Apple App Store on iOS is the most trusted and the only space to discover over 2 million applications for all iOS users across devices. So how do you get your app approved for this platform?
In 2017, Apple App Store downloads reached a record number of a mind-blowing 180 billion! This was achieved in less than nine years of launching the App Store. It continues to rise at a rapid pace even today. In February 2021 alone, over 29 thousand apps were published on the Apple App Store. This is a fiercely competitive battleground, where over 40% of apps face rejection. Therefore, your app needs to be unique, simple, well designed and optimised. Over the years, our team of iOS developers has launched multiple apps for MNCs, startup’s and businesses. This is our way of saying that we’ve learned the importance of having a best practice guide, the hard way. So, we wanted to put together these tips to help you with the process. There is no real cheat sheet to help you get past the review process. However, over the years we have gained experience in launching multiple apps on the App Store. In addition to this, we have won multiple App of the Day awards and features for the same. Therefore, we wanted to share some advice that could help you navigate the review process. These are some basics that your app needs to get right for a smoother Apple App Store Review process. Beyond the basics, too, there is a list of other things that you need to get ticked off before you send in your application for a review. Let’s take a look at them.1. Make Sure You Follow App Store Review Guidelines
Apple is a stickler for rules and regulations. They have has strict guidelines in place when it comes to publishing apps. Some of these include safety, design, performance, legal requirements and the overall business model of the app. To ensure the fast track and ease of the approval process, a proper evaluation of your app is necessary. As mentioned earlier, Apple rejects 40% of the apps submitted to them. This is due to issues like poor performance, bugs, and frequent crashes. All developers need to thus follow Apple’s strict and comprehensive guidelines before and after the submission. Apple periodically publishes data on this topic to keep potential applicants updated. Use these guidelines as a good thing because following them will provide the best experience for your users Over 40% of apps face rejection because of one criterion termed “App Completeness”. Under this criterion, apps with placeholder texts, lack of proper metadata and URLs, technical problems and empty websites face rejection.2. Ensure A Thorough Quality Assurance (QA) Of Your App On All Supported Devices
Quality of products has always preceded every other criterion for Apple. As explained by CNBC, Apple’s innovative and quality-based approach towards product development revolutionised the world. Apple expects the same high-quality from apps to be published on the Apple App Store. So the answer here is to Test, Test and Test! Test with both your developers and in-house testers. But ensure that you have your app tested with your beta group as well. The great thing is that Apple already has an excellent build testing tool to aid with the testing process!
TestFlight is an excellent service offered by Apple for app developers to test their applications. With both internal and external users who can share their feedback with developers quickly. Furthermore, crash logging tools like Crashlytics and Sentry help with exception tracking early on. This allows your business to optimise applications by getting various insights on crash reports or bugs. This is apart from any other feedback your internal or external test users may want to provide.
3. Ensure The Metadata Accuracy Of Your App
Apple’s review team uses your app’s metadata as part of its review process. Provided by your app, this data essentially includes app description, screenshots, keywords, and any modifications that you may have added in the newer versions of the app for future updates. This updated data is showcased using appropriate titles, screenshots, detailed descriptions and newly added privacy labels.
According to the guidelines issued by the Apple App Store, this data may also need to be updated from time to time. Even on an ongoing basis, keeping this data optimised using appropriate keywords and phrases will also improve the position of your app in the store listing and search results.
4. Ensure Your App Policies Are Correctly In Place
To Apple, transparency on data collection and utilisation, payments and general user data is key. They are incredibly particular about the ethical standards maintained while forming the app. As a result, ensure your app provides all information on the data collected, functionality and policies to both the user and the review team transparently. Any unethical policies or functionalities that breach the guidelines can result in the rejection of the app.
5. Thoroughly Test The “In-App Purchases” Aspect Of Your App
In-App Purchases are a great way for you to offer your customers some extra content and features within your application. The user can use this to unlock premium features, services, and buy items on sale via the App Store. The tool also allows your business and developers to bring in additional revenue. You can use these transactions to update and maintain the application. Note that Apple takes a small commission on the transactions made under the In-App Purchases.
Apple has put several tools to test out the implementation of the In-App Purchases within your application. These tools essentially allow you to test In-App purchases through different platforms, including the Apple App Store, Xcode and the App Store Connect. Under a unique Sandbox Environment, you can test your app’s entire In-App Purchases transaction, from simple one time purchases to auto-renewal subscription models, besides other types and forms of transactions.
6. Ensure To Upload Accurate Screenshots
Screenshots of your app in the store are an excellent way for users to understand its functionality and features. The review team at the Apple App Store use these screenshots to know more about the App and verify if it adheres to their pre-defined guidelines. More importantly, the screenshots should communicate the app’s value to users.
Note that you need to provide proper screenshots of your app in action, displaying the app’s functionality, design, and features. The review team ensures that the screenshots show the actual application and are not infringing any copyrights or using illegal images or keywords.
Other tips to keep in mind are:
- Ensure you upload all the applicable screenshot sizes. Refer to this article for the sizing guide.
- If your screenshots include images of devices, ensure those correct devices are used. Non-Apple devices are a big no-no. Further, ensure that screenshot for iPhones and iPads, if needed, include the correct generation devices.
- Do not use logos of any third parties unless you have the right to do so and provide the required documentation to support such rights.
- Do not use any dummy or placeholder text in your screenshots (or app, for that matter)