Start with Waiting for Review versus In Review
Waiting for Review means review has not started. In Review means App Review is actively reviewing the submission. The same three-day wait has a different meaning in each state.
In Review can take longer when an app is complex, presents new issues, needs specialist assessment, or lacks complete review information. A quiet status does not prove inactivity.
What changes the answer
A routine update with a long history of fast reviews is not the same as a first submission. A resubmission after rejection is not the same as a clean update. Review the differences before using a generic average.
- New app versus app update
- First submission versus corrected resubmission
- Waiting for Review versus In Review
- Complete review access and notes versus missing context
- Ordinary release versus critical bug fix or event deadline
When action becomes reasonable
Action is reasonable when the elapsed time is materially unusual for the case, the release impact is real, and first-party information has been checked. Start with a factual record, not repeated messages.
If you face extenuating circumstances such as a critical bug fix or an event directly associated with the app, Apple provides an expedited-review request route. If that request is already stalled, use the expedited-not-working guide.
See what your current delay means.
This is educational guidance, not a prediction of Apple’s decision or timing.
Verify the status at the source.
Apple defines Waiting for Review as a submission Apple has received but has not started reviewing. Apple also publishes its expedited-review criteria and official support routes.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple guarantee review in 24 hours?
No. Apple publishes an average for most submissions, not a deadline or guarantee for every app.
Why can In Review take longer than Waiting for Review?
It may involve deeper technical, policy, account, content, or specialist checks. Only Apple knows the exact work occurring in a specific review.
Should I contact Apple as soon as the average passes?
Not necessarily. Confirm the status, submission completeness, history, and real urgency first. A clear case is more useful than a message based only on an average.
Related review delay guides
The timing is unusual—and the release cannot wait?
Submit the status and timeline for a human eligibility review.
We accelerate the review process—not Apple’s approval decision.