App Store Review Risk

App Store Review Risk

Use this skill to produce a practical pre-submission risk review for Apple-platform apps. Do not guarantee approval. Flag plausible rejection surfaces, missing evidence, and reviewer questions with file-backed reasoning.

Workflow

1. Identify the app target, platform targets, and submission path before evaluating risks.

   • Look for .xcodeproj, .xcworkspace, Package.swift, Info.plist, .entitlements, PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy, StoreKit files, App Store Connect metadata, review notes, screenshots, and release configuration.
   • Prefer xcodebuild -list -json and, when a scheme is known, xcodebuild -showBuildSettings -scheme <scheme> to identify app targets, bundle identifiers, SDK roots, supported platforms, and targeted device families.
   • If Xcode commands are unavailable, infer targets from project.pbxproj, Info.plist, SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS, SDKROOT, TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY, app extensions, package manifests, and platform-specific imports.
   • Create a target matrix before findings: target/scheme, bundle identifier, product type, platform(s), submission path, and evidence.
   • Do not apply every platform checklist blindly. Apply App Review Guidelines globally, then apply HIG and developer guidance for the identified platform(s): iOS/iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and notarized iOS/iPadOS apps when present.

2. Run the static scanner when a repo path is available. Use an already installed CLI first:

app-store-review-risk /path/to/app/repo

The published skill bundle intentionally does not duplicate the scanner package. If the CLI is missing, use this release-pinned ephemeral command only when network installation is authorized and uvx is available:

uvx --from app-store-review-risk==0.3.1 app-store-review-risk /path/to/app/repo

Do not install from an unpinned branch. If neither the CLI nor authorized network installation is available, continue with the target matrix and file-backed manual review, and state that the deterministic scanner was not run.

The default scanner output is compact; use it first. Use --submitted-target <target> when the submitted Xcode target is known so code-pattern findings ignore files from other targets. For PR or release-delta reviews, use --diff <range> or --base-ref <ref> [--head-ref <ref>] to compare versions and prioritize new findings plus existing findings that touch changed files. Use --xcodebuild --scheme <scheme> when the repo can run Xcode commands and exact target metadata is needed. Use --format markdown or --format json only when drilling into specific finding IDs or feeding another tool. Use --format compact-json when structured output is needed but token budget matters. Treat scanner findings as leads, not verdicts.

3. Read references/apple-platform-risk-areas.md for the shared risk map, then read only the platform file(s) matching the target matrix:

   • references/ios-ipados.md for iOS/iPadOS apps and iOS apps distributed through notarization.
   • references/macos.md for macOS apps, Mac Catalyst targets, helper tools, sandboxing, or notarization.
   • references/watchos.md for watch apps, WatchKit extensions, complications, workouts, and companion dependencies.
   • references/tvos.md for tvOS apps, focus navigation, media, top shelf, and TV subscriptions.
   • references/visionos.md for visionOS windows, volumes, immersive spaces, comfort, spatial input, and privacy.
   • references/app-store-connect-artifacts.md when metadata, screenshots, privacy answers, review notes, subscription config, or suppression files are missing or need review.

4. Use Apple's official guidance as the evaluation baseline.

   • Treat App Review Guidelines as the primary source for rejection risk: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
   • Use Human Interface Guidelines for the identified platform's design, interaction, platform convention, accessibility, and UX-quality risks that can affect review: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines
   • Use developer documentation for implementation-specific requirements, including privacy manifest files, required-reason APIs, StoreKit external purchase entitlements, and platform frameworks.
   • When sources overlap, prioritize the App Review Guidelines for rejection likelihood and cite HIG as supporting design/UX evidence.

5. Inspect code and configuration behind every high or medium scanner finding. Check whether the app has:

   • reviewer-accessible login/demo mode and live backend services
   • matching purpose strings for protected resources
   • privacy manifests and App Privacy answers aligned with actual collection/tracking
   • entitlements justified by visible app behavior
   • complete in-app purchase, restore, subscription, cancellation, and review-note paths
   • storefront-specific external purchase/account-management links, including the current United States storefront rules
   • an equivalent privacy-preserving login option that satisfies Guideline 4.8 when third-party/social login is offered; Sign in with Apple is one common implementation, not the wording of the rule itself
   • an easy-to-find in-app way to initiate full account deletion for apps that allow account creation
   • moderation, reporting, blocking, and abuse handling for user-generated content
   • accurate metadata, screenshots, age rating, support URL, and review notes

Token Discipline

• Start with compact scanner output and the target matrix; do not paste full JSON or full markdown into the final answer.
• Scope the scanner with --submitted-target when multiple Xcode targets exist, especially if the repo includes examples, admin tools, fixtures, or tests.
• For diff reviews, lead with new_findings and changed_file_findings; keep existing unchanged findings secondary unless they are blocking release readiness.
• Load only apple-platform-risk-areas.md, the platform reference(s) matching the target matrix, and app-store-connect-artifacts.md if metadata evidence is missing.
• Quote only the highest-value evidence lines for each reported risk. Use finding IDs to refer back to scanner output.
• Browse or cite Apple docs only for current high-risk or policy-sensitive conclusions; prefer the App Review Guidelines first, then HIG or implementation docs.

Reporting Format

Lead with risks, not a generic summary. Use this structure:

## Target Matrix
- <target/scheme>: <bundle id>, <platform(s)>, <submission path>, <evidence>

## Findings

### Blocking Risk: <title>
- Severity: Blocking Risk | Likely Review Risk | Needs Verification | Low Signal
- Confidence: High | Medium | Low
- Evidence: <file:line or config key>
- Likely reviewer concern: <short explanation>
- Recommended fix: <specific code/config/review-note action>

## Missing Evidence
- <metadata, screenshots, review notes, privacy answers, subscription config, or backend access not available in the repo>

## Scanner Notes
- <summarize scanner output and any false positives dismissed>

Use Blocking Risk only for issues likely to stop submission, such as crashes, inaccessible core flows, missing required permission strings, invalid privacy manifests, unresolved storefront-specific external purchase compliance, or missing in-app account deletion initiation where account creation exists. Use Needs Verification for policy areas that require current Apple guidance, App Store Connect configuration, legal context, or reviewer notes.

Review Discipline

• Prefer concrete file references over broad assertions.
• Separate code/config findings from App Store Connect metadata gaps.
• Name likely guideline areas when useful, but avoid overfitting exact rule numbers unless checked against the current App Review Guidelines.
• Call out false positives from the scanner explicitly so the user knows they were considered.
• Use .appstore-review-risk.yml suppressions only when the repository documents why a scanner finding is not review-relevant; still mention important suppressed high-risk areas if the reason is weak.
• If the repository alone cannot prove compliance, state the exact artifact needed: review notes, App Privacy answers, subscription products, screenshots, entitlement approval, backend/demo credentials, or legal/regulatory documentation.