Apple App Store Approval Rules

We review all apps and app updates submitted to the App Store to determine if they are reliable, work as intended, respect user privacy, and are free of offensive content. When planning and building your app, use these policies and resources to make app approval run as smoothly as possible. Apple sets strict rules about what your iOS app privacy policy should disclose. Your iOS app will be rejected from the App Store unless your privacy policy meets Apple`s requirements. Introduction The guiding principle of the App Store is simple: we want to provide users with a safe experience to get apps and a great opportunity for all developers to succeed. We have updated the application review guidelines to reflect this principle. On the following pages, you will find guidelines that have not changed on their own, but they are better organized and provide more context. On the following pages you will find guidelines that are divided into five clear sections: Security, Performance, Business, Design and Legal. A few other things to keep in mind: You`re responsible for making sure everything in your app complies with these guidelines, including ad networks, analytics services, and third-party SDKs, so review and select them carefully. We hope that these new guidelines will help you get through the application review process and that approvals and releases will remain consistent across the board. It is a living document; New apps that ask new questions can lead to new rules at any time.

Maybe your app triggers this. We also love this kind of thing and honor what you do. We really do our best to create the best platform in the world where you can express your talents and make a living. 1.5 Information for Developers Employees should know how to contact you with questions and problems. Make sure your app and its support URL are an easy way to contact you. This is especially important for applications that can be used in the classroom. Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date contact information not only frustrates customers, but can also break the law in some countries. Also, make sure that wallet passes contain valid contact information about the issuer and are signed with a dedicated certificate assigned to the owner of the passport trademark or trademark. 1.6 Data security applications must implement appropriate security measures to ensure the proper handling of user information collected in accordance with the Apple Developer Program License Agreement and these Guidelines (for more information, see Policy 5.1) and prevent its unauthorized use.

Disclosure or access by third parties. 2.3 Accurate Metadata 2.3.6 Honestly answer questions about age rating in the iTunes App Store Connect so that your app matches parental controls correctly. If your app isn`t properly rated, customers may be surprised by what they`re getting, or it can trigger a request from government regulators. If your app contains media that requires the display of content ratings or warnings (such as movies, music, games, and so on), you are responsible for complying with local requirements in each area where your app is available. 2.3.12 Applications should clearly describe new features and product changes in their «What`s New» text. Simple bug fixes, security updates, and performance improvements can be based on a generic description, but more important changes should be listed in the notes. 2.4 Hardware Compatibility 2.4.2 Design your application to be energy efficient. Apps should not drain the battery quickly, generate excessive heat, or unnecessarily overload device resources.

Apps, including third-party advertisements displayed on them, are not allowed to run independent background processes such as cryptocurrency mining. 2.4.4 Applications must never suggest or require a restart of the device or changes to system settings that have nothing to do with the basic functionality of the Application. For example, do not encourage users to disable Wi-Fi, disable security features, etc. 2.5 Software requirements 2.5.2 Apps must be self-contained in their bundles and cannot read or write data outside the intended container area, or download, install, or run code that introduces or modifies features or functionality of the app, including other applications. 2.5.11 SiriKit and shortcuts (i) Apps that integrate SiriKit and shortcuts should only register for intentions that they can handle without support for an additional app and that users expect from the specified functionality. For example, if your app is a meal planning app, you shouldn`t intend to start a workout, even if the app shares the integration with a fitness app. (ii) Make sure that the vocabulary and phrases in your plist directory refer to your app and the SiriKit Siri feature of the intentions for which the app has signed up. Aliases must refer directly to the name of your app or company and must not be generic terms or contain names of third-party apps or services. (iii) Resolve the request or Siri link in the most direct manner possible and not include advertisements or other marketing activities between the request and its execution.

Submit an interstitial UI request with disambiguation only if it is necessary to complete the task (for example, ask the user to specify a specific type of training). 2.5.13 Applications that use facial recognition for account authentication should, where possible, use LocalAuthentication (and not ARKit or any other facial recognition technology) and use another authentication method for users under the age of 13. 2.5.14 Applications must obtain the explicit consent of the user and provide a clear visual indication when recording, logging or recording the user`s activity. This includes any use of the device`s camera, microphone, or other user input. 2.5.15 Apps that allow users to view and select files must include items from the user`s Files app and iCloud documents. 3.1 Payments 3.1.1 In-app purchase: If you want to unlock features or functions of your app (for example, Subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use the in-app purchase. Apps are not allowed to use their own mechanisms to unlock content or features such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, etc. Apps and their metadata must not contain buttons, external links, or other calls to action that cause customers to purchase mechanisms other than in-app purchase currencies so that customers can «tilt» digital content providers into the app. Apps and their metadata must not contain buttons, external links, or other calls to action that lead customers to purchase mechanisms other than in-app purchases. Apps can use in-app purchase currencies to allow customers to tip in-app digital content providers. Apps without a subscription can offer a free time-based trial period before offering a full unlock option by setting a non-consumable IAP item to price level 0 that follows the naming convention: «XX Day Trial.» Before you begin the trial period, your app should clearly state its duration, the content or services that can no longer be accessed after the trial period expires, and the downstream fees that the user would have to pay to benefit from all features.

Learn more about managing content access and trial duration using receipts and device verification. 3.1.2(a) Permitted Uses: Auto-renewing Subscription Apps may offer Customers a free trial period by providing relevant information provided in App Store Connect. Apps that attempt to trick users into purchasing a subscription under false pretenses or engaging in bait and change practices will be removed from the App Store and you may be removed from the Apple Developer program. Learn more about free trials for subscriptions. 3.1.3 (a) Reader Applications: The Applications may allow a User to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (including, without limitation: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video, access to professional databases, VoIP, cloud storage and approved services such as education class management applications that manage students` grades and plans), and provided that you agree not to directly or indirectly target iOS users to use any purchase method other than in-app purchase. and your general communication about other purchasing methods is not intended to prevent the use of in-app purchases. 3.1.3(b) Cross-Platform Services: Apps running on multiple platforms may allow users to access content, subscriptions, or features they have purchased elsewhere, including consumables in cross-platform games, provided that you agree not to directly or indirectly target iOS users to use any purchase method other than items available as in-app purchases. You may not directly or indirectly target iOS users to use any purchase method other than in-app purchase, and your general communication about other purchase methods should not be used to prevent the use of in-app purchases.

3.1.4 Content Codes: Hardware-Specific Content: Apps cannot use their own mechanisms to unlock content or features such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, etc. In certain circumstances, such as: If features depend on specific hardware, the app can unlock that feature without using the in-app purchase (for example, an astronomy app that adds functionality when synchronized with a telescope). App features that work in combination with an approved physical product (such as a toy) on an optional basis can unlock features without an in-app purchase, provided an in-app purchase option is also available. However, you cannot ask users to purchase unrelated products or engage in promotional or marketing activities to unlock the app`s features. 3.1.5 (a) Physical goods and services outside the app: If your app allows users to purchase goods or services consumed outside the app, you must use purchase methods other than in-app purchases to collect those payments, such as Apple Pay or traditional credit card entry.