"The majority of the screenshots should highlight the app’s main features and functionality. Note that splash and login screens are generally not considered to show the app in use."

I agree with the feedback. Fix your screenshots (and whatever else is clearly not in line with app store guidelines).

What does "won't let me show my app" mean? Does the author mean that it's just getting rejected, or is he unhappy about the screenshot situation specifically?

I know it's their job, but gotta feel for these app reviewers who must spend day after day reviewing ai generated apps. The only way to prevent this is to gatekeep that developer license with a higher base fee. Of course the review process was painful before, but it's only gotten more clogged and opaque.

Pour one out for anyone whose job has pivoted to reviewing ai output, science journals, literary journals, teachers, OSS maintainers.

> > Issue: The screenshots do not show the actual app in use in the majority of the screenshots. Screenshots should highlight the app’s core concept to help users understand the app’s functionality and value.

This is the first thing everyone learns when they look up the requirements for App Store screenshots.

You got it wrong, but they provided a clear and actionable path to fix it.

I’m with Apple on this one. The requirements are clear and you missed them the first time. It’s an easy fix. I don’t see why this warrants a clickbait blog post, other than to try to generate some viral outrage marketing for this app.

Two of six screenshots show the app. So the rejection fits the rules and is easy to understand.

And I'm kind of confused by these screenshots as well, since there are lines between them, as if they're one screenshot. And the labels over the screenshots are nonsensical and graphically glitched.

For what it's worth, I haven't seen any significant increase in the app review times, contrary to what the article suggests. My app updates are normally reviewed within 24 hours, rarely 48; just as Apple promises. Not sure if they hired more reviewers, introduced more automation, or did anything else, but they are keeping up well enough.

Open your app in the iOS emulator and push the screenshot button. Upload that. What you have now is marketing material.

Tried with a notes app and failed too. For family usage you might consider TestFlight.

There are plenty of legitimate things to criticize the app store review process for but this isn't one of them.

Apple is protecting their users and the overall browse experience by enforcing consistency in listings.

Your app's screenshots don't really show in the first three screens when they really should, these are the ones that will show up in search, at least until we can add full banners w/ iOS 27.

There are all sorts of creative ways you could layer in the paper aspect behind a device mockup across two screens which would both show your app and its paper output.

Perhaps have the paper on a desk and the phone at an angle on top of it, showing the screens.

Remember you don't have to explain what's where on the paper, just communicate its value and that your app is the way the user gets to it.

> It is now taking longer to get our app approved than it is to build the actual features.

You see, this is really kind of key to the whole thing. Who is doing the actual work now?