App Store & Play Store Submission Checklist (2026)
Updated 31 May 2026 · 6 min read
To clear store review the first time, prepare four things: a complete developer account, all required assets (icons, screenshots, descriptions), a compliant privacy policy and data-safety disclosure, and a fully tested build. Missing any one is the top cause of rejection.
Key takeaways
- Set up Google Play Console (one-time $25) and Apple Developer ($99/year) accounts early.
- Both stores now require accurate data-safety and privacy disclosures, a common rejection cause.
- Provide correct icons, screenshots and descriptions for every device size you support.
- Test on real devices and remove crashes; reviewers reject apps that crash on launch.
- Have a working privacy policy URL and account-deletion path before you submit.
Accounts and access set up?
Get the boring admin done first, because account setup and verification can take days and block your launch. Both store accounts must be active and verified before you can submit, so create them in week one of your project, not on launch day. Identity verification, especially Apple's, can lag, and a missing developer account is a frustrating way to lose a launch date you've planned around.
- Google Play Console account created and verified (one-time $25 fee).
- Apple Developer Program enrolled and active ($99 per year).
- Developer identity and, for orgs, D-U-N-S verification completed.
- Team roles and access assigned in both consoles.
- Signing keys and certificates generated and securely backed up.
Store assets ready?
Reviewers and users both judge your listing on assets, so prepare them carefully and to spec. Each store has exact size and format rules for icons and screenshots, and wrong dimensions cause instant rejection or a broken listing. Write clear, honest descriptions, keyword-aware but not stuffed, and make sure screenshots match the actual app. Misleading listings get pulled.
- App icon in all required sizes for each platform.
- Screenshots for every supported device size (phone and tablet).
- App title, short description and full description written.
- Feature graphic (Play Store) and preview assets prepared.
- Optional app preview video, sized correctly for each store.
- Content rating questionnaire completed accurately.
Privacy and policy compliance done?
Privacy is the most common 2026 rejection trigger, so treat it as a hard requirement. Both stores require you to declare what data you collect and why. Apple's privacy nutrition labels and Google's Data Safety form must match what your app actually does, and mismatches get flagged. You also need a public privacy policy URL and, increasingly, an in-app account-deletion path. Get these right before submitting.
- Public privacy policy URL live and accurate.
- Google Play Data Safety form completed and truthful.
- Apple privacy nutrition labels filled to match real data use.
- In-app account deletion available where required.
- All third-party SDKs disclosed; permissions justified.
- Compliance with applicable data rules (India DPDP, GDPR if relevant).
Build tested and ready?
A crashing build is the fastest rejection there is, so test hard before you submit. Run the app on real devices across screen sizes and OS versions, not just an emulator. Confirm every core flow, sign-up, payment, key actions, works end to end. Check that the app handles no-network states gracefully and doesn't crash on first launch, which reviewers always test.
- Tested on multiple real devices and OS versions.
- No crashes on first launch or core flows.
- Payments, logins and key features verified end to end.
- Crash reporting and analytics integrated.
- Release build signed correctly and version number set.
- Test/demo credentials provided to reviewers if login is required.
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Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to publish an app?
Google Play charges a one-time $25 developer registration fee. Apple's Developer Program costs $99 per year. Both also take a commission on in-app purchases, though small businesses often qualify for reduced rates under each store's small-business programme.
Why do apps get rejected from the stores?
The most common reasons are crashes on launch, privacy and data-safety disclosures that don't match the app, broken or misleading listings, and missing required information like a privacy policy. Most rejections are avoidable with careful pre-submission checks.
Do I need an in-app account deletion option?
Increasingly, yes. Both stores now expect apps that let users create accounts to also offer an in-app way to delete those accounts and associated data. Add a clear deletion path before submission to avoid a policy rejection.
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