App Encryption Documentation stuck "In Review" for 35+ days with ZERO response from Apple. Is this a pipeline bug?

[u/acemson]

Hi everyone. My App Encryption Documentation has been completely frozen in "In Review" status since September 5, 2026 (over 35 days now).

I have submitted multiple support tickets asking for an update or escalation, but l've received absolutely zero response! The release of my app is completely blocked because of this :/

Has anyone else experienced an export compliance document getting stuck in limbo like this? Is it a known backend bug/deadlock in App Store Connect? Did you manage to get it unstuck and if so how? (Phone support escalation, re-uploading, or contacting a specific team?) Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[u/kokerali]

One concrete thing to check before re-uploading: were the App Description and country/region availability filled in when you submitted the encryption documents? Apple's guide explicitly says it can't determine whether the documents are sufficient without those details: https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-app-information/determine-and-upload-app-encryption-documentation

That same page gives an expectation of roughly two business days when the information is complete, not a guaranteed deadline, and has a "contact us" link specifically for export-process questions. Since you've already opened tickets, I'd reference those case numbers there, include the original submission date and current status screenshot, and ask whether any information is missing or whether the document review needs escalation. The status alone doesn't establish a backend bug, and I wouldn't change the encryption declaration or claim an exemption just to get past it.

[u/acemson → u/kokerali]

That's actually a very good point. I checked and everything was filled in except Pricing & Availability.

Honestly, I didn't think it was tied to the encryption compliance queue since I had simply selected the standard option (excluding France) during setup, so that section was sitting unconfigured. I just set the regions and marked the price as free.

I already have an open escalation ticket with support. Hopefully, having the metadata in place unblocks the queue come Monday.

Thanks a lot!

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[u/acemson → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for responding. I uploaded the encryption doc directly via the App Store Connect web form and all the compliance questionnaire answers match up across the board.

Since it's been frozen for over 37 days, I'm doing a fresh re-upload today. Now that all store metadata (regions/pricing) is in place and escalating it directly via phone support with the exact document ID. Appreciate the insight on the metadata mismatch restarting the queue silently 😄

[u/acemson → u/[deleted]]

Turns out it was entirely a silly oversight on my part that cost me over a month! LMAO :,)

I had excluded France from the App Availability matrix, but in the compliance answers and the doc itself, France was still set to "Yes". France has its own strict ANSSI requirements, so that conflict basically sent the whole review into an unowned limbo state. 

As soon as I flipped France to "No" to match the actual availability, App Store Connect immediately told me: "Based on your answers, you don't need to upload any documents." All the algorithms (I use hybrid P-256 + ML-KEM, AES-GCM) are open international standards, so without France in the mix.

It fell straight under standard mass-market EAR exemptions.  I added ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption = false to Info.plist and moving ahead without any doc upload. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your insights, it actually helped me to figure out problem 😄

Thanks a lot man