Skip to content
Get a quote

App Store rejectionGuideline 4.2 - Design - Minimum Functionality

App Review decided your app doesn’t do enough to be an app. Website wrappers and apps from AI builders can run into this rejection. Here’s what Apple’s rule says and what usually has to change before you resubmit.

Short answer

A 4.2 rejection means Apple sees the app as a repackaged website, or not useful or app-like enough. The rule doesn’t ban web views; it asks for features, content and UI beyond the website. The fix is a product change: give people a reason to install it, shown clearly in the build and the review notes.

What Apple’s rule says, and what to change

  1. 01

    The app is the website in a frame

    “Your app should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website.” Apple, Guideline 4.2

    If the app opens your site and does nothing the site doesn’t, this is the line App Review points to. Look for what only an installed app can do for your users, such as notifications they asked for, working with the camera or files, or offline use, and build the app around that.

  2. 02

    The app is mostly marketing or links

    “Other than catalogs, apps shouldn’t primarily be marketing materials, advertisements, web clippings, content aggregators, or a collection of links.” Apple, Guideline 4.2.2

    An app that mainly promotes a business, collects links or repeats content found elsewhere falls under 4.2.2. Catalogs are the exception Apple names. Give customers something to do in the app, such as booking, ordering or managing an account, not only something to read.

  3. 03

    The app came from a template or app generation service

    “Apps created from a commercialized template or app generation service will be rejected unless they are submitted directly by the provider of the app’s content.” Apple, Guideline 4.2.6

    Apps made by a template or app generation service are rejected unless the provider of the app’s content submits them. Submit from your own Apple Developer account, under your own name or company.

Checked against the vendor’s docs on : Apple: App Review Guidelines, 4.2 Minimum Functionality (last updated October 16, 2026); Apple: App Review (replying and appeals).

Rather hand it over?

Start with a paid consultation to agree what to change, then get a written quote with a fixed price.

Related: Lovable or Bolt web app to the App Store · App Store Guideline 4.3 · App Store Guideline 2.1

Questions

More on this rejection

Should I reply to App Review or appeal?

Reply first. Apple says you can correspond with App Review in App Store Connect to resolve the issues before resubmitting, which is the place for a demo account, a screen recording or an explanation. Appeal to the App Review Board only if you believe App Review misunderstood the app or treated you unfairly. Apple allows one appeal per rejected submission and asks for specific reasons the app complies.

Is an app built on a web view always rejected?

No. Guideline 4.2 doesn’t ban web views. It asks whether the app offers features, content and UI beyond a repackaged website, so what counts is what the app does for the person holding the phone.

Will a new design get it approved?

Usually not on its own. The rule is about usefulness, so the change has to be in what the app lets people do, and your reply to App Review should say what that is.

Can you help with a 4.2 rejection?

This is a product decision before it’s code, so it starts with a paid consultation to look at the rejection and the app and agree what to add. If it needs building, you get a written quote with a fixed price.

A different error?

Describe it and get a written quote

Send the error and what you were doing. You get a written scope, a fixed price and a timeline; we reply by email, usually within one business day.

Describe your problem All fixes