The App Store rejection reasons Rork users hit most — permissions, privacy, Sign in with Apple, and broken flows — and how to resolve each before resubmitting.
An App Store rejection feels personal, but it's routine. Even seasoned native developers get rejected, and apps built quickly with AI assistance are no exception.
Rork accelerates building the app, but it doesn't guarantee compliance with Apple's App Review Guidelines. Those guidelines are the same for every app, however it was made.
This guide covers the rejections Rork users hit most, with a concrete fix for each. Read your rejection notice literally — Apple usually cites the exact guideline.
The mindset that helps: treat each rejection as a specific, fixable checklist item, not a verdict on your app.
A top rejection cause is missing or vague permission descriptions. iOS requires a clear, human-readable reason for accessing the camera, location, photos, contacts, and similar.
Generic strings like 'This app needs access' get rejected. Explain the actual user benefit, such as 'Used to attach a photo to your note.'
Review every permission your app declares. AI-generated projects sometimes request access the app doesn't truly use, and an unused permission is an easy rejection.
Remove permissions you don't need, and write honest, specific strings for the ones you do. This single pass prevents a common round-trip with reviewers.
Apple requires accurate privacy information in App Store Connect, including the privacy 'nutrition label.' Inaccurate answers cause rejections and erode trust.
List exactly what data your app collects and why. If your app uses a backend or analytics, account for what those collect too.
Match your privacy answers to your app's actual behavior. Claiming you collect nothing while your backend logs user data is a contradiction reviewers can catch.
If your app handles user accounts or sensitive data, make sure you have a privacy policy and that it's reachable. Many categories require one.
If your app offers third-party or social login — Google, Facebook, and the like — Apple's guidelines generally require offering Sign in with Apple as an equivalent option.
Shipping social login without it is a frequent, predictable rejection. It's a policy requirement, not a stylistic choice.
Since Rork builds on Expo, Sign in with Apple is supported and achievable. Configure it against your Apple Developer account and test it on a real device.
If you'd rather avoid the requirement entirely, one option is to not offer third-party social logins at all. But if you offer any, plan for Apple's too.
Reviewers actually use your app, and they reject builds that crash, dead-end, or show broken features. A flow that worked in your demo can still fail in their hands.
Test every path on a real device with a fresh install, not just your well-worn happy path. Empty states and first-launch behavior matter.
Watch for placeholder content the AI left in. Lorem ipsum, dummy buttons, and 'coming soon' screens read as unfinished and get rejected.
If a feature isn't ready, hide it rather than shipping it half-working. A smaller, complete app passes more easily than a larger, broken one.
If your app has a login wall, reviewers need a way in. Not providing working demo credentials is one of the most common avoidable rejections.
Create a stable test account and put its credentials in the App Review notes. Make sure that account stays active through the review.
If any feature requires special access, hardware, or setup, explain how to reach it in the review notes. Reviewers won't guess.
Think of the review notes as instructions for a first-time user who must see everything. Clear access instructions remove an entire class of rejections.
Apple rejects apps that feel too thin — essentially a repackaged website or a single static screen. AI-built MVPs can fall into this trap.
If your app is mostly a wrapper around web content with little native value, expect scrutiny. Add genuine app functionality, not just a web view.
Make sure the app does something useful or provides real interactivity. Demonstrable native value is what separates an app from a bookmark.
This is less about Rork and more about product substance. Speed of building shouldn't translate into a shallow app, or review will notice.
Rejections also come from content you didn't write yourself. AI-generated projects and quick MVPs sometimes pull in images, icons, or sample text without clear rights to use them.
Make sure every asset that ships is one you're allowed to use. Placeholder images pulled from the web, brand logos, and copyrighted content are all rejection risks.
Check any text the app displays for accuracy and tone. Apple looks for misleading claims, broken links in your description, and content that doesn't match what the app actually does.
This pass is easy to forget because it feels unrelated to code. But the store listing and the in-app content are part of what review judges, so treat them with the same care as the build itself.
The most reliable way to avoid rejections is to run the same checklist every time before you submit. Reviewers apply consistent criteria, so a consistent check catches most issues first.
Walk the list: honest permission strings, accurate privacy answers and a reachable policy, Sign in with Apple wherever you offer social login, and every flow working on a fresh install.
Add the operational items: stable demo credentials in the review notes, instructions for any gated feature, and a final check that no placeholder content remains.
Finally, confirm the app offers real value rather than wrapping a website. Running this list before each submission turns App Review from a gamble into a predictable, repeatable step you control.
When you've addressed the cited reason, fix exactly that point and resubmit. Don't over-correct unrelated things that could introduce new problems.
Reply in Resolution Center if you believe a rejection was a misunderstanding. A clear, factual explanation sometimes resolves it without changes.
Keep notes on what each rejection taught you. The same checklist — permissions, privacy, Apple sign-in, working flows, demo access — prevents repeat issues on future updates.
Remember the division of labor: Rork helped you build fast, but compliance is your responsibility. Owning that makes every resubmission smoother and your app more trustworthy.
Missing or vague permission usage strings and not providing demo login credentials are among the most frequent and avoidable causes. Both are quick to fix before resubmitting.
If your app offers third-party or social logins like Google or Facebook, Apple's guidelines generally require offering Sign in with Apple too. It's supported through Expo and configurable against your Apple Developer account.
Usually because the privacy details in App Store Connect don't match the app's actual data collection, including what your backend or analytics collect. Make the answers accurate and provide a reachable privacy policy if required.
Yes. Apple rejects apps that are essentially a repackaged website or a single static screen. Add genuine native functionality and interactivity rather than just wrapping web content.
Provide stable demo credentials in the App Review notes and keep that account active through review, along with instructions for reaching any gated features.