App Rejected for Guideline 5.1.1 Privacy — How to Resubmit
Apple cites Guideline 5.1.1 when your privacy policy, data collection disclosure, or consent flow does not match what the binary actually does. Diagnose and fix.
📱 App Store & TestFlight Issues
A complete problem hub for TestFlight testing, App Review clauses, IAP / subscriptions, product page metadata and privacy.
App Store / TestFlight blockers are rarely code — they are review clauses, privacy questions, IAP / subscription config, build state, and product-page metadata. This hub is organized into four tracks: (1) TestFlight Testing — builds stuck in Processing, missing on device, external testers not invited, Beta App Review too slow, builds expiring, new builds not appearing in App Store Connect; (2) App Review — 4.3(b) design rejection, Guideline 2.1 "more info needed", demo account fails, version stuck in "Waiting for Review", misleading-claims rejection, reviewer cannot access gated features, vague review notes; (3) IAP & Subscriptions — sandbox purchase fails, restore not working across devices, subscription/entitlement mismatch, missing Restore Purchases button; (4) Metadata & Privacy — privacy questionnaire rejected, screenshot / metadata / category issues, product page localization confusion. Every article separates "this is a technical bug" from "this is a review-communication issue" from "this requires a real product change," and ships reusable App Review notes / appeal-letter templates. Wording is intentionally conservative — Apple processes change frequently, so we avoid overconfident promises.
Common problems
- TestFlight build stuck in "Processing" Wait 1-2 hours first; re-upload with a bumped build number is last resort.
- TestFlight build not showing on device Group, min iOS, Apple ID mismatch — three checks.
- External testers not receiving the TestFlight invitation Beta App Review not passed, group lacks build, mail filtered.
- Beta App Review taking too long No SLA; wait 48h first, contact Apple after 5 business days.
- TestFlight build expired 90-day hard limit; upload a fresh build with higher build number.
- New build uploaded but not appearing in App Store Connect Check email + Activity; usually still processing or rejection en route.
- App rejected for Guideline 4.3(b) — design spam Differentiate substantially or appeal with proof.
- Rejected for Guideline 2.1 — more information needed Reviewer literally could not test — provide demo + region notes.
- Demo account stops working during review Disable 2FA, disable rate limits, share fresh credentials.
- App version stuck in "Waiting for Review" too long Up to 5 business days is normal; only then contact Apple.
- App rejected for misleading claims or overpromising Rewrite copy, fix screenshots, or deliver — content fix only.
- Reviewer cannot access a gated feature Provision a fully-entitled reviewer account.
- App Review notes are not clear enough Credentials + numbered steps + region notes + What changed.
- IAP sandbox purchase fails Sandbox account + agreements/banking/tax + product status.
- In-app purchase not restoring correctly across devices Receipt verify + server-side entitlement + legacy product map.
- Subscription / entitlement mismatch after purchase Re-evaluate transactions on launch; server owns entitlements.
- Restore Purchases button missing Visible entry on paywall and Settings; never behind login.
- App Privacy Questionnaire rejected / inconsistent Audit SDK data collection against your nutrition labels.
- Screenshot / metadata issue during submission Real captures; no keyword stuffing; correct category.
- App Store product page localization confusion Each locale reviewed alone; keep claims consistent with base.
- Expired provisioning profile causes build rejection Reissue cert/profile + 30-day calendar + fastlane match.
- TestFlight tester cannot redeem invite code Match region + leave old group + check 10k cap.
In-depth articles in this hub
Archive Upload Fails With Invalid Swift Support Error
App Store Connect rejects your IPA upload with Invalid Swift Support when the embedded Swift libraries do not match Apple's. Diagnose, rebuild, and resubmit.
App Tracking Transparency Prompt Never Appears — Fix
ATTrackingManager.requestTrackingAuthorization returns notDetermined or denied silently because of timing, settings, or Info.plist gaps. Diagnose and fix.
Fix ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption Missing Export Compliance
TestFlight asks for export compliance on every build because Info.plist does not declare ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption. Set it correctly and the prompt disappears.
App Crashes on Launch From Missing NSXxxUsageDescription
iOS terminates the app the moment a privacy-protected API is called without a matching Info.plist usage description. Diagnose, add the right key, and ship.
App Store Screenshot Wrong Dimensions for iPad Pro — Fix
App Store Connect rejects screenshots with Invalid Screenshot Dimensions because iPad Pro requires exact pixel sizes per device class. The reference matrix and fix.