More than 20 packages were rejected by the Apple Store in one day. What has the App Store done in the past two months!

It is understood that the rejected apps involve various fields such as finance, education, and games. Among them are both first-launched products and updated products. The reasons mostly involve suspected payment cutting, vest packages and other issues; however, some developers also reported that they were "accidentally injured" and their normal packages were also rejected.

The incident has been brewing for nearly two months now, and its impact is still expanding. Many rejected developers have spontaneously formed QQ and WeChat groups to look for solutions, and many of the groups have gathered nearly a thousand people. One developer said that more than 20 packages were rejected within a day, and some developers said that their own apps have been reviewed for a month and have not yet been approved. There are even paid services on the Internet to "solve the 2.1 review rejection." Third-party application monitoring data showed that there were approximately 300 applications on the App Store on March 16, which is one-tenth of the same period last year.

What is the "Apple 2.1 Gift Pack"

Apple 2.1 rejection letter received by developers

The Apple 2.1 rejection letter received by the developer shows that the app was rejected because it violated one or more of the following policies:

1.1.6 - Contains false information, functionality, or misleading metadata.

2.3.0 - Major functional changes after review.

2.3.1 - Contains hidden information or undocumented functionality, including hidden “switches” to access gambling or betting sites.

3.1.1 - Use third-party payment mechanisms other than in-app purchases to unlock features.

4.3.0 - is a copy or repackage of another app.

5.2.1 - Submissions made without the legal entity of the App.

5.3.4 - No permission or authority for the App usage scenario.

From these contents, it can be seen that this "Apple 2.1 Gift Pack" is mainly aimed at illegal behaviors such as cutting payments and vest packages. Apple also made it clear in the rejection letter that if an app is found to violate these guidelines at any time, the app will be rejected and removed from the App Store; it also stated that developers must ensure that the app complies with the above guidelines before the review can continue. This means that developers must find ways to modify and solve the relevant problems in the App, otherwise there is no hope of getting it on the shelves.

According to what we have learned, once an App receives a 2.1 rejection letter, it will take at least one week to be put back on the shelves. There are even more Apps that have been under review for more than a month and still cannot be put on the shelves.

Some people had more than 20 packages returned in one day, and some normal packages were "accidentally damaged"

At present, it seems that Apple’s attitude this time is very strict. One developer reported that more than 20 of his packages were rejected within one day. In the QQ group where rejected developers gather, many people have had the experience of communicating with Apple many times by phone and email, but they have never been able to get their products on the shelves. There are even many anxious developers who say that they may lose their jobs because their products have not been reviewed for a long time. "In fact, if you receive 2.1, it is basically certain that there is something wrong with your package, either lack of qualifications or hidden functions. If there is no violation of the package, I think the possibility of violating the 2.1 package is relatively small." A developer admitted that more products that were stuck in this incident were actually products with hidden functions and more or less problems. "For example, many products have hidden Alipay and WeChat payment , but according to Apple's regulations, they cannot be added. Once they are found, they can only be rejected."

However, accidental injuries do occur from time to time. Mr. Li from a game company recalled that at the end of February this year, a mobile game of his company received the legendary "Apple 2.1 gift package". However, Mr. Li said that this mobile game had neither payment cutting problems nor a vest package, it was a normal package. "Later, it was discovered that some sensitive files were left behind at the code level, which led to the accidental damage." Mr. Li explained that the development team checked and found that some SDKs used in Android and image files for WeChat and Alipay payments were carried during the iOS compilation, which led to the accidental damage. After making the modifications, the team communicated with Apple’s backend and eventually solved the problem. During this process, the game was still affected by being taken off the shelves for a week. "For normal packages, if they are accidentally injured, they have to file a complaint and undergo a re-examination, which is quite time-consuming."

The paid review service is questionable. There is no better shortcut except appeal and modification.

This strict review has blocked many apps and also given rise to related paid services.

On a certain online shopping platform, a merchant offered a service to solve the 2.1 review problem, with fees ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 yuan. There are also businesses that provide 2.1 rejected acceleration services, charging 7,999 yuan for the first product and 4,999 yuan for updates, but it does not guarantee passing and can only guarantee quick review feedback. However, facing such strict review by Apple this time, the authenticity of these services is questionable. Judging from the current situation, Apple's review method should be a combination of machine review and human review. Products with suspicious problems are likely to be quickly rejected during the machine review stage. There is currently no shortcut except to file a timely complaint, modify the application as required, and patiently wait for the review results.

Developer Mr. Li suggested: "If you are sure that there is no problem with your qualifications and your product does not violate the rules, you should appeal as soon as possible and communicate with Apple. The problem can usually be resolved." He also reminded that you must reply in the background before resubmitting the product, "otherwise if the problem is not resolved, your account will most likely be blocked." As for products that do violate relevant rules, the most effective way at present may be to delete or modify the application as required.

Objectively speaking, Apple’s “2.1 Gift Pack” incident targets illegal products with the aim of purifying the market. What many developers are worried about is that Apple is too strict, leaving them no loopholes to exploit. "Actually, this is quite normal. The so-called 2.1 is that Apple packages some routine issues together in order to improve the efficiency of the review," said an industry insider.

On the other hand, Apple is notoriously difficult to contact, and the time it takes to file an appeal and wait for review can be long. Many developers have reported that emails they sent to Apple often go unanswered, or that the review process they are waiting for is indefinite, with no response for a month. This has indeed caused headaches for some developers who have been accidentally affected. Therefore, Apple’s “severe crackdowns” in previous years have also caused considerable backlash among developers. According to The Paper , in September 2017, developers of 31 applications from Sichuan collectively reported Apple’s monopoly to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce because their products were removed from the shelves by Apple for violating clause 4.3.

At present, it seems that the impact of the "Apple 2.1 gift package incident" is still expanding, and the number of apps that cannot be put on the shelves is still increasing. Please continue to pay attention to Qinggua Media for subsequent developments.