to enroll for almost two weeks now, and there is no reply at all with next step in the enrollment process, the message says it will be processed within 48 hrs.for reference i am outside the united states. and enrolling as personal developer not an ORG.

Hello, My app “DeepTone” has been fully approved and is marked as Ready for Distribution in App Store Connect. However, the app is not available in EU countries due to Digital Services Act (DSA) compliance still showing “In Review”. details: DSA verification was submitted and confirmed as completed by Apple Developer Support (case ID available). App Review has already approved the app. The app is currently live in non-EU regions but blocked in the EU. App Store Connect still shows: Digital Services Act (DSA) compliance – In Review Encryption Self-Declaration (France) – In Review This appears to be a backend compliance status issue rather than an app review issue. Has anyone experienced a similar situation where DSA compliance remained “In Review” after approval? Is there a known escalation path or expected resolution timeframe for this? Thank you for any guidance.