After 25+ AU app launches, here's the exact submission checklist we run before every App Review and Play Console submission. Apply this and your first-attempt approval rate goes from ~50% to ~95%.
The seven killers
- No demo account / login walls. If your app gates content behind auth, supply a working demo account in App Review notes. Half of all rejections are because the reviewer literally can't get in.
- Sign in with Apple missing. If you offer Google/Facebook login on iOS, you must offer Sign in with Apple. Mandatory.
- Privacy nutrition labels mismatch. If your app sends analytics to PostHog or Sentry but doesn't declare it, instant rejection.
- Web view that's basically a website. Apple rejects "thinly wrapped" web apps. You need at least one truly native feature (push, biometrics, camera, offline).
- In-app purchases routed outside Apple. If users can buy a subscription, it must go through StoreKit on iOS. Linking to "buy on web" is a guaranteed rejection.
- Permissions without justification strings. Every permission (camera, location, contacts) needs a purpose string in Info.plist. "Allow access to camera" is too generic; explain why.
- Health/medical claims without disclaimers. Aged care, mental health, fitness — all need explicit disclaimers and often require IRB-style language.
Pre-flight checklist
- Demo account in review notes (yes, every time, even if "no login required").
- App icon at 1024×1024 with no alpha channel.
- Screenshots: 6.7", 6.5", 5.5" iPhone + 12.9" iPad if applicable.
- Privacy policy URL live and reachable from the app's settings.
- Support URL with a real human contact form.
- Marketing URL (can be your homepage).
- Age rating: complete the questionnaire honestly. Lying = removal later.
- Sign in with Apple if any social login.
Play Console specifics
- Target API level. 2026 minimum is 34 (Android 14). Old apps get rejected at upload.
- Data safety form. Mirror your iOS privacy labels — discrepancies trigger manual review.
- App bundle > APK. Use AAB. Smaller download = better install rate.
- Internal testing track for at least 14 days before production rollout.
"Using this checklist, our last 9 app submissions went through on first attempt — average 18-hour review time."
Brandwings field log · 2026