Apple’s latest App Store Transparency Report reveals that reviewers examined 7.7 million submissions last year and rejected 1.93 million for policy breaches ranging from poor design to covert data grabs. That figure means nearly one in four apps never reached the store.
82,509 titles pulled after approval
Inspection did not end at launch. Apple later delisted 82,509 existing apps, most of them utilities and games that copied rivals, broke, or slipped in hidden code. Design flaws alone triggered 42,252 takedowns, while 38,315 removals traced back to outright fraud.
Fraud fuels account terminations
Developer bans rose in tandem. Apple shut down 146,747 developer accounts; more than 99 percent were linked to fraudulent schemes. Appeals rarely worked: only 225 developers regained access after review.
User accounts and payments under guard
Policing went beyond creators. Apple disabled nearly 129 million customer accounts that showed signs of abuse and blocked $2.02 billion in suspicious transactions before money changed hands. The company says the measures keep the store “safe and trusted.”
China tops government takedown list
Governments requested removal of 17,309 apps. Mainland China filed 13,071 of those demands, including 1,131 games that lacked a local license. By contrast, Russia asked for 171 takedowns, South Korea 79, and India 34. Apple limits each removal to the country that issued the order.
Massive traffic, but new scrutiny ahead
The store still attracts 813 million weekly visitors and 839 million downloads, yet regulators worldwide are asking tougher questions about Apple’s power. Europe’s Digital Markets Act and U.S. antitrust probes could force rule changes just as Apple tightens its own gates.
The bottom line
Apple frames the numbers as proof that strict review protects consumers. Developers, however, warn that opaque decisions and lengthy appeals can sink legitimate apps. With pressure coming from fraudsters and lawmakers alike, Apple must balance safety, fairness, and transparency in 2025 and beyond.
