Understanding iOS App Rejection Guidelines Due to Guideline 2.16 and How to Provide Informed User Consent

Understanding iOS App Rejection Guidelines

As a developer, understanding the guidelines set by Apple for iOS apps is crucial to ensure compliance and avoid rejection. In this article, we will delve into the specific reason why your iPhone app was rejected due to guideline 2.16.

What is Guideline 2.16?

Guideline 2.16 in the iOS Developer Guide states:

“To make your app clear about its use of battery power or GPS, use the following language in your app’s description on iTunes Connect: ‘The continued use of GPS may decrease battery life.’”

In other words, when creating an app that uses GPS or location services, Apple requires you to inform users that these features can consume a significant amount of battery power.

Providing informed user consent is essential for compliance with iOS guidelines. Users need to be aware of the potential impact of their device’s features on battery life. By including this information in your app’s description, you demonstrate transparency and respect for users’ concerns.

Why GPS Background Key Rejection?

The rejection of your app due to guideline 2.16 is likely because you failed to provide adequate guidance regarding the use of GPS background keys. A GPS background key allows an app to continue running in the background, even when it’s not actively being used by the user. While this feature provides a convenient way for apps to update data in real-time, it also consumes device resources and can decrease battery life.

Without explicit warning or guidance, users may not be aware of the potential risks associated with using GPS features extensively.

Your App Code: A Review

Let’s take a closer look at your app code to identify potential issues:

- (void)stopGPS{
    [self.locationManagerAll stopUpdatingLocation];
    self.locationManagerAll.delegate = nil;
    locationManagerAll = nil;
    self.cloop = 1;

    // ...
}

The stopGPS method stops the GPS location service and releases any associated resources. However, there is no indication that users should be aware of the potential impact on battery life.

To address this issue, you can modify your app’s description to include a statement about the use of GPS features:

“In order to provide accurate location services, our app may use GPS and other location technologies. This feature may decrease battery life and should be used responsibly.”

By providing clear guidance on the potential risks associated with using GPS features, you demonstrate compliance with iOS guidelines and respect for users’ concerns.

Conclusion

Understanding the importance of informed user consent is crucial for developing compliant iOS apps. By including explicit warnings or guidance in your app’s description, you can ensure that users are aware of the potential risks associated with using GPS features extensively. In this article, we reviewed the specific reason why your iPhone app was rejected due to guideline 2.16 and provided a solution to address this issue.

Example Use Case

To illustrate how informed user consent works in practice, consider the following example:

// App Settings Screen
- (void)settingsViewDidLoad {
    // ...
    
    UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"Location Services" message:@"Our app uses GPS and other location technologies to provide accurate location services.\n\nPlease note that this feature may decrease battery life. Do you want to continue using this feature?" delegate:self cancelButtonTitle:@"No" otherButtonTitles:@"Yes", nil];
    
    [alert show];
}

By including an explicit warning about the potential impact on battery life, users are informed and can make an educated decision about whether or not to use GPS features extensively.

Additional Resources

For more information on iOS guidelines and compliance, please refer to the following resources:

Apple’s iOS Developer Guide: Guideline 2.16
Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines: Location Services

Last modified on 2024-05-09