Apple says it will remove outdated or low-effort apps in revised App Store guidelines

Apple has revised its App Store review guidelines, now allowing the removal of apps in certain well-established categories if they are not updated, improved, or attracting a user base. Previously, Apple’s policies focused on rejecting new copycat or redundant apps in already saturated categories, but the latest changes extend enforcement to existing apps that remain stagnant.

Under the new terms, developers are prohibited from submitting apps that are indistinguishable from those widely available. This effort targets repetitive variants and aims to preserve App Store quality while helping unique or better-maintained apps stand out.

Building on these changes, Apple specifically names dating, flashlight, sound effects, wallpaper, simple timers, and fortune-telling apps as examples requiring meaningful differentiation or improvement before new versions are accepted. Apps in these categories now face removal if they fail to evolve or engage users.

Following this, the guidelines emphasize that low-quality or low-effort apps, such as drinking games, Kama Sutra, fart, and burp apps, may be removed outright, with repeat offenders risking expulsion from the Apple Developer Program. These policy changes reflect Apple’s broader focus on app discovery and aim to reduce clutter, allowing more visibility for diligent developers and higher-quality apps.