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A Practical Checklist For Marketplace Approval On First Try

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topYappers Team
January 9, 2026 4 min read
A Practical Checklist For Marketplace Approval On First Try

Approval on a major app store is rarely about perfection. It is about clarity, honesty, and completeness. Teams that ship a finished first version, disclose key policies, and demonstrate working flows typically pass review without drama.

Make Version 1 Feel Finished

  • Remove placeholder content: no “beta” labels, “coming soon” notes, dummy buttons, or fake flows.
  • Keep scope small but complete: a narrow feature set is fine if every visible screen works end-to-end.
  • Ensure coherent UX: consistent navigation, empty states that explain next steps, and no dead ends.

Mandatory Policies and Disclosures

  • Terms of Service and Privacy Policy: link to public, accessible pages from inside the app and in the store listing metadata. Missing links alone often triggers rejection.
  • Clear data practices: state what data is collected, why, and how it is used or shared. Provide contact details.

Subscriptions Without Dark Patterns

  • Configure products in the store console and complete all required business agreements before submission.
  • Display pricing plainly inside the app, including billing cadence and trial details when applicable.
  • Avoid discounted teases, countdowns, or urgency tactics in v1. Keep the paywall simple, factual, and dismissible.

Accounts and User Rights

  • Account creation should not require real names; support nicknames or usernames.
  • In-app account deletion is required when accounts can be created. Provide a direct path in settings and confirm deletion flows.
  • Explain what happens to content and data upon deletion.

Community Safety Requirements

For any social, chat, or user-generated content:

  • Provide block and report controls for user safety. Place them where issues occur (e.g., profile, message thread, post menu).
  • Add basic moderation pipelines: flag categories, evidence capture (message/post ID), and a simple internal review queue.
  • Outline community guidelines in-app and in the listing.

Test Like a Reviewer

  • Exercise every flow: onboarding, purchases, restore purchases, logout/login, password reset, deletion, offline behavior, and re-entry from push notifications.
  • Cover device matrix: small and large phones, tablets, light/dark mode, and accessibility settings (font scaling, reduced motion).
  • Test on an older baseline tablet often used in reviews (for example, a 5th‑generation model) to catch performance and layout regressions.
  • Fix crashes and broken logic first. Most rejections stem from these basics.

An Honest, Accurate Store Listing

  • Describe what the app does in plain language. Avoid promises about future features or comparisons to competitors.
  • Use real screenshots of core features, not marketing renders. Highlight first‑run experience, primary interaction, and paywall transparency.
  • Align copy with product reality. Messaging discipline can be informed by insights from an influencer analytics platform such as TopYappers.

Handle AI Features Responsibly

  • Disclose that AI or LLMs are used, where outputs appear, and how user data interacts with the model.
  • Add basic safeguards: toxicity filters, output disclaimers for sensitive categories, and a clear feedback/report mechanism.
  • Avoid implying guaranteed accuracy. Provide safe defaults and allow users to correct or retry.

Smooth Review Hand-Off

  • Provide a dedicated test account with clear credentials and role permissions that expose all key flows.
  • Include brief in-app tips or a lightweight walkthrough video to explain complex sequences (e.g., first purchase, content creation, moderation tools).
  • If rejection occurs, respond promptly and address the stated issue precisely. Skip debate; supply evidence of the fix and resubmit.

Actionable Next Steps

  • Audit the app for placeholders and remove or complete each one.
  • Add in-app links to Terms and Privacy Policy, and mirror them in store metadata.
  • Configure subscriptions end-to-end and present plain-language pricing.
  • Implement in-app account deletion, plus block and report for any social features.
  • Run a device matrix test pass, including an older tablet, and fix crashes first.
  • Refresh the listing with real screenshots and clear, current claims only.
  • Prepare reviewer access with a test account and concise instructions.

Quality, not perfection, is the bar. A small, finished, truthful product earns trust—and approval.

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topYappers Team

We are a team of influencer marketing experts dedicated to helping brands connect with the right creators. Our insights are backed by data and years of industry experience.

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