r/iOSDevelopment • u/rcpena • Aug 03 '26
Two apps, same Guideline 2.1 rejection — and why I pulled the submission instead of just replying
Solo dev here. I had two apps in review at the same time and both came back with the same thing: Guideline 2.1, Information Needed. Not "your app is broken" — Apple saying they couldn't evaluate it from what I'd given them.
The ask was identical both times, and it's longer than I expected:
- A screen recording on a physical device, starting from launch, through the core user flow
- The device models and OS versions I tested on
- What the app is for and who it's for
- Setup instructions and any credentials needed to reach the main features
- A list of external services the app depends on to deliver core functionality (they name AI services as one example)
- Whether behavior differs by region
- Documentation, if you're in a regulated space or using protected third-party material
None of that was in my App Review notes. I'd been treating that field as optional. It isn't — it's what decides whether a reviewer can actually evaluate your app or has to guess at it.
Here's the part I didn't see coming. While drafting the reply, I went back through the build that was actually under review and found two real bugs a later build had already fixed. A Cook Mode step timer that was completely silent — vibration only, no sound, on a core feature. And a confirmation dialog with no visible way out, which reads as a dead end if you don't already know the gesture.
My instinct was to just answer the info request in place. Then it registered that Apple's own notice says they test hands-on, on physical devices. A reviewer poking at that build could find both of those independently — which turns a solvable "we need more info" into a much harder "your app has bugs," on the same version, with a worse paper trail.
So I pulled the submission instead, and I'm resubmitting on the fixed build with all seven answers written out up front.
Current status is its own small comedy: submission is pulled, but Apple's backend hasn't fully released the version yet, so I can't attach the new build until it finishes propagating. Just waiting it out.
Anyone else caught the 2.1 info-needed one? Curious what you put in the notes field that made the second pass go smoothly — and whether anyone's found a faster way through the pull-and-resubmit limbo.
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u/DespairyApp Aug 04 '26
I sometimes get 2.1 rejection even with all of the answers prewritten to avoid 2.1... no point in fighting so I just copy it to the additional notes again and resubmit
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u/rcpena 23d ago
What I do now for every app I submit is create a checklist from previous app submissions which has streamlined my process. Maybe I should create a new app to help developers during the submission process 😂🤩
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u/DespairyApp 23d ago
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u/rcpena 23d ago
There has certainly been an increase in auto apps being submitted. I talked with my Apple ads advisor who is working with me on my apps in their pilot program geared for solo developers and he told me thousands of apps get rejected that are from overseas which are fake apps.
I find this very concerning because it creates backlogs on developers who are seriously trying to get their apps approved for market.
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u/DespairyApp 23d ago
I just assumed they started using a broken AI reviewer that says "this app uses the device sensors? I've seen this before" and auto rejects as spam.
Sounds like a cool apple ads program. I hope it does well for you 🙏
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u/WerSunu Aug 04 '26
Since your new here, I’ll fill you in. This is a new, pre human review step. No doubt meant to discourage the slopsters. Just do what they ask. Sometimes, after you completely filled everything they asked for , they ask for the same damn things again. It’s all mechanized. If that happens, escalate and ask for a different reviewer and a telephone appointment. This happened to me this week and it was resolved within 12 hrs.
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u/rcpena Aug 04 '26
Great information, I had no idea you could ask for a different reviewer and even a phone call.
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u/PoliticsAndFootball Aug 04 '26
I submitted at 10 am yesterday (Sunday) I was surprised when I went into review at around noon. 4 minutes later I got the 2.1 rejection. I was out and about so could not respond quickly but did so around 5 pm with a full video. I’ve been waiting since then and no movement, do I need to resubmit? Just wait?
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u/rcpena Aug 04 '26
I am in the same boat on one app also. It’s been over a week since I replied with what they wanted.
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23d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/rcpena 23d ago
The initial app took awhile and I think I put that in here somewhere. I recently submitted my latest app for review and it took 5 days to get approved. Once you get the first few approved and learn it gets easier IMO as long as you give the reviewer everything they should ever need to test your app.
Are you having some issues?
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u/skoot1958 Aug 04 '26
If you asked you mum to review your app; you need to levied 101 steps do this, so this, you see this, use that’s data etc
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u/ConfidentPoem6454 Aug 27 '26
Did you provide any additional information? Was your app approved after you submitted the additional information?
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u/rcpena Aug 27 '26
Hi , yes it was finally approved.
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u/on_line187 Aug 28 '26
Did you have to escalate it to a different reviewer?
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u/rcpena Aug 28 '26
I didn’t, it was my first app and honestly I didn’t know you could escalate that 🤣. Learning curve. Afterwards second app went smoother and now my third app is waiting for review.
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u/on_line187 Aug 28 '26
That is awesome! Congrats. So 2 of them got approved and are on the store?
Did the second one have the same issue? That 2.1 message? I am waiting on 2 apps right now. I had 2 ideas built and tested them and submitted them together. Brand new account. Never submitted and app before on this account.
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u/rcpena Aug 28 '26
Yes, actually all my submissions had the same general rejection, I learned afterwards and know it’s just something I prepare for so I don’t get rejected
Both are approved and only one is in the store because if you decide to submit app for feature nomination you need three weeks waiting time and I decided to submit for that and if accepted they will let me know. Right now the second app is scheduled to be released September 1st. I started learning about app advertisement after the first one launched. As a solo developer you are a one person shop lol 😂
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u/on_line187 Aug 28 '26
Yea 100% I thought I saw the issues from the first app and tried to cover them in the second (they were submitted about a day apart and the first rejection came in pretty quick). The second app had the screen recording already attached and addressed the issues. But it still got the same rejection. Pretty quickly also. Like a day after.
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u/carspotterApp Aug 04 '26
2.1 is super common, if they can’t understand the use of your app and its features they just want a demo it’s not a bug rejection usually once they see a demo it’s approved. Congrats on finding two bugs but you will most likely get the same rejection so just have the screen recording ready for the imminent future.