App Store Pre-Submission Quality Checklist (2026)

App Store and Google Play rejections cost weeks. A rejected app can't ship until you fix + resubmit. Most rejections are avoidable with a pre-submission walkthrough.

This is the working checklist. Walk through before every release, not just the first.

Metadata + ASO

Title (iOS / Google Play)

• Under 30 characters (iOS) / 30-50 (Android).
• No competitor brand names.
• No promotional claims ("#1", "best").
• No emojis or special characters that won't render in all stores.
• Includes primary keyword naturally.

Subtitle (iOS) / Short description (Google Play)

• Under 30 chars (iOS) / 80 chars (Android).
• Different keywords than title.
• Reads naturally.

Keywords field (iOS only)

• Filled to ~100 characters.
• Comma-separated, no spaces.
• No plurals if singulars present (or vice versa).
• No words already in title or subtitle.
• No competitor brand names.

Description

• First 3 lines (visible before "more") sell the app.
• No false claims about features.
• No competitor mentions.
• Subscription terms clearly disclosed (if applicable).
• Google Play: long description uses top keywords 2-3 times naturally.

Localization

• If targeting multiple markets, each has its own listing.
• Translations done by humans (not just machine translation for major markets).
• Keywords researched per market, not just translated.

Screenshots

• At least 5 screenshots (more for visual categories).
• First 3 tell a complete story.
• Each has a clear caption.
• Text readable at thumbnail size.
• Real app content (not stock).
• Color contrast meets accessibility (4.5:1 minimum).
• Dark mode and light mode work.
• Different device sizes covered (iPhone + iPad).

App icon

• Stands out in your category's top-10 grid.
• Single focal point.
• Bright saturated colors.
• Readable at thumbnail size (60×60).
• No "Coming Soon" or "Beta" text.
• No competitor brand symbols.

App Preview video (if shipping)

• 15-30 seconds.
• First frame is engaging (not a logo).
• Captions on key moments.
• No external app/web references.
• No competitor names.
• No misleading claims.

Privacy

• Privacy policy URL is reachable.
• Privacy nutrition labels (iOS) match actual data practices.
• Data Safety section (Android) matches actual practices.
• ATT prompt (iOS) implemented if tracking SDKs are used.
• User data deletion option present (where required).
• No data collection beyond what's declared.

Subscriptions (if applicable)

• Subscription terms clearly disclosed in app + screenshot.
• Auto-renewal explicitly disclosed.
• Cancellation instructions clear.
• Pricing visible before purchase action.
• No misleading trial terms.
• Restore purchases functionality works.

Kids' apps (if applicable)

• "Made for Kids" / "Designed for Families" tag set.
• Parental gate for in-app purchases.
• No behavioral advertising.
• No external links.
• COPPA / GDPR-K compliance verified.

Technical

• Crash-free sessions ≥99.5%.
• Tested on lowest supported OS version.
• Tested on iPad and iPhone (iOS), tablet + phone (Android).
• No "Coming Soon" placeholder screens.
• No debug menus accessible to users.
• Push notification permission requested with context (not on launch).
• App handles network failures gracefully.
• App works in airplane mode where reasonable.

Demo / test account

• Demo account credentials provided in review notes.
• Demo account is functional (tested today, not 3 months ago).
• Demo account has enough data to demonstrate features.

Compliance categories

For specific categories:

Health / Medical

• No diagnostic claims without certification.
• Hedge all claims ("track", "monitor", not "diagnose", "cure").
• Disclaimer: "Not medical advice."

Financial / Fintech

• Region-restrict if needed.
• No unsubstantiated return claims.
• Compliance signals shown.

Crypto / Wallet

• Region-restrict to licensed markets.
• Risk disclaimers.
• No unauthorized exchange features.

AI / Generative

• Content moderation in place.
• Safety filters on user inputs/outputs.
• No misleading AI capability claims.

Internal testing

• Internal testers walked through main flows.
• First-launch experience tested.
• Critical paths tested (signup, paywall, purchase).
• Localized versions tested (at least sample).

Pre-submission analytics setup

• Analytics events fire correctly.
• Cohort tracking configured.
• Subscription events flow to your subscription tool.
• Attribution / SKAN configured for paid acquisition.

Submission notes

• Demo credentials + how to use them.
• Any feature flags that need to be enabled for reviewers.
• Specific use cases that demonstrate the app's value.
• Contact info if reviewer has questions.

Post-submission monitoring

• Crashlytics / Sentry monitoring active.
• Watch reviews from day 1.
• Support inbox staffed.
• Backup plan if a critical bug emerges.

What happens after submission

• iOS: typical review time 1-3 days for non-critical changes. Some categories take longer.
• Android: faster, often hours.
• Both: rejection rate higher for categories with strict policy (kids, health, finance).

If rejected, see App Store rejection recovery guide.

Run a final audit

Before submission, run free ASO audit one last time. It'll flag any listing-level issues.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the checklist for "minor" releases. A small change can trigger a full review.
• Outdated demo account credentials.
• Forgetting privacy nutrition label updates when you add a new SDK.
• Same screenshots from 6 months ago. Doesn't reflect current app.
• No internal testing. First-launch bugs found by users.

Related reading

• App Store Rejection Recovery Guide
• The Indie ASO Audit Checklist 2026
• Mobile App Privacy Disclosure Best Practices
• App Store Conversion Rate Optimization
• The Indie Mobile App 90-Day Launch Playbook
• Mobile App Crash Rate Monitoring
• App Accessibility for ASO

Try the tools

• Free ASO audit
• Listing Analyzer
• Screenshot Lab
• Keyword Density Checker