# Guideline 2.1(b) - Performance - App Completeness: In-App Purchase Products Not Submitted for Review

**Guideline:** 2.1(b) · **Store:** Apple App Store · **Risk:** low · **Difficulty:** easy · **Typical turnaround:** 1-2 hours

Canonical URL: https://appstorereject.com/rejections/apple/2/guideline-21b-performance-app-completeness-in-app-purchase-products-not-submitted-for-review

## Description

Apple's automated review system detected references to subscriptions or premium features in your app without finding corresponding In-App Purchase products submitted for review. 

This is a straightforward administrative issue - not a rejection of your business model or app concept. The rejection is triggered when Apple's scanning systems find subscription-related keywords (like 'premium', 'subscribe', 'upgrade') but can't match them to IAP products in your App Store Connect account. 

This is entirely fixable by properly configuring your In-App Purchase products and ensuring they're submitted alongside your app binary. The fastest path to approval is completing your IAP setup in App Store Connect, preserving your business model while satisfying Apple's requirement that all monetization features be reviewable.

## Common variations

- We are unable to complete the review because In-App Purchase products referenced in the app have not been submitted for review
- The app contains subscription features but the corresponding In-App Purchase products are missing from your submission
- We found references to premium content but no associated In-App Purchase products were submitted
- Your app mentions subscription functionality but we cannot locate the In-App Purchase products for review
- The app includes monetization features that require In-App Purchase products to be submitted alongside the binary

## Example rejection email

```
Guideline 2.1 - Performance - App Completeness

We are unable to complete the review of the app because one or more of the In-App Purchase products have not been submitted for review.

Specifically, the app includes references to subscription but the associated In-App Purchase products have not been submitted for review.

Next Steps

To resolve this issue, please be sure to take action and submit your In-App Purchases and upload a new binary in App Store Connect so we can proceed with our review.

Note you must provide an App Review screenshot in App Store Connect in order to submit In-App Purchase metadata.
```

## Resolution steps

## Quick Assessment
- **Risk level:** Low
- **Resolution path:** Fix & Resubmit
- **Typical turnaround:** 1-2 hours setup + standard review time

## The Fix

01. **Navigate to App Store Connect**
   Log into App Store Connect and go to your app's page, then select the "In-App Purchases" tab.

02. **Create missing In-App Purchase products**
   Click "+" to create new IAP products that match the subscription features referenced in your app. Use exact naming that corresponds to what users see in-app.

03. **Configure IAP metadata completely**
   Fill out all required fields: product ID, reference name, price tier, subscription duration, and localized descriptions. Ensure pricing matches your app's displayed prices.

04. **Add App Review screenshots**
   Upload clear screenshots showing each subscription option in your app. Include screenshots of the paywall, subscription selection screen, and any premium features.

Note: this doesn't have to be a literal screenshot. You can use a Figma file as long as it accurately depicts your IAP usage and meets the required file dimensions.

05. **Submit IAP products for review**
   Click "Submit for Review" on each In-App Purchase product. Ensure status shows "Waiting for Review" not "Ready to Submit".

06. **Upload new app binary**
   Even if your app code hasn't changed, upload the same binary again to trigger a fresh review that includes your newly submitted IAP products.

07. **Verify submission completeness**
   In your app's submission page, confirm that both your app binary AND your IAP products show "Waiting for Review" status.

## Prevention
- Always create and submit In-App Purchase products before referencing subscriptions in your app
- Use App Store Connect's IAP testing tools to verify products work correctly before submission
- Keep IAP product names and descriptions synchronized with in-app text

## Before / after examples

**Before:** App displays 'Subscribe to Premium' buttons but no In-App Purchase products exist in App Store Connect.
**After:** App has corresponding IAP products created, configured with screenshots, and submitted for review alongside the app binary.
**Why it works:** Apple can now review both the app functionality and the actual purchase products together.

**Before:** IAP products are created in App Store Connect but still show 'Ready to Submit' status.
**After:** All referenced IAP products show 'Waiting for Review' or 'In Review' status when app is submitted.
**Why it works:** Both app and IAP products are now in the review queue simultaneously.

## Common questions

**How long does this typically take to fix?**

Typical turnaround is 1-2 hours (difficulty: easy). After resubmission, most re-reviews complete within 24-48 hours.

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*Machine-readable source: https://api.appstorereject.com/api/rejections/detail?slug=guideline-21b-performance-app-completeness-in-app-purchase-products-not-submitted-for-review*