App stuck in Waiting for Review? What is normal and what you can do
What Waiting for Review means in App Store Connect, Apple's stated review times, how to request an expedited review, and when to contact Apple.
What is normal
App Review works around the clock with the goal of reviewing at least 50% of submissions in less than 24 hours and 90% in less than 48 hours.
Apple, Request an expedited review.
Apple's review status help adds that updates with minor changes and bug fixes typically move through review quickly, while other submissions may take longer to verify. Apple's App Review page also says that if your submission is incomplete, review times may be delayed. These are Apple's stated goals for all submissions, not a promise for one app.
What the statuses mean
- Waiting for Review: Apple received your submission, but review has not started.
- In Review: App Review is reviewing your submission. You can cancel the submission to remove it from review.
- Unresolved Issues / Rejected: App Review rejected one or more items. You get a message in App Store Connect. Paste it into the decoder.
- Metadata Rejected: only the metadata was not accepted. See Metadata Rejected.
- Developer Rejected: you removed the app from review. Resubmit the build or submit a new one when ready.
Summarized from Apple's App and submission statuses.
What you can do while you wait
- Make sure the submission is complete: Notes for Review that explain anything non-obvious, and a demo account or demo mode for account-based features. Apple says incomplete submissions can be delayed.
- Edit what you can. While Waiting for Review you can edit certain information and remove items, but you cannot upload or edit screenshots or app previews.
- If the timing really matters, request an expedited review (below).
- If the release is tied to a date, Apple suggests scheduling the release in App Store Connect ahead of time.
Requesting an expedited review
Apple accepts expedite requests for extenuating circumstances, such as fixing a critical bug or timing a release to an event.
- Submit the app for review first. Only submissions already sent to App Review can be expedited.
- For a critical bug fix, put the details in the Notes field in App Store Connect when you submit. Apple's App Review page asks for steps to reproduce the bug on the current version.
- For an event, put the event, its date, and how your app is associated with it in the Notes field.
- Go to Apple's Request an Expedited App Review form, select the app and platform, and submit.
Expedite requests should be reserved for matters of genuine urgency.
Apple, Request an expedited review.
Apple says it evaluates each request and expedites as availability and demand allow, so an expedite is not guaranteed.
Should you remove the build and resubmit?
You can remove items from review while Waiting for Review, and the status becomes Developer Rejected. You then resubmit the build or submit a new one. Apple does not publish how the review queue is ordered, so we cannot tell you what removing and resubmitting does to your wait. If you only need to change information you can edit while waiting, edit it instead of removing the submission.
When to contact Apple
Apple does not publish a point at which a wait counts as stuck. If your submission is well past the 48-hour goal and the release is urgent, the expedite form is the route Apple provides. Apple's help also says not to use Reply to App Review to request an expedited review or to appeal; use the matching Contact Us form instead. Reply to App Review is for questions about a message you received on a submission.
What to do
- Check that Notes for Review and a demo account or demo mode are in place, since incomplete submissions can be delayed
- Request an expedited review only for a critical bug fix or a release tied to an event
- Avoid removing the submission unless you must change something you cannot edit while waiting
Sample expedite request
Replace the brackets with your facts and remove anything that does not apply.
Expedite request, Notes for Review: This update fixes a critical bug in version [x.y]: [what breaks, for whom]. Steps to reproduce on the current version: 1. [step] 2. [step] Result: [crash / data loss / blocked purchase]. Build [number] fixes it in [file or feature]. Thank you.
Questions developers ask
How long does Waiting for Review usually take?
Apple's stated goal is to review at least 50% of submissions in less than 24 hours and 90% in less than 48 hours. Updates with minor changes and bug fixes typically move faster; other submissions may take longer to verify, and incomplete submissions can be delayed.
Can I change my app while it is Waiting for Review?
You can edit certain information and remove items from the submission, but you cannot upload or edit screenshots or app previews until it leaves Waiting for Review.
What qualifies for an expedited App Store review?
Extenuating circumstances such as fixing a critical bug or timing a release to an event. Submit first, add the details in the Notes field, then use Apple's Request an Expedited App Review form. Apple says expedite requests should be reserved for matters of genuine urgency.
Will removing my build lose my place in the queue?
Apple does not publish how the queue is ordered, so there is no official answer. Removing the submission changes its status to Developer Rejected and you have to resubmit. If you can make your change by editing information while waiting, do that instead.
Does Waiting for Review mean something is wrong?
No. It means Apple received the submission and review has not started yet. If App Review finds an issue later, you get a message in App Store Connect.
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Sources: Track a submission's review status · Request an expedited review · Contact App Review for help with a submission · App and submission statuses · App Review. Last checked . Always read Apple's current documentation.