App review guidelines in iOS Swift - Build, Publish & Deploy

Build & Publish - App review guidelines

Performance Impact

Following app review guidelines ensures your app runs smoothly without unexpected crashes or slowdowns. Apps that misuse resources or have poor performance often get rejected. Maintaining good performance helps keep frame rates at 60fps, reduces memory use below 1.5GB, and preserves battery life.

Optimization Tips

To meet guidelines and keep your app fast, optimize startup time by lazy loading features, minimize background tasks, and use efficient data handling. Test on real devices to ensure smooth UI and quick response. Avoid blocking the main thread and use asynchronous calls for network or heavy tasks.

App Size and Startup Time

Apple recommends keeping app bundles small, ideally under 100MB for over-the-air downloads. Large apps delay installation and startup, risking rejection. Use app thinning, compress assets, and remove unused code to reduce size. Fast startup improves user experience and meets guideline expectations.

iOS vs Android Differences

iOS apps require strict adherence to Apple Human Interface Guidelines and privacy rules. Code signing and provisioning profiles are mandatory. The App Store review usually takes 24-48 hours. Android apps have more flexible UI rules but require APK/AAB signing and Google Play review times vary from hours to days.

App Store Review Checklist

• Functionality: App must be complete, stable, and free of bugs.
• Content: No offensive or illegal content allowed.
• Privacy: Must include a privacy policy and request user permissions clearly.
• User Interface: Follow Apple's Human Interface Guidelines for layout and navigation.
• Performance: Smooth animations, no crashes, and efficient memory use.
• Metadata: Accurate app description, screenshots, and keywords.
• Legal: Comply with copyright and intellectual property laws.

Self-Check Question

Your app takes 5 seconds to load this screen. What's likely wrong?

• Heavy synchronous tasks blocking the main thread.
• Large uncompressed assets loading at startup.
• Network calls done on the main thread instead of asynchronously.
• Lack of lazy loading for non-essential features.

Key Result

Following Apple's app review guidelines ensures your app is stable, respects user privacy, and meets performance standards, which helps pass review quickly and provides a smooth user experience.

Practice

1. Which of the following is a key reason for following App Store review guidelines?

easy

A. To ensure apps are safe and user-friendly

B. To make apps run faster on all devices

C. To increase app download size

D. To allow apps to bypass security checks

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of review guidelines

   App Store guidelines exist to keep apps safe and user-friendly for everyone.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   Only To ensure apps are safe and user-friendly matches the purpose; others are unrelated or incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   To ensure apps are safe and user-friendly -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   App safety and usability = D [OK]

Hint: Think about why Apple reviews apps before approval [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing performance with safety
• Assuming guidelines increase app size
• Believing guidelines allow security bypass

2. Which Swift code snippet correctly requests user permission for location access following App Store guidelines?

easy

A. CLLocationManager().startUpdatingLocation()

B. CLLocationManager().stopUpdatingLocation()

C. CLLocationManager().requestAlwaysAuthorization() without Info.plist key

D. CLLocationManager().requestWhenInUseAuthorization()

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct permission request method

   requestWhenInUseAuthorization() properly asks user permission as per guidelines.

2. Step 2: Check for Info.plist compliance

   CLLocationManager().requestAlwaysAuthorization() without Info.plist key misses required Info.plist key, violating guidelines.

3. Final Answer:

   CLLocationManager().requestWhenInUseAuthorization() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Proper permission request = B [OK]

Hint: Permission requests must match Info.plist keys [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Starting location updates before permission
• Requesting authorization without plist keys
• Stopping updates instead of requesting permission

3. What will happen if your app uses private APIs not allowed by App Store guidelines?

medium

A. App will be rejected during review

B. App will run faster on devices

C. App will automatically update permissions

D. App will be featured on the App Store

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand private API usage rules

   Using private APIs is against guidelines and causes rejection.

2. Step 2: Evaluate consequences of private API use

   Only rejection fits; other options are unrelated or false.

3. Final Answer:

   App will be rejected during review -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Private API use = A [OK]

Hint: Private APIs cause rejection, not benefits [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking private APIs improve app speed
• Assuming automatic permission updates
• Believing private APIs lead to featuring

4. You submitted an app that crashes on launch during review. What is the most likely cause based on App Store guidelines?

medium

A. Not requesting user permission for notifications

B. Using too many images in the app bundle

C. Missing required launch storyboard or incorrect Info.plist setup

D. Having a large app icon size

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify common crash causes on launch

   Missing launch storyboard or wrong Info.plist keys cause immediate crashes.

2. Step 2: Check other options for crash relevance

   Options B, C, D do not cause launch crashes.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing required launch storyboard or incorrect Info.plist setup -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Launch crash cause = A [OK]

Hint: Check launch storyboard and Info.plist first for crashes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Blaming image count for crashes
• Ignoring launch storyboard setup
• Confusing permission requests with crashes

5. Your app collects user data. According to App Store guidelines, what must you do before submitting?

hard

A. Only mention data collection in app description

B. Provide a clear privacy policy and request user consent

C. Collect data silently without informing users

D. Encrypt data but skip user consent

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand data collection rules

   Guidelines require clear privacy policy and user consent before data collection.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for compliance

   Only Provide a clear privacy policy and request user consent meets these requirements; others violate guidelines.

3. Final Answer:

   Provide a clear privacy policy and request user consent -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Privacy policy + consent = C [OK]

Hint: Always include privacy policy and ask consent [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Collecting data without user knowledge
• Hiding data use only in description
• Skipping consent even if data is encrypted