Apple · Apple App Store Review Guidelines

Subscription Auto-Renewal Disclosure Requirements

Medium severity
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What it is

Before asking a user to subscribe, you must clearly describe what the user will get if they subscribe, what will be charged, how often they'll be charged, and how to cancel.

Why it matters

Subscription dark patterns — where users are charged without clear advance notice — are a leading source of consumer complaints; Apple's disclosure requirement is a meaningful protection against surprise recurring charges.

Consumer impact

Apple's App Review Guidelines directly affect what apps consumers can access, what data those apps may collect, and how they can pay for digital content — Apple's mandatory in-app purchase requirement means app developers cannot offer cheaper prices through external payment links on iOS. Consumers benefit from Apple's content and privacy review standards, which prohibit apps from collecting data beyond declared purposes and require age-gating for adult content, but have no direct appeal mechanism if Apple removes an app they rely upon. You can review an app's declared data practices by checking the App Privacy section on any App Store listing before downloading.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Cancel Subscription
    Go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions on your iPhone or iPad, or visit apps.apple.com/account/subscriptions, to view and cancel any active App Store subscriptions.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC enforces the Negative Option Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 425) and has authority over deceptive auto-renewal subscription practices in apps.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State AGs enforce auto-renewal disclosure laws including California's Automatic Renewal Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§17600-17606) applicable to subscription apps.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Apple App Store Review Guidelines
Entity
Apple
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001967
Document ID
CA-D-00025
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
877541265fefdbebabcd1e30fe9651433f6b1dd3064ee4d811f9f9918e043f98
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Apple | Document: Apple App Store Review Guidelines | Record: CA-P-001967
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:15:42 UTC | SHA-256: 877541265fefdbeb…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/apple/apple-app-store-review-guidelines/subscription-auto-renewal-disclosure-requirements/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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