Topic guide · 25 pages

How do you get an app through App Store and Google Play review?

Updated 5 November 2026 · every page on this topic, checked against our own builds

Quick answer

Treat store review as part of the build, not the last day. Apple and Google check the same things every time: a working sign-in for the reviewer, honest privacy and data-safety answers, in-app account deletion, permissions you can justify and a build that does not crash. Start with the Google Play and App Store checklists, then read the common rejections.

Four Android apps we built are live on Google Play: Pakka's customer and driver apps, Trainr and LetSlic. Pakka's two iPhone apps are in Apple's App Store review, and Trainr's iPhone app was released by Trainr's team after our handover. The pages below are what we learned getting them there.

Start here

01ChecklistsGoogle Play Launch Checklist
02ChecklistsApp Store Launch Checklist
03GuidesApp Store Rejections

Every page on app store and google play launch

Checklists and rules

ChecklistsGoogle Play Launch ChecklistEverything Google Play asks for before a production release
ChecklistsApp Store Launch ChecklistEverything App Store Connect asks for before review
GuidesApp Store RejectionsThe rejections we see most and the fix for each
GuidesGoogle Play Data Safety and Account DeletionData safety answers and the account deletion Google requires
ChecklistsPre-Launch Security ChecklistSecurity checks to finish before real users arrive

Terms to know

GlossaryApp store reviewWhat each store's reviewer checks
GlossaryBeta testingTestFlight and Play testing tracks, and what each is for
GlossaryApp signing and bundle identifiersSigning keys, and why losing one blocks every update
GlossaryApp permissionsAsking for location, camera or notifications without a rejection
GlossaryIn-app purchaseWhen the stores require their own billing
GlossaryLaunch readinessHow to tell a build is ready to submit
GlossaryRelease managementStaged rollouts and how to roll back
GlossaryPush notificationNotifications that arrive on both platforms
GlossaryOffline supportWhat the app does with no signal
GlossaryData deletionThe in-app account deletion both stores require
GlossaryError monitoringCrash reports from real phones after launch

Services and projects

ServicesApp Store & Google Play LaunchOur store submission and launch service
ServicesMobile App DevelopmentAndroid and iPhone apps built for review from the first sprint
ServicesQA & TestingTesting on real phones before each submission
ServicesFlutter App DevelopmentFlutter apps taken through the same review
SolutionsReact Native appsOne React Native codebase for both stores
Case studiesPakka LogisticsTwo Android apps live on Google Play, iPhone apps in review
Case studiesTrainrA marketplace app on Google Play with live card payments
Case studiesLetSlicA social app live on Google Play
ArticlesFlutter or React Native? Our Decision Table, Bias IncludedChoosing the framework before the first build

Questions people ask about app store and google play launch

What does an App Store or Google Play reviewer actually try in an app?

They sign in with the account you provide, open every main screen, check that the privacy answers match what the app collects, look for in-app account deletion, and try any purchase. A sign-in that fails or an empty screen is the fastest route to rejection. Our App Store checklist lists what to prepare.

Should Android and iPhone launch on the same day?

Only if both reviews pass in time. Google's review is usually quicker, and many teams release on Android first, keep the iPhone build in TestFlight and release it once Apple approves. Pakka did exactly that.

What usually gets a delivery or driver app rejected?

Background location without a clear, visible reason, a reviewer who cannot complete a trip because no test data exists, and missing account deletion. See the common rejections guide.

Who should own the store developer accounts?

You should. Publish under your own Apple and Google accounts and add the studio as a team member, so the listing, reviews and signing stay yours if you change teams. The agency handover checklist covers the rest.

Does the app need account deletion before launch?

Yes. Both stores require users to be able to delete their account from inside the app, and Google also asks for a web link. Our data safety and account deletion guide explains what counts.

Can you take over an app that keeps getting rejected?

Yes. We read the rejection history and the build, fix what the reviewer saw and resubmit. See App Store and Google Play launch.