---
title: "App Store review time in 2026: Waiting for Review, expedited review, and what to do when you're stuck"
canonical: "https://asoitis.com/blog/app-store-review-time"
description: "App Store review times in 2026: Apple says 90% in under 24 hours; live data shows ~7h waiting. How to expedite a review and what to do when stuck in Waiting for Review."
kind: "blog-post"
category: "App Review"
datePublished: "2026-10-02"
dateModified: "2026-10-02"
keywords:
  - "app store review time"
  - "expedite app store review"
  - "app store expedited review"
  - "app store connect waiting for review"
  - "how long does app store review take"
  - "app store waiting for review how long"
  - "testflight review time"
---

# App Store review time in 2026: Waiting for Review, expedited review, and what to do when you're stuck

> Apple says that on average 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours. Independent tracking from Runway showed an average of about 7 hours in Waiting for Review and 2 hours 21 minutes In Review in late September 2026. You can request an expedited review for a critical bug fix or a release tied to an event. Don't remove a waiting submission to resubmit it: Apple says the review process then starts over.

*Published 2026-10-02 · last updated 2026-10-02 · by Ahmed Gagan for ASOitis.*

Every indie developer has refreshed App Store Connect at 2am watching "Waiting for Review" not change. Most of the time the answer is boring: it'll move within a day. Sometimes it's not, and the forums fill with people stuck for weeks. Here's what's normal, what isn't, what Apple lets you do about it, and — because a rejection costs you far more time than the queue does — how to not need a second review at all.

## How long App Store review takes right now

Apple's only published number is [this one](https://developer.apple.com/distribute/app-review/): "On average, 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours." It publishes no median and no split between new apps and updates.

For something more current, [Runway publishes an average](https://www.runway.team/appreviewtimes) of real review times seen by teams using its release tool. Its page, updated September 26, 2026, showed:

**Runway's App Store review time tracker (two-week average, Sep 26, 2026)**

| Stage | Average time |
| --- | --- |
| Waiting for Review | 7h 2m |
| In Review | 2h 21m |
| TestFlight: waiting for beta review | 8h 32m |
| TestFlight: in beta review | 1h 39m |
| Build processing | 22m |

**Runway monthly averages, 2026**

| Month | Average waiting | Longest waiting | Average in review |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| April | 8h 45m | about 3 days | 1h 33m |
| May | 13h 59m | 3d 2h | 1h 20m |
| June | 6h 4m | 4d 17h | 1h 22m |
| July | 12h 41m | 42d 7h | 1h 28m |
| August | 10h 26m | 5d 9h | 1h 13m |
| September (to the 26th) | 7h 2m | 1d 6h | 2h 21m |

Two caveats. Runway describes its figure as a truncated mean, not a median, and its sample is its own customers — mostly established teams, not first-time submitters. And look at the "longest" column: the average hides a long tail. One submission in July waited 42 days.

## What each status means

These are Apple's own definitions from [App Store Connect Help](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-and-submission-statuses), shortened in places.

**App Store Connect statuses, in Apple's words**

| Status | What Apple says |
| --- | --- |
| Waiting for Review | "Apple received your submission, but hasn't started the review." You can edit certain app information and remove the build from review, but not upload or edit screenshots or previews. |
| In Review | "App Review is reviewing your app. You can remove the build from review." |
| Pending Developer Release | "Your app was accepted, but you still need to release it for distribution on the App Store." |
| Pending Apple Release | "Apple is holding your app version until the corresponding Apple operating system version releases to the public." |
| Ready for Distribution | "Your app has been accepted and is ready for distribution. To distribute your app, your agreements must be in effect." |
| Rejected | "Your app wasn't accepted." App Review notifies users with the Admin, App Manager or Developer role. |
| Metadata Rejected | "App Review didn't accept your metadata." Edit the metadata and reply to the message. |
| Developer Rejected | "You removed your app from review. When you're ready, resubmit your build or submit a new build." |

"Metadata Rejected" is the cheap one: you can usually fix it without a new build. The details are in our page on [Guideline 2.3](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-2-3-accurate-metadata).

## Why yours is taking longer

> App Review will examine your app as soon as we can. However, if your app is complex or presents new issues, it may require greater scrutiny and consideration. And remember that if your app is repeatedly rejected for the same guideline violation or you've attempted to manipulate the review process, review of your app will take longer to complete.

That's from the guidelines' "After You Submit" section. Beyond it, Apple documents a few more things that slow a review:

- **An incomplete submission.** Apple: "If your submission is incomplete, review times may be delayed or your submission may not pass." The usual gap is a missing or broken demo account — see [Guideline 2.1](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-2-1-app-completeness).
- **It isn't first-come, first-served.** Apple's help says "Submissions may not be reviewed in the order you submit them."
- **Export compliance.** A build can sit in "Waiting for Export Compliance" while encryption documentation is reviewed.
- **Late December.** Apple no longer closes App Review for the holidays, but its last holiday notice (December 2024) warned that "reviews may take longer to complete from December 20-26". No 2026 dates had been announced when this was written.
- **A new kind of app.** Anything the reviewer hasn't seen before — a new category, unusual permissions, a regulated field — gets more scrutiny.

Then there are the outliers. Developers on Apple's forums reported submissions stuck for 17 and 45 days in early 2026, with only a template reply from Apple. Those threads are real, but they're self-selected: over the same months Runway's averages stayed under 15 hours. If you're past three or four days with no movement, treat it as an exception and act on it.

## How to request an expedited review

Apple accepts expedite requests in two situations, in its own words: "fixing a critical bug in your app or releasing your app to coincide with an event you're directly associated with." The [expedite request form](https://developer.apple.com/contact/app-store/?topic=expedite) needs you to be signed in.

1. **Submit the build first.** The request refers to a submission that already exists.
2. **For a bug fix, include the steps to reproduce.** Apple asks for "the steps to reproduce the bug on the current version of your app." Say who is affected and how badly — crashes on launch, data loss, payments failing.
3. **For an event, say what it is and how you're connected to it.** A launch you chose yourself isn't an event; a conference you're presenting at is.
4. **Keep it short and factual.** One paragraph. No pleading.
5. **Use it rarely.** The guidelines warn: "If we find you're abusing this system, we may reject your requests going forward."

Apple publishes no turnaround time for expedited reviews, so don't plan a launch around one being granted. It's a request, not a queue-jump you're entitled to.

## Stuck in Waiting for Review? Do this, in order

1. **Wait at least 48 hours.** Averages are under a day, but a two-day wait is still inside the normal range.
2. **Check everything that isn't the review.** Agreements in the Business section, export compliance, and whether App Review has sent a message you missed in App Store Connect.
3. **Don't remove and resubmit.** It's tempting. Apple's help is explicit: when you remove a submission, "the app status changes to Developer Rejected. If you resubmit, the review process will start over."
4. **Contact App Review.** Use [Apple's contact form](https://developer.apple.com/contact/app-store/) with your app's Apple ID and submission date.
5. **Request an expedite if you genuinely qualify.** A critical bug in the live version is a valid reason; impatience isn't.
6. **Book a Meet with App Review session.** Apple offers [30-minute video appointments](https://developer.apple.com/events/view/upcoming-events?search=Review) where you can ask what to expect during review.

**The fastest review is the one you only do once. Have the build checked before you submit.**

[Get the $49 Review Check](https://checkout.dodopayments.com/buy/pdt_0NmV5JBcX1kDqIGUTko9k?quantity=1&redirect_url=https%3A%2F%2Fasoitis.com%2Fcheckout%2Fsuccess%3Fplan%3Dreview)

## Plan your release so the queue doesn't matter

- **Submit early, release manually.** Choose manual release and the approved version sits in Pending Developer Release until you press the button. Apple reminds you by email after 30 days.
- **Use phased release for updates.** It rolls out to 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50% and then 100% of users over seven days, and you can pause it.
- **Lean on TestFlight.** Only the first build you add to an external group needs beta review; Apple says later builds "may not require a full review". Internal testers need none.
- **Bug fixes get some slack.** The guidelines say bug fixes "will not be delayed over guideline violations except for those related to legal or safety issues" — you can address other issues in your next submission.
- **Remember the last step.** After approval, Apple says it "can take up to 24-hours for your app to appear on all selected storefronts."

And remove the most common causes of a second review before the first one. The rejections that hit indie apps most are [2.1 App Completeness](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-2-1-app-completeness), [5.1.1 privacy and account deletion](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-5-1-1-data-collection), [3.1.1 in-app purchase](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-3-1-1-in-app-purchase) and [4.3 spam](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-4-3-spam) — each page has the fix and a reply template.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does App Store review take in 2026?

Apple says 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours on average. Runway's tracker showed about 7 hours waiting and 2 hours 21 minutes in review in late September 2026, though individual submissions can take days.

### How do I expedite an App Store review?

Submit your build, then request an expedited review through Apple's App Store contact form. Apple accepts requests for a critical bug fix (include steps to reproduce) or a release tied to an event you're directly associated with. Abuse can get future requests declined.

### Does removing my app from review and resubmitting speed it up?

No. Apple's help says that after you remove a submission, the status becomes Developer Rejected and, if you resubmit, "the review process will start over."

### Is App Review closed over the holidays?

No. Apple's most recent holiday notice (December 2024) said App Review would keep accepting submissions but that reviews might take longer from December 20 to 26. Submit time-sensitive releases early.

### How long does TestFlight beta review take?

Apple doesn't publish a figure. Runway's tracker showed an average of 8 hours 32 minutes waiting for beta review in late September 2026. Only the first build added to an external tester group requires review.

## See also

- [App Store rejection fixes, guideline by guideline](https://asoitis.com/app-review)
- [Guideline 2.1 App Completeness: the most common rejection](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-2-1-app-completeness)
- [Guideline 2.3: fix a Metadata Rejected status](https://asoitis.com/app-review/guideline-2-3-accurate-metadata)
- [The Review Check and other one-time fixes](https://asoitis.com/fixes)


## About ASOitis

**ASOitis** — ASO + GEO agency for indie iOS apps. Founder: Ahmed Gagan. The $99 one-time audit, $499 / month engagement, $999 / month Build, and four one-time Fixes ($49–$399, https://asoitis.com/fixes) are the entire price list. All sales final (https://asoitis.com/terms). ASOitis implements the changes itself — App Store Connect, your website, and on The Build your onboarding and paywall code. iOS-only. Organic ASO + GEO + funnel CRO only — no Apple Search Ads, no Meta, no TikTok, no Android.

- Homepage: https://asoitis.com
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- Full LLM documentation: https://asoitis.com/llms-full.txt
- AI training and citation permissions: https://asoitis.com/ai.txt
- Book the $99 audit: https://checkout.dodopayments.com/buy/pdt_0NejYshqoh2VaXbk3wjzq?quantity=1&redirect_url=https%3A%2F%2Fasoitis.com%2Fcheckout%2Fsuccess%3Fplan%3Daudit
- 15-min founder call: https://cal.com/ahmedgagan/asoitis-chat