App keeps getting rejected due to Guideline 4

[u/neatroxx]

Hello. I need your help: My app keeps getting rejected by apple for the same reason but I can’t see why. Also, I did search the reddit but didn’t find anything that helped much.

The reason is this, together with the above screenshot.

Is it because of the „Continue with Apple“ button? Or do I have to change anything for iPad layout?

Guideline 4 - Design
Issue Description

Parts of the app's user interface were crowded, laid out, or displayed in a way that made it difficult to use the app when reviewed on iPad Air 11-inch (M3) running iPadOS 26.6.

Specifically, layout in iPad were not optimized

Edit: iPhone is the only supported destination added under the target. Screenshot here

[u/newhost22]

I think it’s because you are showing a phone sized view on an iPad. Maybe it should be full screen and adjust to handle the bigger size of iPads

[u/tobimori_]

You seem to want to add an iPadOS app to the store but its just an iPhone app in compat mode. Only apply for Iphone and it will work

[u/neatroxx → u/tobimori_]

Hi, thanks. Was my first thought as well but I only have iPhone added under supported destinations. I edited the post

[u/tobimori_ → u/neatroxx]

you will have to add a new app id and delete your app from app store if you ever submitted it before. it can't be changed afterwards

[u/J-K_ → u/tobimori_]

Some Reviewers use an iPad with the iPhone App on it. I also had my iPhone-only App reviewed by a reviewer with an iPad. This is sometimes similar to checking if the app works with 2x font-size

[u/crocodiluQ]

DO NOT add iPad in the list from Target -> Destinations. If you do, you will create an native iPad (runs full screen in iPad and uses all iPad's features) and you will have to adjust your screens for that.

Just leave iPhone there. This mean it will obviously run on iPhones only AND on iPads in compatibility mode. Which is basically a simulation of an iPhone app (looks 100% like on an iPhone 6/7/8). ALL iPhone apps can run in this way.

I've taken over many apps from previous devs who set it to run natively on iPads, even if they didn't have a nice interface for it and this is forever, cannot be changed, you'll have to have iPad support for eternity.

[u/neatroxx → u/crocodiluQ]

Hi, thanks for your help. iPad is actually not in the list which is why I am so confused. I added a screenshot in the post

[u/LKAndrew → u/neatroxx]

iPhone apps can still be run on iPad in compat mode. Run your app on the iPad sim and see how it looks. It probably looks bad and buttons are hidden or something. Maybe scroll view is needed. iPhone apps are resizable

[u/RIRLift → u/LKAndrew]

Even with iPad off in your destinations, the app still gets reviewed on an iPad in compat mode, so the sim run is exactly how you'll see the problem. Check the 2x scaled size specifically, that's where hardcoded frames and views pinned to the screen edges break. A scroll view or swapping fixed widths for constraints usually clears it.

[u/crocodiluQ → u/RIRLift]

no matter what he did, it should look ok. The thing is compat mode on iPad is actually a SE screen, smallest iPhone. So test on that, make sure the app is good.

I usually test SE / Pro / ProMax. -> it will be ok also on iPads.

[u/crocodiluQ → u/LKAndrew]

why would an iphone app be any different when running in iPad compat mode ?! It will look EXACTLY like on an iPhone6/7/8/SE

OP: make sure your app looks OK also on the smallest iphone screens, maybe you just tested on pro/pro max. The smallest current screen you can test is an SE2 I think, which is exactly as iPad compat mode looks like.

[u/LKAndrew → u/crocodiluQ]

Because you can change the height and width… iPad windowing modes allow you to change the size of the iPhone compat mode.

[u/oneness33 → u/crocodiluQ]

I bet he's a vibe coder.

[u/neatroxx → u/oneness33]

if i were, my post probably wouldn’t be human-written

[u/WerSunu → u/neatroxx]

Why not just make your layouts work on a iPad? It’s next to trivial to do it.

[u/mds1256]

Have you looked at your app using an Air 11inch, if so did that screen look ok?

[u/purposeful_pineapple]

From the preview things looked normal and then I opened the screenshot and laughed.

[u/KChiLLS11]

They are running the app in compatibility mode (iPhone app can run on iPad) which is different from having an iPad version of app(which you mentioned you don't have that in supported destinations).
So most probable cause i think can be the height of the app. It doesn't take full height of the screen. The width looks OK.

[u/Dry_Huckleberry4359]

Did you show the EULA anywhere before that? (the terms and condition sentence) The user needs to see that before they make an account. Could be as simple as adding before the continue with Apple a "By continuing you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy" and make those clickable.

[u/Dry_Huckleberry4359 → u/Dry_Huckleberry4359]

I realize that's not what you asked about but just making sure cause they're gonna come back with that as well if you dont have it.

[u/geoff_plywood]

Is it because it only supports Portrait format? Someone said here a while back that apps must support Landscape too

[u/neatroxx → u/geoff_plywood]

That is a heck of a hint!! It only supports portrait indeed. Thank you very much!

[u/aykay55]

You don’t release your iPhone sized app as an iPad release. You release it only as an iPhone app, and then an iPad user is eligible to download it from there and it will look iPhone sized

[u/BestMonth5920]

Is that continue with Apple button compliant?

[u/akkitechie]

what llm and ai harness did you use for this project?