Apple Shares 2024 App Store Data: What You Need to Know About App Rejections and Removals
Wondering how many apps Apple rejected or removed from the App Store in 2024? Apple’s latest transparency report reveals detailed insights about app rejections, removals, and fraud prevention efforts. If you’re a developer or a user curious about App Store policies, this report answers key questions like why apps get rejected, how many submissions Apple reviews, and how it handles fraudulent activity. With over 7.7 million app submissions last year, Apple rejected nearly 2 million, highlighting strict quality, legal, and safety standards.
At the end of 2024, the App Store hosted almost 2 million apps, with weekly downloads soaring above 839 million and weekly visitors surpassing 813 million. These rising numbers reflect the ever-growing importance of the App Store ecosystem. Apple’s report also details that most rejected apps faced issues related to performance, legal compliance, design, business models, and user safety—key factors developers must prioritize to succeed.
How Many Apps Were Removed and Why?
Apple removed 82,509 apps throughout 2024, primarily from the Utilities and Games categories. The main reasons for removals included design guideline violations and fraud, emphasizing Apple's commitment to maintaining high standards and user trust. Specifically, 42,252 apps were removed for failing to meet Guideline 4.0 – Design, while 38,315 were flagged for fraud under DPLA 3.2(f). Other causes included intellectual property infringement, spam, export control violations, and developer misconduct.
Additionally, Apple complied with government takedown requests, removing 1,307 apps following China's demands, with Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, and Jordan also requesting removals. These actions showcase Apple's complex balancing act between regulatory compliance and user protection worldwide.
Developer and Customer Account Terminations
Fraud prevention is a top priority for Apple. In 2024 alone, Apple terminated nearly 129 million customer accounts and 146,747 developer accounts to stop fraudulent activity and enforce export controls. The company reports having prevented over $2 billion in fraud, underlining its strong anti-fraud measures that safeguard both users and legitimate developers.
Developers who faced app removals had the chance to appeal, with over 26,000 appeals processed globally. However, only a small fraction—78 apps in China and 71 in the U.S.—were reinstated, indicating Apple’s rigorous review standards and limited tolerance for non-compliance.
Why Apple Publishes Transparency Reports
Apple began publishing annual App Store Transparency Reports in 2023 following a 2021 class action lawsuit settlement with developers. These reports provide valuable statistics on the app review process, offering transparency about app submissions, rejections, removals, and user behavior on the App Store. For developers and users alike, this data sheds light on Apple’s evolving policies and enforcement priorities in the ever-competitive app marketplace.
For those interested, Apple provides the full report and supplemental legal documentation online, offering a deep dive into the nuances of App Store management and enforcement.
