Apple Tightens App Store Rules, Threatening Removal of Low-Effort Apps and Repeat Offenders
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jun 9
Apple Tightens App Store Rules, Threatening Removal of Low-Effort Apps and Repeat Offenders
3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jun 9
Summary
Apple rewrote App Store guideline 4.3 to say low-effort apps in saturated categories can be removed—not just rejected—if they are not updated, improved or attracting customers.
The new language sharply narrows approvals for dating, flashlight, sound effects, wallpaper, simple timer and fortune-telling apps unless they offer a meaningfully different experience, while calling fart, burp, Kama Sutra and drinking-game apps low-quality.
Repeated submissions of those low-value apps can now lead to removal from the Apple Developer Program, signaling tougher enforcement beyond one-off app rejections.
Apple also expanded rule 1.2 on user-generated content, requiring developers to remove violating material such as pornography, provide a compliance plan and face app or account removal for repeated failures.
A separate change to rule 4.5.3 bars developers from using Live Activities for spam, phishing or unsolicited messages, broadening Apple's WWDC-era push to clean up App Store quality and discovery.