"In Review" should be the short part of the process, so when it drags on it is unsettling. The status means a reviewer is actively evaluating your app, and in 2026 most reviews finish within a day or two, with the large majority inside 24 hours. When it runs longer, the cause is usually a deeper look or a backlog rather than a problem you can act on, and the right response depends on how long it has actually been. Here is what In Review means, why it sometimes stretches, and what to do.
Short answer
In Review means a reviewer is actively evaluating your app, distinct from Waiting for Review, where it is still queued. In 2026, most App Store reviews complete within 24 to 48 hours, so a few days in In Review is longer than typical but not alarming. Per Apple's review timing information, the large majority of submissions are reviewed within a day. If your app sits In Review well beyond a couple of days with no update, that usually signals an in-depth review, a backlog, or a complex app, and the step to take is to contact App Review through Resolution Center to ask about status, or request expedited review for a genuine deadline.
What you should know
- In Review means active evaluation: a reviewer has your app, unlike Waiting for Review.
- Most finish in 24 to 48 hours: that is the typical window in 2026.
- A few days is longer but normal-ish: deeper looks happen.
- You cannot speed the review itself: but you can ask about status.
- Expedited review is for real deadlines: not for general impatience.
What does "In Review" mean versus "Waiting for Review"?
They are two different stages, and conflating them causes needless worry. Waiting for Review means your submission is in the queue but a reviewer has not started yet, so the time there is queue time. In Review means a reviewer has picked it up and is actively evaluating it against the guidelines, so the time there is evaluation time. Moving from Waiting for Review to In Review is progress; it means your app is being looked at. Most apps pass through In Review quickly, within hours to a day or two, so the status is usually brief. When people say review is taking too long, they are sometimes still in the queue rather than In Review, so confirming which status you are in is the first step.
Why is it taking too long?
A few reasons explain a longer-than-usual In Review. The table lists them.
| Cause | What it means |
|---|---|
| In-depth review | Your app was held for closer evaluation |
| Backlog or holidays | A surge in submissions slows the queue and reviews |
| Complex app | More functionality takes longer to evaluate |
| Awaiting something from Apple | An internal check or escalation is in progress |
| Borderline guideline question | The reviewer is assessing a specific concern |
The common thread is that a longer In Review usually reflects extra evaluation rather than a stalled system. An app with more to check, or one that raised a guideline question, simply takes more reviewer time, and seasonal backlogs around major releases or holidays can stretch the window for everyone.
What do you do about it?
Match your action to how long it has been. For the first couple of days In Review, the right move is to wait, since that is within or near the normal window and contacting Apple will not speed an active review. If it has been several days with no movement, contact App Review through Resolution Center to politely ask about the status, which is the appropriate channel and often gets a response within a day. If you have a genuine, time-sensitive reason, like a hard launch date or a critical fix, request an expedited review, but reserve that for real deadlines rather than general impatience. Throughout, do not withdraw and resubmit hoping to jump the line, since that usually sends you to the back of the queue rather than helping.
What to watch out for
The first trap is confusing In Review with Waiting for Review and worrying about the wrong stage; confirm which one you are in. The second is resubmitting to try to speed things up, which typically resets your place. The third is requesting expedited review without a real deadline, which is better saved for when you truly need it. A longer review can also reflect a guideline concern with the app, and a clean, well-prepared submission moves through faster; a pre-submission scan such as PTKD.com (https://ptkd.com) reads the binary against OWASP MASVS and catches security issues before they become a reason for a closer look. Waiting, then asking through the right channel, is the productive path.
What to take away
- In Review means a reviewer is actively evaluating your app, unlike Waiting for Review, where it is queued.
- In 2026 most reviews finish within 24 to 48 hours, so a few days is longer than typical but not alarming.
- A longer In Review usually reflects an in-depth review, a backlog, or a complex app, not a stalled system.
- Wait for the first couple of days, then ask through Resolution Center, request expedited review only for a real deadline, and submit a clean app verified with a pre-submission scan such as PTKD.com.
