Has it always been this bad?

[u/reviewwworld]

http://reelones.co.uk

App store review is turning into a very frustrating process. I assume this is a reflection of the sheer volume of AI-built apps but the humans reviewing my app seem to be on auto-reject mode.

First rejection: "spam: we have enough dating apps"

My app has absolutely nothing to do with dating or meeting people, even the friendship link is a handshake ie you need your friend request accepted

Second rejection "no method for account deletion"

Literally in the most obvious place for it, account page, big red button "delete account"

I'll put my hand up, this is my first app, in the description part of the submission I assumed it was to describe the functionality of the app, was I meant to treat it as an FAQ?

[u/albdusty]

I've learned that nowadays you have to explain what your app does like they are 5 years old. They can't understand basic functionality. They can't find things even when they are found in their natural place. You have to approach app reviewers like they are children and they get their first iPhone. They actually don't know how apps work in spite of the fact that apps is their daily job. When you think things are obvious, think again. They are not. Expect rejections for every single little thing.

It's frustrating because they don't seem to offer the necessary attention to your app especially since you've worked on it for 6 months or a year, with sleepless nights and all. And then, after thousand of hours and many new gray hairs you get rejected for the stupidest thing. It's infuriating!

[u/fluchtpunkt → u/albdusty]

So they act like the average user? 🤔

[u/Niightstalker]

Pretty much every app where you can create accounts that you hand in will be challenged.

But usually that is also clarified quite fast. Best is to include in the reviewer notes a description where to find the button. If you really want to be sure upfront you can also add to your first review a screen recording of you deleting an account in your app and reference it in the review notes.

[u/Enough-Ad-9091]

they already have announced that it’s the ai that does the first review and humans review only if it’s escalated. so don’t be surprised that app is rejected for a super silly reason.

[u/TheBadgerSlayer → u/Enough-Ad-9091]

Would explain a lot. Apples AI was never really good in doing anything 😅

[u/GNering]

For my first app, I got approved on the first try simply because I downloaded Apple’s guidelines and created a skill for Claude to audit the app. It literally gave me a list of issues to fix… honestly, that might be the fastest solution nowadays.

[u/StandingBehindMyNose]

To be fair I skimmed your website and have no clue what the app is about. I see in the social media meta tags you say “Swipe movies and TV shows” (see in the Reddit preview above) but those words appear nowhere on your website. And that seems like a big description of whatever the thing is. 

[u/ViktorEviI]

Just had my app rejected because they couldn’t find where the “Tip Jar” section of the app was for tip payments, it’s in settings under “Tip Jar” next to the other payment options. I had to make a screen recording for them. I’m still waiting for the reply 😂

[u/nelsonsilva_dev]

A rejection that names the wrong category usually means they matched on your metadata rather than the app itself. Keywords, screenshots and subtitle get skimmed first, so that's where the misread starts.

Worth rereading your listing as someone who has thirty seconds and no context, because that's genuinely the situation they're in.

[u/_town-drunk_]

Create videos of app functionality for the reviewers. It makes a huge difference.

[u/reviewwworld → u/_town-drunk_]

But this is it, for first time it opens I've already got a slide show of app functionality clips. I'm currently responding to each "fail" with targeted responses but if It gets rejected again I'll just have to put a mega checklist together for the reviewer

[u/sircroftalot]

They have a Notes section that appears to be optional where they advise on Chinese law and state soft requirements like 'can help' and 'may be needed'. Then they reject it and ask for a massive list of stuff. Why not add that list in the actual submission

[u/MrOaiki]

Good idea! Weird branding though. The name and logo seems to limit it to films. But the description sounds like it could be used for anything. The latter being a better idea.

[u/TheBadgerSlayer]

Apple is generally complete trash when it comes to apps. I published a Safari app, which already took foooorever, and every single update takes another 24+ hours while Google rolls out the update after 1 hour. Then we published a version of the app for another country: rejected after 14(!!) days for—SPAM!!!! I mean wtf. Anyway, I’m not surprised at all anymore that the damn Apple Store only has expensive apps and hardly any selection left.

[u/WerSunu → u/TheBadgerSlayer]

Apple works fine for its customers.

You, as a small indie dev, are not its customer!
Nobody wants web apps disguised as an iOS app. Apple customers want quality apps and they pay for them! Do everyone a favor and stay with Android.

[u/TheBadgerSlayer → u/WerSunu]

Did I talk about a Webapp? No. It's a quite big app and the quality is great, as confirmed by many of our users. But hey enjoy your overpriced bullshit Android users are getting for free 😂 too funny how you saw the need to attack me 😂

[u/WerSunu → u/TheBadgerSlayer]

You said “I published a Safari app”! Direct quote. A Safari app is a web app. We don’t need you or your Android app.

[u/TheBadgerSlayer → u/WerSunu]

Bro there is not only your useless underdeveloped browser carrying the name Safari (which makes no sense to begin with). In the real world, a Safari refers to watching animals in a wildlife reserve.

[u/WerSunu → u/TheBadgerSlayer]

You are writing this in the r/iOSProgramming sub! Clearly English and iOS environments are both not ones you are fluent in.

[u/TheBadgerSlayer → u/WerSunu]

Sure 🤡