If an app lets you create an account, it must also let you delete that account from within the app itself — developers cannot make deletion difficult or inaccessible.
This analysis describes what Apple's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes a mandatory operational requirement for app developers to implement account deletion functionality as a standard feature. It ensures that account lifecycle management includes a user-initiated deletion mechanism, addressing scenarios where continued app access is unavailable.
The updated guidelines state that developers must ensure kids receive age-appropriate experiences within their apps and must remove user-generated content that violates the guidelines, terms of service, or community standards. Under the revised policy, if Apple identifies policy-violating content, the developer will be asked to remove it and provide a compliance improvement plan. Based on the developer's response, the app may be removed from the App Store until compliance is demonstrated. This establishes a formal escalation pathway where developer inaction or inadequate remediation can result in app suspension or removal.
View change record →Removal of this provision eliminates the explicit requirement for in-app account deletion functionality, potentially reducing user data control protections.
View full change record →Consumers have a guaranteed in-app pathway to delete their account and associated personal data from any App Store app that supports account creation, reducing the burden of exercising data deletion rights.
How other platforms handle this
If you delete your account, we aim to delete your personal information from our servers within 30 days.
We keep some data until you delete your Google Account, such as information about how often you use Gemini Apps.
If you decide to delete your Profile, it will no longer be visible to other Grindr users and your personal information will generally be deleted within 28 days.
"Apps that allow for account creation must also allow users to initiate deletion of their account from within the app. This includes offering account deletion for users who are no longer able to access the app (for example, due to device loss).Excerpt from Apple's App Store Review Guidelines
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision operationalizes GDPR Art.
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This provision establishes a mandatory operational requirement for app developers to implement account deletion functionality as a standard feature. It ensures that account lifecycle management includes a user-initiated deletion mechanism, addressing scenarios where continued app access is unavailable.
Consumers have a guaranteed in-app pathway to delete their account and associated personal data from any App Store app that supports account creation, reducing the burden of exercising data deletion rights.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 274 platforms. See the full comparison.
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