Fix App Store Metadata Rejection: Guideline 5.2.1 & 2.3.7
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Apple Rejection: Metadata Misrepresentation – How to Fix Guideline 5.2.1 / 2.3.7 Violations

Written by: ShopApper Team
04.06.2025 - 4 mins read

Table of Contents

If your iOS app was rejected for “inaccurate metadata” under Guideline 5.2.1 or 2.3.7, you’re not alone. These rejections are some of the most common — and frustrating — for app creators, especially when using web-to-app converters like ShopApper. Fortunately, with a little clean-up, you can resolve the issue and avoid future rejections.

🚨 What Is Metadata Rejection on the App Store?

Apple requires your app listing — including the title, subtitle, description, keywords, and screenshots — to accurately reflect your app’s functionality and design. If anything in your listing is misleading, exaggerated, or stuffed with irrelevant terms, your app can be instantly rejected, often before a human reviewer even looks at it.

⚠️ Common Reasons for Metadata Rejection

Your app may be rejected if:
  • Your app name or keywords include spammy, unrelated, or duplicative terms
  • Your description claims features your app doesn’t have
  • Your screenshots don’t match the app’s real user interface
  • You use subjective superlatives like “best app” or “#1 in the world”
  • You reference other platforms (like “Android” or “Play Store”)
  • You include emojis, special characters, or all caps in metadata

📉 Can Metadata Rejections Affect Future Submissions?

Yes — repeated metadata rejections can absolutely impact how smoothly your future App Store submissions are processed. While one isolated metadata issue may be a minor setback, a pattern of inaccurate or misleading submissions can raise red flags with Apple’s App Review team.

 

🧠 Why It Matters

Apple keeps an internal record of all rejections, and repeated issues — especially those related to metadata integrity — can result in:

  • Longer review times
  • Increased inspection on every update
  • App Store Connect warnings
  • In some cases, escalated reviews or delays
Apple’s guidelines (especially 5.2.1 and 2.3.7) are not just about first impressions — they reflect Apple’s commitment to maintaining a credible App Store. If your metadata history shows a pattern of violations, your app may be flagged as incompatible, even before a new version is manually reviewed.

 

🚫 Common Repeat Offenses That Trigger Flags

  • Repeatedly exaggerating features in the description
  • Re-using banned phrases like “best app,” “No.1,” or “free”
  • Using the same keyword stuffing techniques after being warned
  • Uploading misleading or outdated screenshots
  • Referencing Android, Play Store, or other platforms in iOS listings

🛠 How to Fix Metadata Rejection (Step-by-Step)

✅ 1. Use a Clear, Honest App Description

  • List only the features your app currently offers
  • Avoid nebulous marketing claims like “top-rated” or “must-have”
  • Don’t mention future updates or features “coming soon”
💡 Pro Tip: ShopApper’s content team can rewrite your app description to follow Apple’s editorial style guidelines.

✅ 2. Clean Up Your App Title, Subtitle, and Keywords

  • Keep your app name under 30 characters
  • Avoid repeating the app name in the subtitle or keyword field
  • Do not use:
    • Other platform names (Android, Google Play)
    • Competitor brand names
    • Special characters or emojis
    • Promotional terms like “free,” “best,” or “limited time”
💡 Pro Tip: ShopApper helps optimize your app name and keyword strategy to stay coherent without sacrificing discoverability.

✅ 3. Use Accurate, Apple-Coherent Screenshots

  • Show actual app screens, not mockups or placeholders
  • Make sure screenshots match the app version you’re submitting
  • Follow Apple’s screenshot size requirements for iPhone and iPad
  • Highlight key features with short, clear labels (but avoid exaggeration)
💡 Pro Tip: Our design team at ShopApper provides ready-to-upload App Store screenshots that meet Apple’s visual standards.

🚫 What NOT to Do

  • ❌ Don’t reuse descriptions or screenshots from Android/Google Play
  • ❌ Don’t promise features that haven’t been developed
  • ❌ Don’t leave placeholder content in your metadata
  • ❌ Don’t ignore Apple’s App Store Metadata Guidelines

How Prepared Is Your Store for a Mobile App?

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✅ How ShopApper Helps You Pass App Review

ShopApper has helped hundreds of clients convert their websites into mobile apps successfully approved by Apple. When it comes to metadata rejections, we:
  • ✍️ Audit your app listing for compliance
  • 📸 Provide screenshot packs tailored to Apple devices
  • 🧑‍💼 Offer expert review before every submission
  • 🔁 Help with re-submission after a rejection — at no extra cost
Whether you’re launching a new app or fixing a rejected one, our team ensures that your metadata is clean, clear, and coherent.

📲 Got Rejected for Metadata? Let ShopApper Fix It for You.

Avoid frustrating back-and-forths with Apple. With ShopApper, you get a compliant, polished App Store listing — without writing a single line of code.
👉 Fix My Rejection with ShopApper
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