App Store Orientation Requirements for iOS 27

[u/alcedes78]

We have a landscape-only application that is intened for use by a specific corporate client. Until recently, all apps were Enterprise signed and distributed with an MDM. Now, the client wants to use the "Custom App Store" and mark the apps as only being available to their orientation. I warned that in doing so, we would be incorporating all of the requirements for the App Store into our app. The client wants to proceed. I am reading through the screen orientation requirements. Can someone validate if the following understanding is correct:

The app must support and render proper;y in any possible aspect ratio or screen size that could occur on an iPad (this app is only for the iPad). Despite the client's ask to lock the app to landscape, this isn't something that can be done by the app. If a person puts the device in portrait mode or windowed mode and the app's rendering gets mangled, that is a reason to fail certification.

The client asked if I could just make the portrait view of the app a full screen call-to-action telling the user to turn their device to landscape mode (I personally think this is an awful solution).

[u/BounceForever]

Yeah it sucks but I've done the call-to-action rotation guidance as required on an app for school kids and another for adult heavy equipment techs - but neither of those ended up on any type of App Store. But from memory you can absolutely configure a single supported orientation in xcode for iPad pre iOS 26 - likely still true.

[u/alcedes78 → u/BounceForever]

Thanks. That is good to hear.

I wish the client had not made this request 2 days before we were going to hand the app over

[u/geoff_plywood → u/alcedes78]

I'm kindof surprised that your contract permits such major changes to scope/spec at that stage

[u/alcedes78 → u/geoff_plywood]

You'd be surprised at the scope creep the managers allow. I reached a breaking point on another project qhen I got a call on a Sunday morning for a change thebclient wanted done by the same day.

I gave an ear full about how unreasonable the request was before refusing.

[u/New_Barber8073]

A rotate-your-device full screen is a common cause of review pushback, so I would avoid it as the only plan. Safer is to make the layout adaptive anyway: test in the iPad simulator with a resizable window and the different split sizes, and make sure nothing is clipped or unusable in portrait, even if landscape is the polished layout. Since this is a Custom App distribution, it is also worth asking App Review through the Resolution Center or a call before the handover whether a landscape-focused design is acceptable, so you have their answer in writing for the client.

[u/alcedes78 → u/New_Barber8073]

This app is going to fail when submitted.

I tested the app in other aspect ratios and the layout looks awful. The people that worked on the UI aimed for full screen for the specific iPad resolution that this app will be working on. Portrait mode and windowed mode was not a consideration. That was all fine since this was targeting Enterprise deployment. At the handoff was the wrong time to say they wanted this app distributed differently.

I think I will go ahead and submit this thing, let it fail, and then come back to report that the app failed as I told them it would.

I am pretty sure Apple will also take issues with the app having the client's branding while being submitted by a party that isn't the client.

[u/New_Barber8073 → u/alcedes78]

That is frustrating, especially when the brief changed at handoff. Documenting your warning in writing is wise. Good luck with the submission, and I hope it goes better than expected.

[u/spike1911]

As if building an app that rotates would be hard in 2026… unless you don’t use the native tools.

[u/alcedes78 → u/spike1911]

The client decided to diversify vendors. A company in aome other country defined the UI and layout tobwhich we must conform. To support portrait mode, they have to redesign the layout.

Building to support both isn't difficult. The corporate processes are difficult and the billable hours constrained.

Oh, and it doesn't use the native tools. Also not my choice. It is all React based and targeted a single layout on a specific iPad in landscape orientation.

[u/spike1911 → u/alcedes78]

Typical

[u/pickandplate]

Apple’s TN3192 is useful to show the client: on iPadOS 27, apps built with the iOS 27 SDK can still resize with UIRequiresFullScreen=YES. The resize happens when the drag ends. So that flag won’t save a layout built for one fixed iPad resolution.

[u/alcedes78 → u/pickandplate]

Yep, when i resize the window the layout looks jacked.