App Store Connect Statuses: What Each One Means and What To Do
App Store Connect shows statuses in three separate places, and confusing them is why a version can read "Waiting for Review" while the build underneath reads "Missing Compliance" and nothing moves. The app status describes where a version sits in the review and release process. The submission status, and the item statuses inside it, describe the bundle of things you sent to App Review together — a version, in-app events, custom product pages — none of which can publish until all of them are accepted. The build status describes one uploaded binary and its TestFlight life. This page lists every status in all three systems, what each one actually means, and the action it implies, sourced from Apple's own reference tables.
By the AscAuto team — engineers who automate App Store submissions and rejection fixes daily. · Last updated: July 2026
Where this version is in review and release. Shown on the app's page. This is the one people quote.
What you sent to App Review as a group. Every item must be accepted before anything publishes.
One binary: processing, compliance, TestFlight review, testing, expiry. Independent of the version.
Apple colours them: red = you must act · yellow = a process is running · green = ready.
App (version) statuses
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare for Submission | The app record exists; you're still filling in information. | Complete the listing. See the submission checklist. |
| Ready for Review | Required metadata is in and you've indicated intent to submit — but haven't submitted. | Submit. This status catches people who think they already did. |
| Invalid Binary | The build doesn't meet current binary requirements. | Upload a new build, or select one that does. |
| Waiting for Review | Apple received the submission but hasn't started reviewing. | Nothing. You can still edit some information and remove the build from review, but not screenshots or previews. |
| In Review | App Review is actively reviewing. | Wait. You can still pull the build from review if you spot a problem. |
| Accepted | This item passed, but something else in the same submission was rejected. | Fix and resubmit the rejected items, or remove them so the accepted ones can go. |
| Waiting for Export Compliance | Your CCATS file is in Apple's export review. | Wait. Background: export compliance explained. |
| Pending Developer Release | Approved, but you chose manual release. | Release it when you're ready. Nothing is wrong. |
| Processing for Distribution | Approved and processing; ready within 24 hours. | Wait. |
| Pending Apple Release | Apple is holding the version until the matching OS version ships publicly. | If that's not what you intended, check your build's deployment target, reject the build and submit a new version. |
| Pending / Processing App Transfer | An app transfer is in progress between accounts. | Only pricing can change until the transfer completes. |
| Ready for Distribution | Accepted and publishable — the status formerly called Ready for Sale. | Make sure your agreements are in effect, or it still won't distribute. |
| Rejected | App Review didn't accept the app. Users with the Admin, App Manager or Developer role are notified with the issues. | Read the message, fix, resubmit. The guideline guides cover the common causes. |
| Metadata Rejected | App Review didn't accept your metadata. | Edit the metadata and reply to App Review's message. No new build needed. |
| Developer Rejected | You removed your own app from review. | Resubmit the build, or submit a new one, when ready. |
Submission and item statuses
Since Apple moved to grouped review submissions, the thing under review is a submission containing items. The rule that surprises everyone: nothing publishes until every item is accepted.
| Status | Applies to | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Ready for Review | Item | Added to a submission but not submitted yet. |
| Waiting for Review | Submission · Item | Received, review not started. You can edit some information and remove items — not screenshots or previews. |
| In Review | Submission · Item | Under review. You can cancel the submission to pull it out. |
| Processing | Submission | You removed the submission from review; the action is being processed. |
| Accepted | Item | This item passed while another was rejected. All items must pass before any can publish. |
| Unresolved Issues | Submission | One or more items were rejected. Fix them or remove them from the submission. |
| Rejected | Submission · Item | App Review rejected the app bundle, an item, or a TestFlight submission. For TestFlight you must submit a new build before inviting external testers. |
Build statuses (TestFlight)
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid Binary | Received, but it didn't meet upload requirements. Not visible in TestFlight. | Fix the build and re-upload. |
| Missing Compliance | Export compliance information is missing. | Answer the encryption questions, or declare ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption in the Info.plist — how that works. |
| Waiting for Export Compliance Review · In Compliance Review | Your documentation is with Apple. | Nothing — no action needed on your end. |
| Ready to Submit | Distributable to internal testers; can be sent to TestFlight review or App Review. | Submit it wherever you're headed. |
| Waiting for Review · In Beta Review | With TestFlight App Review, needed before external testing. | Wait for approval. |
| Not Available for Testing | The provisioning profile is missing an application identifier. | Upload a new build that includes it. |
| Expired | The build passed its 90-day TestFlight window. | Upload a fresh build; this one can't be tested again. |
| Rejected | TestFlight App Review rejected the build; it can't be used in TestFlight. | Upload a new build. |
| Ready to Test | Approved but no testers added yet. | Add testers, or submit to App Review for customers. |
| Testing | At least one group or tester has it. | Keep testing, or submit for distribution — existing testers keep access after release. |
The three that cause the most confusion
Rejected vs Metadata Rejected
This is the most useful distinction on the page, because it decides your next hour. Metadata Rejected means the problem is in the listing — screenshots, description, keywords, support URL — so you edit it in App Store Connect and reply to App Review's message. No archive, no upload, no version bump. Rejected usually means the binary or its behaviour, which normally means a new build. The most common metadata rejections are covered in the guides for 2.3.3 screenshots and 2.3.10 metadata.
"Accepted" that isn't live
Accepted is not approval of your release; it means this item passed while something else in the same submission didn't. Until every item clears, none of them publish. Either fix the failing item or remove it from the submission.
Statuses that look broken but aren't
Pending Developer Release means you asked for manual release — the ball is in your court. Pending Apple Release means your version targets an OS that hasn't shipped yet. Waiting for Export Compliance means Apple is reading documents you sent. None of these need action beyond the obvious one.
How AscAuto uses these statuses
Watching this by hand is the part of shipping that quietly eats attention: three status systems, none of which notify you usefully, all of which can block a release. AscAuto polls the App Store Connect API for the version, submission and build states, surfaces the one that's actually blocking you, and acts when Apple responds — reading a rejection message, classifying it, drafting the fix as metadata, a reviewer reply or a pull request, and preparing the resubmission for your approval. A Metadata Rejected is exactly the case it can often resolve without you touching Xcode.
Reference tables above are from Apple's app and submission statuses and app build statuses documentation.
FAQ
What is the difference between Rejected and Metadata Rejected?
Rejected means App Review didn't accept your app — typically the binary or its behaviour. Metadata Rejected means they didn't accept your metadata: edit the listing and reply to App Review's message, without uploading a new build. That distinction decides your next hour of work.
What does Waiting for Review mean in App Store Connect?
Apple received your submission but review hasn't started. You can still edit certain information, delete app previews and remove the build from review — but not upload or edit screenshots or previews. It means the queue, not a problem.
Why does my app say Accepted but it isn't on the App Store?
Because that item was accepted while another item in the same submission was rejected. Nothing publishes until every item is accepted — fix and resubmit the rejected ones, or remove them from the submission.
What does Pending Developer Release mean?
Your version was approved but you chose manual release, so it waits for you. No further review is needed; it goes live when you release it.
Why is my build stuck on Missing Compliance?
Export compliance information is missing, so the build can't go to review or to external testers. Answer the encryption questions in App Store Connect, or declare ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption in your Info.plist.