# Rejection Decoder

> Free tool and plain-English guides for Apple App Store rejections. Paste a rejection from App Store Connect to see which App Review Guideline it cites, what it means, the usual next move, and real public cases from developers who got the same one. Independent; not affiliated with Apple.

Guides are based on Apple's App Review Guidelines as revised October 16, 2026 (https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/), last checked Oct 26, 2026. "Usual next move" describes how a guideline is usually resolved, not a prediction. Case outcomes are as reported by the developer. The decoder runs in the browser and does not send pasted text anywhere.

## Guideline guides

- [Guideline 2.1(a): App Completeness](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-1a/): The reviewer hit a crash, a dead button, placeholder text, or a login wall with no working demo account.
- [Guideline 2.1: Information Needed](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-1-information-needed/): Nothing is broken. The reviewer wants more context, often a screen recording on a physical device, who the app is for, and how it makes money.
- [Guideline 2.1(b): In-app purchases not found](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-1b/): The reviewer could not find or buy one of your in-app purchases.
- [Guideline 2.3: Accurate Metadata](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-3/): Something in your listing does not match the app or breaks a metadata rule.
- [Guideline 2.3.10: Other platforms in metadata](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-3-10/): Your app or listing mentions Android, Google Play, or another platform.
- [Guideline 2.3.14: Creative assets](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-3-14/): New in the Oct 16, 2026 revision: creative assets must relate to your app, suit all audiences, and avoid claims, competitor references, and pricing.
- [Guideline 2.5.2: Downloading or executing code](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-5-2/): The reviewer believes your app can change its features after review, for example via an over-the-air update system.
- [Guideline 2.5.19: Hidden or undocumented features](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/2-5-19/): New number since Oct 16, 2026: anything the reviewer cannot see but the binary can switch on.
- [Guideline 3.1.1: In-App Purchase required](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/3-1-1/): You sell digital content with a method other than In-App Purchase, or link to one, outside permitted cases.
- [Guideline 3.1.2: Subscriptions](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/3-1-2/): The paywall or listing does not clearly show what subscribers get and the required subscription information.
- [Guideline 4.0: Design](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/4-0/): The UI looks unfinished: clipped text, broken iPad layout, or odd controls.
- [Guideline 4.2: Minimum Functionality](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/4-2/): The app is a thin web wrapper, one static screen, or a brochure.
- [Guideline 4.3(a): Spam: similar binary, metadata, or concept](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/4-3a/): Your app looks too similar to other apps, your own or someone else's. Common with templates, starter kits, AI-generated apps, and studios that ship many small apps.
- [Guideline 4.3(b): Spam: saturated category](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/4-3b/): Your category is one Apple calls saturated, and the reviewer does not see a meaningfully different experience.
- [Guideline 4.8: Login Services](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/4-8/): You offer a social login without an equivalent privacy-focused option.
- [Guideline 5.1.1: Privacy: data collection and storage](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/5-1-1/): Privacy policy, permission purpose strings, access scope, forced consent, or account deletion.
- [Guideline 5.1.2: Data use, sharing, tracking, third-party AI](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/5-1-2/): Tracking without App Tracking Transparency, gating features on permissions, or sending personal data to a third party (including AI) without clear permission.
- [Guideline 1.2: User-generated content](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/1-2/): Users can post or generate content, but the app lacks filtering, reporting, blocking, or contact info.
- [Guideline 1.5: Developer information](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/1-5/): The support URL has no way to contact you, or it is the same as your terms page.
- [Guideline 5.6.1: App Store Reviews: custom rating prompts](https://rejectiondecoder.com/guideline/5-6-1/): Your app asks for a rating with its own prompt instead of Apple's system review prompt. Guideline 5.6.1 says to use the provided API, and custom review prompts are not allowed.

## Real cases

- [All cases](https://rejectiondecoder.com/cases/): 20 public posts (14 from X, 4 from Apple Developer Forums, 2 from Reddit r/iOSProgramming). Outcomes: 4 approved, 4 pending, 11 outcome unknown, 1 stopped trying.
- [4.3(a) on a new app, approved a month later after a demo video](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-demo-video-approved/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: approved (as reported).
- [4.3 Design Spam, approved 12 hours after a one-color change](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3-hex-color-approved/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: approved (as reported).
- [4.3(a) on an update, approved after a later retry](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-update-approved-later/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: approved (as reported).
- [Five apps rejected under 4.3 in the same minute](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3-five-apps-same-minute/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: stopped trying (as reported).
- [11 apps rejected for 4.3 in 30 seconds, appeals unanswered](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3-eleven-apps-appeals-silent/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Normal update to an approved app rejected under 4.3(a)](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-update-previously-approved/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [First-time app with its own design rejected as Design Spam](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-first-app-own-design/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Established cross-platform game rejected as 4.3(a) spam](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-established-game/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Several apps repeatedly rejected under 4.3(a) with no explanation](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-several-apps-no-explanation/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Passport photo app (Flutter) rejected under 4.3(a)](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-passport-photo-flutter/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: pending (as reported).
- [Media player rejected under 4.3(a) on iOS while approved on macOS](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3a-ios-rejected-macos-approved/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Five unrelated apps rejected in the same minute under 4.3 and 4.2.6](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/spam-4-3-five-unrelated-apps-4-2-6/): Guideline 4.3(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [2.1 App Completeness on an update, approved after resubmitting unchanged](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/completeness-2-1-resubmitted-unchanged/): Guideline 2.1(a). Outcome: approved (as reported).
- [Rejected twice for the same in-app purchase issue (2.1(b))](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/iap-2-1b-rejected-twice/): Guideline 2.1(b). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Rejected for mentioning Android in the description](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/metadata-android-in-description/): Guideline 2.3.10. Outcome: pending (as reported).
- [Paywall rejected: free trial more prominent than the billed amount](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/subs-3-1-2c-trial-too-prominent/): Guideline 3.1.2. Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Rejected for a Terms of Use link missing from the description](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/subs-terms-link-in-description/): Guideline 3.1.2. Outcome: pending (as reported).
- [Game rejected under 4.1(a) Copycats for references to Minecraft](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/copycat-4-1a-minecraft-references/): Guideline 4.1(a). Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [5.6 rejection for 'features intentionally hidden' after a clean history](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/conduct-5-6-hidden-features/): Guideline 5.6. Outcome: outcome unknown (as reported).
- [Asked to remove a live updater (Capgo) found in the binary](https://rejectiondecoder.com/case/code-2-3-1a-live-updater/): Guideline 2.3.1. Outcome: pending (as reported).

## About

- [About](https://rejectiondecoder.com/about/): who runs the site, what is free and paid, corrections.
- [Methodology](https://rejectiondecoder.com/methodology/): how matching works, how guides are written, how cases are sourced.
- [Full text for LLMs](https://rejectiondecoder.com/llms-full.txt): every guide in one plain-text file.

## Optional

- [App Store Rejection Rescue Kit](https://nlniv.gumroad.com/l/soxpgw): paid ($12) reply templates and a 60-point preflight checklist.
- [Rejection reply service](https://nlniv.gumroad.com/l/rejection-reply): paid ($29) reply drafted for a specific rejection. AI-assisted, built on Apple's App Review Guidelines. Not a guarantee of approval. If we do not deliver within 24 hours, you get a full refund.
- [Free 15-point preflight checklist](https://nlniv.gumroad.com/l/preflight-checklist): PDF.