App Review status
Stuck in Waiting for Review
Your app has been waiting far longer than Apple's usual review times. Before you cancel and resubmit, check what can hold it up on your side. We go through it with you and write to Apple when it's needed. Fixed price.
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Tell us where it's stuck, get a straight answer
Free first read. We reply within 12 business hours with what to check and a fixed price.
What Apple's message says
Apple's own words about review times, word for word, and what they mean in practice.
On average, 50 percent of apps are reviewed in 24 hours and over 90 percent are reviewed in 48 hours.
These are averages across all apps, not a promise for yours. A wait well past them is worth checking; on its own it doesn't mean something is wrong.
after you resubmit your app, your expected review time will once again be 48 hours.
Cancelling and resubmitting doesn't keep your place. It starts the wait over instead of shortening it.
your app wasn't forgotten and is proceeding through the review process.
A long wait isn't by itself a sign the app was dropped. When nothing on your side is blocking it, this is the kind of answer Developer Support gives.
Expedite requests should be reserved for matters of genuine urgency.
An expedited review is for a real reason, such as a critical bug fix or a release tied to an event. Ask once, and say what the reason is.
What it actually means
Waiting for Review is a status, not a rejection. The submission is in the queue, and there's no message from Apple to answer.
Most of what you can do is on your side of App Store Connect: make sure nothing there holds the submission, answer anything App Review has sent, and only then ask Apple.
What to do
- Open App Review in App Store Connect and look for an unanswered message. If App Review asked you something, reply first.
- In Business, check that your agreements are active and your banking and tax details are complete, especially for a paid app or one with in-app purchases.
- If the app is offered in the EU, check that your Digital Services Act trader status is set.
- If this version adds your first subscriptions or in-app purchases, check that they're attached to the version and submitted with it.
- If there's a real reason the date matters, such as a critical bug or a release tied to an event, request an expedited review once, and say what the reason is.
- If none of that applies and the wait goes on, contact Developer Support. Include the app name, its Apple ID, the version, the date you submitted it, how long it has been waiting and what you've already checked.
What not to do
- Don't cancel and resubmit to restart it. Apple's own email says that after you resubmit, the expected review time is once again 48 hours: the wait starts over.
- Don't send expedite requests again and again, or without a reason. Apple asks to keep them for matters of genuine urgency.
- Don't upload new builds while you wait unless something in the app really has to change.
- Don't send angry messages. Guideline 5.6 asks developers to treat everyone with respect, including when communicating with Apple.
When it's worth getting help
If everything above checks out and the app is still waiting, or a launch date is at stake, we go through your App Store Connect account with you, find anything that can hold the submission, and write the expedite request or the message to Developer Support. We can't make Apple review faster; we make sure nothing on your side is in the way.
Reviewer Reply
$99
Regular price: $190A check of everything in App Store Connect that can hold a submission, and the expedite request or the message to Developer Support, followed until the review starts. No code changes.
Ship updates often and can't afford a week in review? That's Release Desk, from $290 per month.
Several apps waiting at once? Send them all, we'll quote per app.
Fixed price after the free first read. Half to start, half when the case is resolved.
Proof
2.5.1 · 5.2.5
In this AI era we focus so much on speed and shipping to the point we don't take the time to understand parts of the process. Even though I think the Apple Review team can speak in a more human and clear way, I still think they have a hard and necessary job. You've helped me go through this in a smooth way, you reduced this bottleneck to one message, and I can't be more thankful to you!
An app we worked on went through 7 rejections and was approved on round 8.
Questions
Apple says "over 90 percent are reviewed in 48 hours". Why is mine taking weeks?
Apple doesn't explain individual waits. Check what's on your side first: an unanswered message in App Review, agreements and banking in Business, EU trader status, and in-app purchases attached to the version. If all of that is in order, contact Developer Support.
Should I cancel and resubmit?
Usually not. Apple's email says that after you resubmit, your expected review time will once again be 48 hours, so the wait starts over.
When should I request an expedited review?
When there's a real reason, like a critical bug fix or a release tied to an event, and only once. Apple asks to keep expedite requests for matters of genuine urgency.
What should I tell Developer Support?
The app name and its Apple ID, the version, the date you submitted, how long it has been waiting, and what you've already checked. Short and factual.
How fast do you answer?
Free triage within 12 business hours.
Send us the details
Tell us when you submitted, the app's status in App Store Connect and anything App Review sent you. We'll tell you what to check and give you a fixed price.
Prefer X? DM us at @verdict_studio
Got it. Free triage within 12 business hours.
Sources
The first three quotes are from Apple's emails. The rest are from these Apple pages, with the ones the checklist relies on:
- Request an expedited review — App Review Help
- App Review — review times, expedited reviews, contacting App Review
- Sign and update agreements — App Store Connect Help
- EU Digital Services Act trader requirements — App Store Connect Help
- Submit an In-App Purchase — App Store Connect Help
- App Review Guidelines, 5.6 Developer Code of Conduct
Written by Ivan Bilousov, founder of Verdict Studio · Updated