App store submission testing in Testing Fundamentals - Deep Dive

Overview - App store submission testing

What is it?

App store submission testing is the process of checking a mobile app before sending it to an app store like Apple App Store or Google Play. It ensures the app meets all the store's rules, works well on devices, and provides a good user experience. This testing includes checking functionality, design, performance, and compliance with store guidelines. It helps catch problems early to avoid rejection or bad reviews.

Why it matters

Without app store submission testing, apps might get rejected or removed from stores, causing delays and lost users. Poorly tested apps can crash, confuse users, or break rules, damaging the developer's reputation and revenue. Testing before submission saves time and money by fixing issues early and helps apps reach users smoothly and successfully.

Where it fits

Before app store submission testing, you should know basic software testing concepts and have completed development and internal testing of the app. After this testing, the app moves to the actual submission process and post-release monitoring. It fits between final quality checks and launching the app to users.

Mental Model

Core Idea

App store submission testing is the final quality gate that ensures an app meets all store rules and user expectations before launch.

Think of it like...

It's like checking your luggage carefully before a flight to make sure it meets airline rules, fits in the overhead bin, and contains everything you need for the trip.

┌───────────────────────────────┐
│       App Development         │
└──────────────┬────────────────┘
               │
       ┌───────▼────────┐
       │ Internal Testing│
       └───────┬────────┘
               │
       ┌───────▼───────────────┐
       │ App Store Submission   │
       │      Testing           │
       └───────┬───────────────┘
               │
       ┌───────▼────────┐
       │ App Submission │
       └────────────────┘

Build-Up - 6 Steps

1

Foundation

Understanding App Store Rules

Concept: Learn what app stores require from apps before they accept them.

App stores have rules about app content, privacy, security, design, and functionality. For example, Apple requires apps to respect user privacy and not crash. Google Play checks for malware and proper permissions. Knowing these rules helps testers focus on what to check.

Result

You know the key rules your app must follow to be accepted by the store.

Understanding store rules guides your testing focus and prevents common rejection reasons.

2

Foundation

Basic Functional Testing for Submission

Concept: Check that the app's main features work correctly on target devices.

Test the app's buttons, forms, navigation, and core functions on real devices or simulators. Make sure nothing crashes or freezes. This step ensures the app is stable and usable before submission.

Result

You confirm the app works as expected without major bugs.

Basic functionality is the foundation; no app store will accept a broken app.

3

Intermediate

Testing Compliance with Store Guidelines

🤔Before reading on: do you think testing compliance means only checking app content or also technical aspects? Commit to your answer.

Concept: Verify the app meets all content, privacy, and technical rules of the store.

Check if the app uses allowed APIs, requests permissions properly, respects user data, and avoids prohibited content. For example, test if location permission is requested only when needed. Also, check app metadata like descriptions and screenshots for accuracy.

Result

You identify any rule violations that could cause rejection.

Testing compliance prevents costly rejections and ensures user trust and safety.

4

Intermediate

Performance and Usability Checks

🤔Before reading on: do you think performance testing is optional for submission? Commit to yes or no.

Concept: Assess app speed, responsiveness, and user experience under real conditions.

Test app launch time, smoothness of animations, battery usage, and responsiveness. Also, check if the app is easy to use and accessible. Poor performance or confusing design can lead to bad reviews or rejection.

Result

You confirm the app provides a smooth and pleasant user experience.

Good performance and usability are key to user satisfaction and store approval.

5

Advanced

Automating Submission Test Checks

🤔Before reading on: do you think automation can fully replace manual app store submission testing? Commit to your answer.

Concept: Use automated tools to speed up repetitive checks like UI tests and guideline validations.

Set up automated tests to verify app functionality, UI consistency, and some compliance rules. Tools like XCTest for iOS or Espresso for Android help run tests quickly on many devices. Automation reduces human error and saves time but cannot catch all issues.

Result

You have a faster, more reliable testing process for submission readiness.

Automation boosts efficiency but manual review remains essential for nuanced checks.

6

Expert

Handling Store Review Feedback Efficiently

🤔Before reading on: do you think store review feedback is always clear and easy to fix? Commit to yes or no.

Concept: Learn how to interpret and respond to app store review comments to improve acceptance chances.

Sometimes stores reject apps with vague reasons. Experts analyze feedback carefully, reproduce issues, and prepare clear fixes. They also update app metadata or privacy policies as needed. Efficient handling speeds up approval and avoids repeated rejections.

Result

You can quickly resolve review issues and get your app accepted faster.

Mastering review feedback handling saves time and improves app quality in the long run.

Under the Hood

App store submission testing works by systematically verifying that the app's code, design, and metadata comply with the store's automated and manual review systems. Automated tests check technical correctness and performance, while manual checks focus on content, user experience, and policy adherence. The app package is scanned for security, permissions, and API usage. This layered approach ensures only apps meeting quality and safety standards reach users.

Why designed this way?

App stores must protect millions of users from harmful or low-quality apps. Automated checks handle scale and speed, while manual reviews catch subtle issues. This balance prevents malicious apps and enforces consistent user experience. The design evolved from early open app markets that suffered from spam and poor apps, leading to stricter controls and testing requirements.

┌───────────────────────────────┐
│       App Package Upload      │
└──────────────┬────────────────┘
               │
       ┌───────▼─────────────┐
       │ Automated Testing    │
       │ (code, permissions) │
       └───────┬─────────────┘
               │
       ┌───────▼─────────────┐
       │ Manual Review        │
       │ (content, UX, policy)│
       └───────┬─────────────┘
               │
       ┌───────▼─────────────┐
       │ Approval or Rejection│
       └─────────────────────┘

Myth Busters - 4 Common Misconceptions

Quick: Do you think passing internal tests guarantees app store approval? Commit to yes or no.

Common Belief: If my app works fine on my devices and passes internal tests, it will be accepted by the app store.

Reality: App stores have additional rules and automated/manual checks that can reject apps even if they work well internally.

Why it matters: Relying only on internal tests can cause unexpected rejections, delaying launch and wasting effort.

Quick: Is it true that automated tests alone are enough for submission testing? Commit to yes or no.

Common Belief: Automated testing can catch all issues needed for app store submission.

Reality: Automated tests miss many content, design, and policy issues that require human judgment.

Why it matters: Ignoring manual review risks rejection for reasons automation cannot detect.

Quick: Do you think app store guidelines never change? Commit to yes or no.

Common Belief: Once I pass submission testing, I don't need to worry about guidelines changing.

Reality: App store guidelines evolve regularly, requiring ongoing testing and updates.

Why it matters: Ignoring updates can cause future rejections or app removals.

Quick: Do you think performance testing is optional for app store submission? Commit to yes or no.

Common Belief: Performance testing is not critical for app store acceptance; only functionality matters.

Reality: Poor performance can lead to rejection or bad user reviews affecting app success.

Why it matters: Skipping performance checks risks user dissatisfaction and app failure.

Expert Zone

1

Some app store rules are ambiguous and require interpretation based on app context and target audience.

2

Automated tests can be customized to simulate store review conditions, but false positives and negatives still occur.

3

Handling review feedback professionally often involves clear communication and sometimes negotiation with store reviewers.

When NOT to use

App store submission testing is not a substitute for thorough development testing or security audits. For internal enterprise apps, alternative distribution methods and testing approaches apply. Also, if the app targets multiple platforms, platform-specific submission testing is needed instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.

Production Patterns

Professionals use continuous integration pipelines that include automated submission tests before packaging. They maintain checklists for guideline compliance and use beta testing programs to catch issues early. After submission, monitoring user feedback and store review comments is standard practice to quickly fix problems.

Connections

Continuous Integration (CI)

Builds-on

Integrating submission tests into CI pipelines automates quality checks and speeds up release cycles.

User Experience (UX) Design

Builds-on

Good UX design reduces rejection risk by meeting user expectations and store usability standards.

Quality Control in Manufacturing

Same pattern

Both involve final inspections to ensure products meet standards before reaching customers, preventing defects and dissatisfaction.

Common Pitfalls

#1 Ignoring app store guidelines and hoping the app will be accepted.

Wrong approach:

Submit the app without checking if it requests unnecessary permissions or contains restricted content.

Correct approach:

Review and adjust app permissions and content to comply with store guidelines before submission.

Root cause:

Misunderstanding that functional correctness alone guarantees acceptance.

#2 Relying only on automated tests and skipping manual review.

Wrong approach:

Run only UI automation scripts and ignore manual checks for content and policy compliance.

Correct approach:

Combine automated tests with manual review of app content, design, and metadata.

Root cause:

Overestimating automation capabilities and underestimating human judgment needs.

#3 Not testing on real devices and only using simulators.

Wrong approach:

Test the app only on emulators and assume it works on all devices.

Correct approach:

Test on a range of real devices to catch hardware-specific issues.

Root cause:

Convenience bias and lack of access to physical devices.

Key Takeaways

App store submission testing ensures your app meets all technical, content, and policy requirements before launch.

It combines automated and manual checks to catch issues that could cause rejection or poor user experience.

Understanding and following store guidelines is critical to avoid delays and rejections.

Performance and usability testing are as important as functionality for app success.

Handling store review feedback efficiently speeds up approval and improves app quality.