[TOOL] Pre-Submission Diagnostic

App Store Submission Checklist

Use this before you submit, or after your first rejection. These are 17 checks AI tools and non-iOS teams frequently miss. Items tagged AI FAIL are the mistakes we see most often on AI-built apps.

Status

NOT_READY

0/17 checks passed

AI-fail items: 0/9

0%0%100%

[Bundle Identity]

0/2

Bundle ID matches App Store Connect exactly (case-sensitive)

com.yourcompany.appname must be identical in Xcode and App Store Connect. AI tools often generate placeholder IDs.

Bundle IdentityAI FAIL

CFBundleVersion incremented above any previously uploaded build

Apple rejects builds with duplicate build numbers even if the version number changed.

Bundle IdentityAI FAIL

[Certificates]

0/2

Distribution certificate is valid and not expired

Check in Keychain Access or Apple Developer portal. Expired certs silently fail.

Certificates

Certificate used to sign matches the provisioning profile

Mismatched certificate/profile is one of the most common silent failures.

Certificates

[Provisioning]

0/3

App Store Distribution provisioning profile selected (not Ad Hoc, not Development)

Ad Hoc profiles allow device installs but cannot be submitted to App Store.

ProvisioningAI FAIL

All entitlements in .entitlements file are registered in the provisioning profile

Every capability (push notifications, iCloud, associated domains, etc.) must be enabled both in the profile and in App Store Connect.

Provisioning

Capabilities only enabled if actually used (no orphaned entitlements)

Associated Domains, Push Notifications, or iCloud enabled but unused can trigger review questions.

Provisioning

[App Store Connect]

0/4

App record exists in App Store Connect and is in correct state

Must be in 'Prepare for Submission' before you can attach a build.

App Store Connect

All required screenshots uploaded for every supported device size

As of 2025: iPhone 6.9" and 6.5" (or 5.5") are required. iPad required if app supports iPad.

App Store ConnectAI FAIL

Age rating questionnaire completed

Missing age rating blocks submission entirely.

App Store Connect

Demo account credentials provided if app requires login

Apple reviewers must be able to log in. Missing or broken credentials = automatic rejection.

App Store ConnectAI FAIL

[Binary]

0/2

Archive built with Release scheme, not Debug

Debug builds include test frameworks and may be rejected or behave incorrectly.

Binary

App runs correctly on a real physical device (not just simulator)

Simulator ignores many restrictions that a real device enforces.

BinaryAI FAIL

[Privacy Compliance]

0/3

PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy present if using required reason APIs

Required since May 2024. APIs like UserDefaults, file timestamps, disk space require a privacy manifest.

Privacy ComplianceAI FAIL

NSUsageDescription key present for every permission requested at runtime

Camera, location, microphone, photos, contacts, calendar, health, tracking — each needs its own key with a clear user-facing reason.

Privacy ComplianceAI FAIL

Account deletion flow implemented if app has user accounts

Required since June 2022. Users must be able to delete their account from within the app.

Privacy ComplianceAI FAIL

[Metadata]

0/1

App description does not reference competing platforms or unavailable features

No mentions of Android, Google Play, or features not present in the submitted build.

Metadata

[ACTION] Still blocked?

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