Apple Shares 2024 App Store Data: Rejections, Removals, and More
Apple's 2024 App Store Transparency Report: A Detailed Look
Apple recently released its third annual App Store Transparency Report (PDF), providing a detailed overview of App Store activity throughout 2024. This report offers valuable insights into various aspects of the App Store ecosystem, including app submissions, rejections, removals, account terminations, and fraud prevention measures. Let's delve into the key findings.
App Store Growth and Usage
By the end of 2024, the App Store boasted a remarkable 1,961,596 apps, representing a significant increase of nearly 100,000 apps compared to the previous year (2023 Report). This growth underscores the continued popularity and expansion of the App Store platform. User engagement remains high, with an average of 839,266,915 weekly app downloads and 813,110,348 weekly visitors, both showing year-over-year increases.
App Submissions and Rejections
Apple meticulously reviewed a massive 7.77 million app submissions during 2024. Of these, 1.93 million were rejected. The primary reasons for rejection fell into these categories, in descending order of frequency: performance issues, legal concerns, design flaws, business model violations, and safety concerns. It's important to note that 295,109 of these initially rejected submissions were ultimately approved after developers addressed the identified issues, highlighting Apple's commitment to working with developers to improve their apps.
App Removals from the App Store
Throughout 2024, Apple removed 82,509 apps from the App Store. The Utilities and Games categories were most affected by these removals. The reasons for removal are detailed below, with design issues and fraudulent activities topping the list:
- Guideline 4.0 -- Design: 42,252 apps removed due to design flaws.
- DPLA 3.2(f) -- Fraud: 38,315 apps removed due to fraudulent activities.
- DPLA 6.3 -- Intellectual Property Infringement: 425 apps removed for infringing on intellectual property rights.
- Guideline 4.3.0 -- Spam: 294 apps removed due to spamming behavior.
- DPLA 4.8 -- Export Control: 285 apps removed due to violations of export control regulations.
- Guideline 4.1.0 -- Copycats: 128 apps removed for being considered copycats of existing apps.
- Guideline 5.6.0 -- Developer Code of Conduct: 99 apps removed due to violations of the developer code of conduct.
- Guideline 5.0.0 -- General: 89 apps removed for various general violations.
- Guideline 5.2.1 -- Intellectual Property -- General: 77 apps removed for general intellectual property violations.
- Guideline 3.1.2 -- Subscriptions: 69 apps removed due to issues related to subscription services.
Government Takedown Requests
Apple also complied with government takedown requests, removing apps at the request of various countries. The majority of these requests originated from China, resulting in the removal of 1,307 apps. Other countries with significant takedown requests included Russia (171 apps), South Korea (79 apps), Ukraine (55 apps), and Jordan (50 apps).
Appeals Process
Developers had the opportunity to appeal the removal of their apps. Apple received 26,224 appeals, with a significant number originating from China (6,978) and the United States (3,571). However, the success rate of these appeals was relatively low, with only 78 apps in China and 71 apps in the United States being reinstated after the appeal process.
Account Terminations and Fraud Prevention
Apple's commitment to security and user protection is evident in the significant number of account terminations. A total of 128,961,839 customer accounts were terminated, primarily due to fraudulent activities. Apple claims to have prevented over $2 billion in fraud through these measures. Furthermore, 146,747 developer accounts were terminated due to fraud and export control violations.
Transparency and Legal Context
The publication of these App Store Transparency Reports stems from a 2021 class action lawsuit settlement (Settlement Details) between Apple and developers. As part of this settlement, Apple agreed to provide more transparent data regarding the app review process. This report fulfills that commitment, providing developers and the public with valuable insights into the workings of the App Store.
For a more in-depth understanding of the data presented here, you can access the full report (Full Report) and supplementary data from Apple's legal site (Apple Legal Site).
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