How to submit an In-App Purchase for review

Apple’s rule: the first consumable, non-consumable, auto-renewable subscription and non-renewing subscription must each be submitted with a new app version. A new subscription goes together with its subscription group. Once the first item of a type is approved, you can submit more of that type without a new version, as long as the app has at least one approved version. So if a new product sits in Waiting for Review while your update was already approved, check whether it was the first of its type and needed to ride with a build.

The App Review screenshot shows the reviewer the item or service being offered, usually the paywall or the purchase screen with the product visible. It is for review only and is not displayed on the App Store. Upload an image in any of the screenshot sizes your app supports; see App Store screenshot sizes for the exact pixels. Once uploaded, the screenshot can be replaced but not removed. Do not confuse it with the promotional image, which is 1024 × 1024 pixels, JPG or PNG, and is only needed if you promote the purchase on your product page or run win-back offers.

The product ID takes letters, numbers, hyphens, periods and underscores, up to 100 characters; it cannot be edited after you save, and it can never be reused in the same app, even after you delete the item. The reference name is internal, up to 64 characters, and editable any time without review. The display name is 2 to 30 characters and the description up to 45; you need them in at least one language, and changes to them go through review. Review notes, up to 4,000 characters, are where test account details and steps to reach the purchase belong.

In your app, open In-App Purchases or Subscriptions under Monetization, select the item and click Add for Review; you can add up to 200 items to one submission. Submissions live in the App Review section of the sidebar, which shows drafts and your last 10 completed submissions from the past 180 days. If an item is rejected, the reason and guideline appear under Messages; edit the item, click Update Review, and Resubmit to App Review once every rejected item is fixed or removed. You need the Account Holder, Admin or App Manager role, and In-App Purchases are not supported on Apple Watch.

Getting purchases approved lets you earn; being found is the rest. Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw, and adding your app is free on the List my app form. Placement comes from traffic and sponsorship: apps climb on the visits they draw, and a sponsor can pay to rise higher.