App Store readiness checks that changed in late 2026

Checked Apple's live App Review Guidelines (last updated Oct 16, 2026) and developer news on Nov 3, 2026. New since mid-2026: guideline 2.5.19 bans hidden, dormant or undocumented features, so compile test-only screens and launch-argument hooks out of Release with a compilation condition and confirm with strings on the built binary. The age rating questionnaire gets a 'Shared Location' descriptor from Nov 16, 2026, required for all apps by Jan 12, 2027 (Brazil rates it 16+), plus social-media questions required since Sept 2026. iPhone Duo screenshots are required from April 2027, as is the iOS 27 SDK. Also: volumeAvailableCapacityForImportantUsageKey needs the DiskSpace reason (E174.1) in PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy or the upload fails with ITMS-91053. Guideline 5.1.5 still says location APIs 'shouldn't be used to provide emergency services', so SOS-style apps should say plainly that they don't contact emergency services.