The Nightmare of App Store Rejections

You’ve poured time, energy, and countless lines of Dart code into your app. It runs smoothly, looks beautiful, and passes all your tests. You finally submit it to the App Store or Google Play… and boom—rejected.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Flutter app compliance has become a hot topic, especially as app store policies tighten in 2025. Apple and Google are more meticulous than ever, flagging apps for vague privacy policies, missing disclosures, improper permissions, and even UI inconsistencies.

So, how can you make sure your Flutter app doesn’t fall into the rejection trap?

This guide breaks down why Flutter apps get rejected, how to fix the most common issues, and how to future-proof your submissions—without sacrificing your development speed or creativity.

1. Understand the Most Common Reasons for Rejection

Let’s start with what reviewers hate:

• Privacy policy issues: Missing, vague, or inaccessible policies

• Permissions abuse: Requesting access to location, camera, or data without a clear explanation

• Unstable builds: Crashes during review due to unhandled errors or bad release builds

• Lack of native look and feel: Especially for iOS—Apple demands platform-specific UX fidelity

• Inappropriate content or metadata: Even slight violations can trigger rejections

And unfortunately, Flutter’s cross-platform approach means one mistake can lead to rejections across both stores.

2. Privacy Policies & Disclosures—Your First Line of Defense

If your app collects any user data (including analytics), you must:

• Include a detailed privacy policy on your website and in-app

• Provide a link to it during the submission process

• Disclose all third-party SDKs that collect data (like Firebase Analytics or AdMob)

• Be transparent about how and why you collect information

Not sure how to generate a privacy policy? Use a generator tool or consult legal professionals. A simple oversight here is one of the top reasons Flutter apps face rejection.

3. Ask Only When You Need Them

Flutter makes it easy to request permissions—but reviewers can spot abuse instantly.

Best practices:

• Don’t ask for location, storage, camera, or microphone access unless absolutely needed

• Explain each permission clearly to users using in-app prompts and descriptions

• On iOS, provide accurate usage descriptions in the Info.plist file (e.g., NSCameraUsageDescription)

• On Android, include just the necessary permissions in your AndroidManifest.xml

Remember, compliance isn’t just about coding—it’s about respecting user trust.

4. Avoid Platform Inconsistencies

Cross-platform doesn’t mean “identical.” Flutter’s UI flexibility can tempt you to build one-size-fits-all designs—but Apple, in particular, expects iOS-specific behavior.

Fix this by:

• Using Cupertino widgets where appropriate on iOS

• Ensuring your app works well with Apple’s gesture navigation, dynamic font sizing, and Safe Areas

• Testing your app using real devices on both platforms

It’s not just about Flutter Mobile Apps working; it’s about them feeling native on each platform.

5. Stable Release Builds Are Mandatory

Never submit a debug build or unstable version to the stores.

Before submitting:

• Use flutter build apk --release or flutter build ios --release

• Obfuscate code if needed, and use proper signing

• Test your release builds on actual hardware—not just emulators

• Catch and log uncaught errors using tools like Sentry or Firebase Crashlytics

Your code might work in dev mode, but production is where App Store reviewers live.

6. Metadata & Store Listings: Details Matter

Even if your app is flawless, poor metadata can get it rejected:

• Avoid using misleading keywords or names (Apple is especially strict here)

• Ensure screenshots represent the actual app experience

• Don’t mention other platforms (e.g., Android in iOS submissions)

• Match your description and screenshots to current app functionality

Planning to convert Flutter app to web too? Make sure your web content is also compliant—your store listing may link to your site, and inconsistencies or policy violations there can also trigger issues.

7. Use Compliance Checklists During Development

To make Flutter app compliance part of your process, embed it into your workflow:

• Use pre-launch checklists for permissions, privacy, and platform rules

• Test with accessibility and voiceover features enabled

• Conduct mock reviews by team members simulating store review

• Stay updated with Apple and Google’s policy changes (they evolve often)

Or even better, work with a team offering seasoned flutter development services—companies like Four Strokes Digital have been helping clients ship compliant apps faster and with fewer surprises.

Compliance Is a Competitive Advantage

Think of app store compliance not as a roadblock but as a refinement layer. Every rejected build is feedback pushing you closer to a polished, trusted, and professional product.

Flutter gives us the power to build fast—but it’s attention to detail that gets you published.

Whether you're building your first app or managing a suite of products, embracing compliance from the start is smarter, not slower. And if you're feeling stuck, know that expert teams like Four Strokes Digital can guide you through the rough patches and help you deliver compliant, scalable solutions with confidence.