App Store Reject

Guideline 3.1.1

Guideline 3.1.1(a) - In-App Purchase: External Purchase Link Without Entitlement (Non-US Storefront)

High SeverityMedium FixTypical Fix: 2-8 hours0 Reports
Also known as:External purchase link shown in non-authorized storefrontsApp includes link to website for purchases without External Purchase Link entitlementSubscribe on website button visible outside US storefrontExternal purchase mechanism not authorized for this storefront

Our Take

Apple is rejecting your app because it includes an external purchase link or button directing users to a website for purchasing digital content, but the app is not approved for the External Purchase Link entitlement, or the link is being shown to users in storefronts where this entitlement is not permitted. In 2024, the StoreKit External Purchase Link entitlement allowed apps in the US storefront to include a single link to their website for purchases. Then in 2025, Apple added this clause to the guideline due to a court ruling, "These entitlements are not required for developers to include buttons, external links, or other calls to action in their United States storefront apps. Please see additional details below." While you may explicitly request the entitlement, it's no longer required for the US App Store. Apps showing external purchase links in other storefronts (EU has separate DMA provisions under alternative distribution) without proper authorization will be rejected. This rejection often hits apps that implemented external links globally without restricting them to the approved storefront. It also catches apps that added external purchase buttons without first obtaining the entitlement through Apple's application process.

Resolution Guide

01

Check your user segmentation

Verify that your user filtering is working correctly so only users with the US storefront can link to an external website for purchasing digital content or subscriptions.

02

Check your entitlement status

Verify in App Store Connect whether you have been approved for the StoreKit External Purchase Link entitlement. If not, apply for it.

03

Gate the link by storefront

Use StoreKit's Storefront API to detect the user's App Store country. Only show the external purchase link in storefronts where your entitlement is valid (currently US).

04

Implement the link correctly

If entitled, use the ExternalPurchaseLink API from StoreKit rather than a raw URL. This ensures Apple's required disclosure sheet is presented.

05

Remove the link from unauthorized regions

For users in storefronts where you are not entitled, remove the external purchase link entirely and offer IAP as the purchase mechanism.

06

Handle EU separately

The EU Digital Markets Act has different provisions. If you want to offer external purchases in the EU, you need to use Apple's alternative distribution terms, which have separate requirements.

Prevention

  • Always gate external purchase links by storefront using the StoreKit Storefront API
  • Do not hard-code assumptions about which countries allow external links -- use Apple's APIs
  • Monitor Apple's entitlement program for changes to eligible storefronts

    • Example Rejection Email

    From:Apple App Review Team
    Subject:Guideline 3.1.1 - Guideline 3.1.1(a) - In-App Purchase: Ex
    Guideline 3.1.1 - Business - Payments - In-App Purchase We found that your app includes a link that directs users to an external website for purchasing digital content or subscriptions. Your app has not been approved for the StoreKit External Purchase Link entitlement, or the link is being displayed in a storefront where it is not authorized. Specifically, a 'Subscribe on our website' button is visible to users in the United Kingdom and Canadian storefronts. Next Steps: Please remove the external purchase link from storefronts where you do not have authorization, or apply for the appropriate entitlement if you have not already done so.

    Consider Appealing

    Appeal if you believe your entitlement should cover the storefront in question, or if the link was shown in error. Provide evidence of your entitlement approval and the storefront restriction logic.

    Generate Appeal

    Before & After

    Before — Rejected

    'Subscribe on our website' button visible to all users globally, regardless of storefront

    After — Approved

    Button only appears for users in the US storefront (detected via Storefront API), with Apple's required disclosure sheet; all other storefronts show IAP subscription options

    What changed: The External Purchase Link entitlement is storefront-specific. The link must only appear in authorized regions.

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