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Home » Blogs » How to Prepare Your App for App Store Review: The Ultimate Checklist
By Gaurav Parvadiya | Last Updated On June 3rd, 2025
Submitting your app to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store is one of the most crucial steps in your product’s journey to market. But the app store approval process can be nerve-wracking, especially when you’re unaware of potential pitfalls. Apple indicates that about 40% of iOS app submissions are held up or refused because of easily avoidable errors. Google Play also checks for compliance using both automated and manual methods which commonly results in flagging apps that do not meet the rules.
Few rejections happen due to problems with the app itself. A large number of issues are caused by missing metadata, missing privacy notes, incomplete setup or overlooked parts of the UI. If you want a smooth and timely release, you should use an app store review checklist. This guide provides a comprehensive roadmap for developers, product managers, and mobile teams on how to prepare an app for submission, whether you’re targeting iOS, Android, or both.
Both Apple and Google have distinct review processes and expectations, which developers should understand thoroughly.
Apple uses a manual review system where human reviewers assess the app’s functionality, the user interface is in line with Apple’s guidelines and the app follows privacy policies. If your app includes dummy data, often crashes or fails to include required disclosures, it will probably be rejected.
Instead, Google Play uses automated checks along with manual reviews. They concentrate on making sure users behave, the app is stable and that safety is maintained. Apps that break the rules, act suspiciously or use data inappropriately can be removed from the store after they are published.
To navigate the app store approval process smoothly and avoid delays, follow a strict app store review checklist.
Before initiating the app store approval process, it’s essential to follow a detailed app store review checklist to ensure your app meets platform standards. Here’s how to prepare your app for submission effectively:
Make sure your app runs well on all the latest phones and operating systems. Try out different network settings and check that users can move through the app without problems. No crash, broken link or partially completed screen should occur. Both emulators and physical devices should be used to test performance in every way possible.
Erase all filler text and images that say “Lorem Ipsum” or “Dummy” before publishing. Finish all the labels, buttons and other user interface elements. Make sure your design follows Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines as well as Google’s Material Design principles. It is very important that the privacy policy is easy to find within the app.
The title, subtitle and description you give your app should match the user’s actual experience. Take screenshots only using the latest version of the game. While iOS app submission checklist, add important keywords to your description to help users find you without confusing them.
Fulfill all the required details such as the version number, your contact details and the support URL and set the right track for publishing your app.
Reveal all the ways users’ data is collected and processed. Ensure you are following the rules of GDPR, CCPA and Apple’s App Tracking Transparency. Make sure that privacy settings and account deletion are enabled in the app to avoid app store rejection.
Read More: App Store Screenshot Sizes & Guidelines
To streamline the app store approval process, consider these additional steps from your app store review checklist:
Read More: 12 Tips to Get Your App Featured on Apple’s App Store
To simplify your app launch checklist, using the right tools is essential for reducing stress and avoiding app store rejection:
Privacy Policy Generators: Use services like iubenda or Termly to create legally compliant privacy documents. These tools ensure you’re covered for Apple’s ATT and GDPR requirements.
Read More: 12 Post Launch Marketing Strategies To Promote ECommerce App
A successful App Store review goes beyond having a bug-free app, it means meeting the technical, design and policy rules set by Apple and Google. Following a complete app launch checklist and doing a thorough pre-submission audit helps you avoid being rejected and speeds up the publishing process.
If developers use this guide, they can feel sure their app is ready for the store and will be noticed from the very start.
1- How long does an App Store review usually take?
Apple usually reviews your application within 24–48 hours, but it can be longer at busy times or holidays. Google Play reviews are often done within a few hours or a few days.
2- What causes apps to get rejected most often?
Many apps are rejected because they keep crashing, have missing or wrong information in the metadata, lack a privacy policy or do not give clear login directions for reviewers.
3- Do I need a privacy policy for a basic app?
Yes. If an app collects user information, uses analytics or depends on third-party SDKs, it is required to have a clear privacy policy to comply with platform rules.
4- What’s different between iOS and Android submissions?
Submissions to the iOS App Store are manually checked with a strong focus on how easy the app is to use. Android apps, by contrast, are checked by computers for security, how they behave and how they manage data.
5- Can I resubmit after being rejected?
Absolutely. Fix the problem, then you can send the build again (if it is allowed) with notes for the reviewers on the changes.
Gaurav is the founder and CEO of Twinr, a tech entrepreneur with a decade of experience and a passion for SaaS. With a Master's degree in Computer Science, he specializes in no-code development, driving innovation in the mobile app industry. When he's not busy growing the company, you'll find him writing about tech, growth, software development, e-commerce, and occasionally sneaking in a game of badminton.