| Before | After | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | In the European Union, developers can also distribute notarized iOS and iPadOS apps from alternative app marketplaces and directly from their website; in Japan, developers can also distribute iOS apps from alternative app marketplaces. | 7 | In some markets and on certain platforms, developers can also distribute notarized apps from alternative app marketplaces and directly from their website. |
| 15 | A few other points to keep in mind about distributing your app on our platforms: We have lots of kids downloading lots of apps. | 15 | A few other points to keep in mind about distributing your app on our platforms: We have lots of kids and teens downloading apps to stay in touch, explore creativity, learn, and grow their independence. |
| 16 | Parental controls work great to protect kids, but you have to do your part too. | 16 | Keeping them safe is something we take seriously. |
| 17 | So know that we’re keeping an eye out for the kids. | 17 | Parental controls give parents a powerful way to manage what their child can access and when — but you have to do your part too. |
| 18 | Make sure kids are getting age-appropriate experiences inside your app. | ||
| 41 | If your app includes account-based features, provide either an active demo account or fully-featured demo mode, plus any other hardware or resources that might be needed to review your app (e.g. login credentials or a sample QR code) Enable backend services so that they’re live and accessible during review Include detailed explanations of non-obvious features and in-app purchases in the App Review notes, including supporting documentation where appropriate Check whether your app follows guidance in other documentation, such as: Developer Documentation SwiftUI UIKit AppKit App extensions Optimizing Your App’s Data for iCloud Backup Apple File System App Store Connect Help Developer Account Help Design Guidelines Human Interface Guidelines Brand and Marketing Guidelines Marketing Resources and Identity Guidelines Apple Pay Marketing Guidelines Add to Apple Wallet Guidelines Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights Guidelines that include apply to Notarization for iOS and iPadOS apps in the EU and Notarization for iOS apps in Japan . 1. | 42 | If your app includes account-based features, provide either an active demo account or fully-featured demo mode, plus any other hardware or resources that might be needed to review your app (e.g. login credentials or a sample QR code) Enable backend services so that they’re live and accessible during review Include detailed explanations of non-obvious features and in-app purchases in the App Review notes, including supporting documentation where appropriate Check whether your app follows guidance in other documentation, such as: Developer Documentation SwiftUI UIKit AppKit App extensions Optimizing Your App’s Data for iCloud Backup Apple File System App Store Connect Help Developer Account Help Design Guidelines Human Interface Guidelines Brand and Marketing Guidelines Marketing Resources and Identity Guidelines Apple Pay Marketing Guidelines Add to Apple Wallet Guidelines Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights Guidelines that include apply to Notarization for iOS and iPadOS apps . 1. |
| 50 | If your app includes user-generated content from a web-based service, it may display incidental mature “NSFW” content, provided that the content is hidden by default and only displayed when the user turns it on via your website. 1.2.1 Creator Content Apps which feature content from a specific community of users called “creators” are a great opportunity if properly moderated. | 51 | If your app includes user-generated content from a web-based service, it may display incidental mature “NSFW” content, provided that the content is hidden by default and only displayed when the user turns it on via your website. |
| 52 | It is your responsibility to remove content that violates this guideline, your terms of service, or your community standards. | ||
| 53 | If we find such content, we will ask you to remove it, and provide a plan to improve your compliance with this guideline. | ||
| 54 | Based on your response, your app may be removed from the App Store until you can demonstrate improvements that bring your app into compliance. | ||
| 55 | Egregious or repeated behavior is grounds for immediate removal of your app from the App Store, and from the Apple Developer Program. 1.2.1 Creator Content Apps which feature content from a specific community of users called “creators” are a great opportunity if properly moderated. | ||
| 147 | Learn more about these entitlements . 2.5.7 Intentionally omitted. 2.5.8 Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments will be rejected. 2.5.9 Apps that alter or disable the functions of standard switches, such as the Volume Up/Down and Ring/Silent switches, or other native user interface elements or behaviors will be rejected. | 152 | Learn more about these entitlements for the EU and Japan. 2.5.7 Intentionally omitted. 2.5.8 Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments will be rejected. 2.5.9 Apps that alter or disable the functions of standard switches, such as the Volume Up/Down and Ring/Silent switches, or other native user interface elements or behaviors will be rejected. |
| 283 | (e) Thin clients for cloud-based apps are not appropriate for the App Store. 4.3 Spam (a) Don’t create multiple Bundle IDs of the same app. | 288 | (e) Thin clients for cloud-based apps are not appropriate for the App Store. 4.3 Spam (a) Don’t create multiple Bundle IDs of the same app (for example, submitting a separate map app for every city in the world instead of a single worldwide map that allows users to search any city). |
| 284 | If your app has different versions for specific locations, sports teams, universities, etc., consider submitting a single app and provide the variations using in-app purchase. | 289 | This practice results in unnecessary apps, which makes it hard for users to find the apps they want. |
| 285 | (b) Also avoid piling on to a category that is already saturated; the App Store has enough fart, burp, flashlight, fortune telling, dating, drinking games, and Kama Sutra apps, etc. already. | 290 | If your app has different versions for specific locations, sports teams, universities, etc., consider submitting a single app and providing the variations using in-app purchase. |
| 286 | We will reject these apps unless they provide a unique, high-quality experience. | 291 | (b) Don’t submit apps that are indistinguishable from what's already widely available. |
| 287 | Spamming the store may lead to your removal from the Apple Developer Program. 4.4 Extensions Apps hosting or containing extensions must comply with the App Extension Programming Guide , the Safari app extensions documentation , or the Safari web extensions documentation and should include some functionality, such as help screens and settings interfaces where possible. | 292 | Opportunistically creating variants of existing app categories or popular apps degrades App Store discovery, reduces overall app quality, and harms both users and developers. |
| 293 | Certain kinds of apps, such as dating, flashlight, sound effects, wallpaper, simple timers, and fortune telling, are well established on the App Store and we will not accept new submissions unless they offer a meaningfully different or improved experience. | ||
| 294 | We may remove these apps from the App Store going forward if they are not updated, improved, or do not attract customers. | ||
| 295 | Other kinds of apps, such as drinking games, Kama Sutra, fart, and burp apps, are mediocre, low-quality, or low-effort and do not add value to the App Store. | ||
| 296 | Repeated submissions of this kind may lead to removal from the Apple Developer Program. 4.4 Extensions Apps hosting or containing extensions must comply with the App Extension Programming Guide , the Safari app extensions documentation , or the Safari web extensions documentation and should include some functionality, such as help screens and settings interfaces where possible. | ||
| 303 | This data may not be used to identify users or devices, or to target advertising. 4.5.3 Do not use Apple Services to spam, phish, or send unsolicited messages to customers, including Game Center, Push Notifications, etc. | 312 | This data may not be used to identify users or devices, or to target advertising. 4.5.3 Do not use Apple Services to spam, phish, or send unsolicited messages to customers, including Game Center, Push Notifications, Live Activities, etc. |
| 312 | It must include universal links that lead to all of the software offered in your app. 4.7.5 Your app must provide a way for users to identify software that exceeds the app’s age rating, and use an age restriction mechanism based on verified or declared age to limit access by underage users. 4.8 Login Services Apps that use a third-party or social login service (such as Facebook Login, Google Sign-In, Sign in with Twitter, Sign In with LinkedIn, Login with Amazon, or WeChat Login) to set up or authenticate the user’s primary account with the app must also offer as an equivalent option another login service with the following features: the login service limits data collection to the user’s name and email address; the login service allows users to keep their email address private as part of setting up their account; and the login service does not collect interactions with your app for advertising purposes without consent. | 321 | It must include universal links that lead to all of the software offered in your app. 4.7.5 Your app must provide a way for users to identify software that exceeds the app’s age rating, and use an age restriction mechanism based on verified or declared age to limit access by underage users. 4.8 Login Services Apps that use a third-party or social login service (such as Facebook Login, Google Sign-In, Log in with X, Sign In with LinkedIn, Login with Amazon, or WeChat Login) to set up or authenticate the user’s primary account with the app must also offer as an equivalent option another login service with the following features: the login service limits data collection to the user’s name and email address; the login service allows users to keep their email address private as part of setting up their account; and the login service does not collect interactions with your app for advertising purposes without consent. |
| 452 | Last Updated: February 6, 2026 | 461 | Last Updated: June 8, 2026 |
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