App rejected for not performing as advertised (background locations) - ios

I got rejected by the apple review team. The reason was:
2.3 - Apps that do not perform as advertised by the developer will be rejected
We were unable to locate some of the features described in your marketing >materials or release notes. Specifically, your app informs the user to allow >background location, however, there is no setting within your app.
If I go to the device settings and find my apps settings, I see the following:
I've got the following background modes in my plist file:
Apple sends me this screenshot along with the review:
Also if someone could be helpful with telling me the best way to get in touch with Apple. I've tried writing comments to the rejection in the Resolution Center, but I don't hear back.

We cannot tell you why Apple may have rejected your app; we can only guess (at best).
Apple's testers do not always see the same things that you see, as you've submitted an app for production, whereas you're testing it in a development environment. This is why it's important to do Ad-Hoc and/or TestFlight beta testing.
You have to be sure that your app (and all of its functionality) works not only for you in a development environment, but also for others in a sample production environment (ideally on a wide range of devices).
The only way to know what the testers saw is to ask for clarification from them via the Resolution Center, which you say you have already done. The best thing to do is to wait, but if you don't get a response in a reasonable amount of time (say, a week or two), you may want to contact the team.
If you truly believe that this rejection was in error, you can appeal it.

Related

Unity Codeless IAP IOS build rejected

I have a problem using Unity's codeless API in conjunction with IOS.
Apple keeps rejecting the build with the following message:
Guideline 2.1 - Performance - App Completeness
We found that your in-app purchase products exhibited one or more bugs
when reviewed on iPad running iOS 12.1 on Wi-Fi.
Specifically, no action takes place when we initiate the purchase.
Some notes:
I succesfully built and published the app on android.
The IOS version works with the uploaded build. I can make in app purchases when i run the app on my iphone.
I have filled in all the required legal/ financial information and have a valid contract for purchases as defined in the ios docs.
The build is set as "release" and "development build" is NOT checked.
After rejection by apple, all the in app purchases in the developer console are marked as requiring action.
Specifically it is now showing that the localizations are invalid. However no further information is given. I suspect this is just because the build is rejected?
So, has anyone had a similar problem? Having the app run fine when using the development build on a local phone, but still having it rejected because of the aforementioned reason?
In the end i requested i call with Apple to discuss the rejection of my IOS build(s).
It had been rejected 3/4 times with the same reason.
The reason: A problem on their part. They suspect they had a misconfigured environment on their side, which resulted in a not working build on Ipad.
I did not have to upload a new build, they reused the last rejected one and it was approved within hours of my call.
I suspect that the developers might have been confused, seeing that the app was entirely in dutch. This can seriously cause some confusing, because the representative on the phone had trouble locating some IAP functionality himself like the restore button.
So should you have the same problem:
If your app is in a non-english language, specificy where the reviewers have to click for In App Products, where the Restore button is and similar key parts of your app.
Request a call with Apple if you are sure that you did everything correctly. Talking on the phone with them really helps speed up the review process and clarify any misunderstandings.

apple rejected app for not showing ads

Hey after 1 week of waiting my app got rejected. The reason from apple i got: Your iTunes Connect settings indicate that your app serves advertisements. However, we were unable to locate ads in your app.
The thing is that i'm sure that my app contain ads. So I suppose apple didn't have internet on when they reviewed. What could the problem possibly be?
It could be a lot of reasons:
it's simply review team can't locale steps to reproduce ads in your app.
maybe your ads provider do not show ads in the region where review team seat.
maybe your ads provider was not available at the time your app was in review.
As an example: my app third time rejected the same reason.
All you should do, imho: send screenshot of ads in your application and steps to locale this ads.
Best wishes.
Apple definitely has internet on when they test apps, reason being that many apps have to connect to servers and log on in order to work.
If you're sure your app has ads but Apple can't see them, there might be an issue with your code. Run over your code again to see if there are any errors. Double check your ads provider to see that its working. Also, it may be that the ads are being served in a screen that the team couldn't access, like behind a login. Without any code snippets, I can't give you more detailed advice than that.
If you think the code is right, then it is quite possible that Apple had an issue on their end. Apple's great at responding to developers. I've emailed them countless times, and gotten a call right to my cellphone with someone managing my case personally. Just send them an email with your case number and issue, as well as steps detailing how to view your ads, and they'll respond to you.

Does ios app Metadata rejected means binary is good

I recently got a phone call from Apple saying they would reject our app since there's a problem with the metadata. I asked whether there's a problem with the app itself and she said she doesn't know because she's not part of the review team. She said it should be ok.
So I changed my metadata and resubmit the app, and the status now is in review. According to itunesconnect programmer guide, they will reuse the binary. Does that mean the binary is good? Is it possible that they will take a look at the app again and reject me for some reasons other than they specified in the resolution centre?
I know this is a question that probably only apple can answer, but this is our first app so i don't really know how it works. I asked apple but they didn't tell me anything.
You do not need to upload new binary. They will review it again and approve it (or reject for other reason). It took only few hours in my case. But you can't be sure the binary has already been checked. Maybe they only did the metadata so far and will check the binary after your metadata correction. Anyway, no need to upload anything now.
Usually reviewers stop their review process as soon as they find an issue. This means that the metadata rejection can be the first of a longer list (hopefully no!) or that they reviewed your whole app and found the only issue at metadata level only: in such case fixing your metadata should be enough.
Recently I saw one of my apps rejected due to a mistake in adding an In App Purchase (basically the app was referring to an IAP still not in iTunes). After fixing it (no binary change, just adding the "in app") they found an issue in the app this time and then the binary was submitted. It would have been quite easier for me to know of the two issues together and fix them once, instead the triple-trip delayed my final app submission by 10 extra days (consider 5 days between two consecutive reviews)
From my experience, it doesn't always mean the binary is good. They may have very well reached the point of checking metadata and found an issue without testing the binary itself. Expect the Unexpected with Apple.
This is due to metadata information, no need to upload new binary. They will review it again and approve it (or reject for other reason). In my case, I was using location in background mode but in my Application description did not include the required "battery use" disclaimer, I changed the meta data (Application description only) according to apple message. It took only few hours (hardly 4 hours) and application was live. I was socked :) because some people was saying, It will take upto 7 days(as apple normal process).
Following was reason for app reject in my case(Below was the mail, I received from Apple)
From Apple
   * 2.16 - Multitasking Apps may only use background services for their
intended purposes: VoIP, audio playback, location, task completion,
local notifications, etc.
2.16 Details
Your app uses the Location Background mode but does not include the
required "battery use" disclaimer in your Application Description.
Next Steps
Please add the following disclaimer to your Application Description:
"Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically
decrease battery life."
Please see the app store screenshot for confirm.
In my experience, they reject the app as soon as they find a reason and they won't review it any further until next submission. So if the metadata is rejected it does not mean that they have approved the binary.

My app is now in the Apple App Store but crashes during the splash screen

My application is in the Apple App Store but when downloaded it crashes after the splash screen.
I thought the week long approval process was to ensure the quality of the app.
Version 1.0 of my app does run but I hear there is no way to roll it back. For now I have changed the availability date to the future so that people do not download it. When will it be taken out of the search results?
Thanks.
The approval process is not for QA testing. (Of course, they will reject an app if it crashes while testing they are other for things, such as violation of various SDK rules, HIG guidelines, etc.) A developer has to test and QA your apps themselves on the OS versions and the iOS device types for which they submit the app as appropriate for, and under stress conditions as well. A developer also needs to make very certain that the build they submit is identical (except for certificate signing) to the builds they have tested. (It is a common mistake to have different Build Settings or source files selected between the Release and Distribution builds.)
Check to see if a bad preference setting is the culprit.
Or if it worked only for you, then it may be the lack of a preference setting. You may have created a good preference before the bug was introduced.
Was taken out of search results by the end of the day.

Reasons for rejecting iPhone application by Apple store [closed]

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Can anybody help me out to know the possible reasons for which Apple store can reject or raise objection to submit any iPhone application.
Here are possible reasons (unofficial, from here):
Vibration. It is not permitted to use continuous vibration in your apps - short bursts as warnings is all that is allowed. Don’t bother trying to set up a timer to keep the vibration going, it will cause your app to be rejected.
Linking to private frameworks. This is obvious, but somehow in playing around with stuff we had linked to the MoviePlayer.framework. That’s a no-no, and cost us about ten days while we unlinked that framework, recompiled, and then resubmitted.
Improper handling of editing in tableview cells. Also obvious, but be aware that if you enable table cell editing, you’ll have to manually specify which cells should respond to editing controls and which should not. We had some random prefs cells in one of our early apps that were able to be swiped to bring up a ‘delete’ badge. Of course it didn’t do anything, but Apple justly considered this poor design and rejected our app.
Icons. Make sure the 57 pixel icon is identical to the 512 pixel version. Also, use a different icon if you are creating ‘lite’ and ‘pro’ versions of your app (i.e., free and paid). Using the same icon for both sends your app straight to … you guessed it … the bin.
Copying existing functionality. This one is much more subtle and insidious, and has probably affected the great percentage of developers. In addition to the widely publicized Podcaster debacle, reports from user comments indicate that Apple is casting a wide net when looking for duplicated functionality. Mini web browsers, or apps that essentially show web pages, seem particularly vulnerable, even if they add new and/or useful functionality. Stay away from email clients as well.
Using appropriate keyboard type. If your app asks for a phone number or other numeral-only input and you present a keyboard that also includes the possibility of entering standard alpha-numeric input … yep. (Thanks Jeremy1026)
Version numbers. If your app is currently at version 0.99 or below, you’d better consider giving it a promotion as Apple seems to prefer 1.0 and above. One of ours was recently rejected for being .016, with a message suggesting that our version number wasn’t even numeric. When we resubmitted the same app from scratch as version 1.0, it went through.
Network Reachability. If your app requires any type of network access you need to make sure it works when that access isn't available. If it doesn't it will be rejected. Apple provides sample code to test this which you can use as-is in most cases: https://developer.apple.com/library/content/samplecode/Reachability/Introduction/Intro.html
And last, but not least:
Flatulence Don’t even try. ;-) UPDATE: sorry, this seems to be outdated by now. Apple makes a lot of money now with "fart apps": see this article.
Edit:
Here is a link to a recent article about ten iPhone Apps That Didn't Make Apple's App Store.
And a tip: Apple has a Mac app called Application Loader that you could install. Once you install it, it analyzes your app's zip file. It verifies all the certificates, icons, and other things are correct before submitting to Apple. Using the Application Loader minimizes your chances of app rejection.
Another interesting resource: App Store Roundtable: Transparency and the Approval System (appleblog.com)
Yet another edit:
New rules by February 2010: "No Swimsuits, No Skin, And No Innuendo" (source: TechCrunch article, Wobble author's blog)
By the way: during the iPhone 3.0 preview event (march 2009), an Apple spokesman told that 96% of all submitted application were approved.

			
				
Apple have now (as of 9th September 2010) published their official list of app store review guidelines:
appstore approval guidelines
(apple developer login required)
or a mirror here:
app store guidelines
Will apple want to create an app like that in the future? If (yes) reject.
Do you have a really awesome idea that apple may want to use in the future if(yes) reject
Here's the video of the SDK announcement that describes Apple published list of rejection criteria:
SDK Announcement
As others have noted, Apple also seem to have a bunch of other conditions that they don't publicise. Note that rejection notices are now covered by the NDA.
I can't confirm this but it makes sense, but people are reporting their apps being rejected for being too simple or too trivial.
Just got a bounce for handling network outages badly. If you connect to the network, be prepared to handle any error conditions that may come up.
My paid version of app was rejected by appstore.
After Purchasing and downloading app first screen was "User Agreement" and when user taps on " I agree" only then he is able to continue using app.
Apple described the reason of rejection "when user purchased app from appstore and download in phone then you must not restrict user to Agree with Agreement" instead display your agreement before downloading app in iTunes.
Amazingly, apps can get rejected for trying to keep their interface consistent with Apple's own apps. (ie, using pinch zoom/expand gestures)
There is a site I know which can help you generate great advertising ideas with iPhone. see this site:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/adpack/id359562015?mt=8
I submitted a paid app to app store but get rejected and i learned another possibility of app rejection
My app was Game Center enabled. When app starts first screen was login screen that prompt user to login through GameCenter to continue.
They rejected the app giving reason- As user will not be able to get services of your app unless he is not logged in with Game Center although he paid you to download app. You cannot restrict user to login through Game Center each time before app starts.
From 1st May,2013 onwards if we don't support iPhone 5, your app will be rejected.So iPhone 5 support is must.

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