Practical insights on building, launching, and monetizing indie products.

Based on real iOS and web apps — what worked, what failed, and why.

Apple Reject

Why Apple Rejected My App Under Guideline 5 (Legal) in China

Apple rejected my app under App Store Review Guideline 5 – Legal, citing local regulatory requirements in mainland China related to generative AI and deep synthesis technologies. This rejection was not caused by a bug or implementation issue, but by regional legal compliance. What Apple Flagged During Review According to Apple’s review feedback, the app was associated with ChatGPT / OpenAI, which currently does not have the required permits to operate in China.
Apple Reject

Why LingoBoard Was Rejected Under Apple’s Guideline 4.0

Why the App Was Rejected (Guideline 4.0 – Design) Apple rejected the Mac version of LingoBoard under App Store Review Guideline 4.0 (Design), citing a user experience issue related to window behavior. According to the review feedback, when the user closes the main application window using the red close button in the upper-left corner, the app remains running in the background, but there is no clear way for the user to reopen the main window from the menu.