App Store Preview Video Checklist Before Submission

Apple reviews app preview videos as part of the app binary review. A rejected video delays the entire submission — not just the video. Running through this checklist before you upload reduces the chance of rejection and avoids unnecessary delays.

Technical Requirements

Format and codec

Your preview must be encoded in H.264 (video) with AAC audio. Apple does not accept other codecs. Export settings in Final Cut Pro, Premiere, or DaVinci Resolve should target H.264 with a high-quality bitrate — 15–20 Mbps is a safe target for 1080p content.

Duration

App previews must be between 15 and 30 seconds. Videos shorter than 15 seconds or longer than 30 seconds will be rejected at upload. Aim for 25–28 seconds to give yourself editing room without hitting the cap.

Resolution and aspect ratio

The required resolution depends on the device slot:

• 6.9" / 6.5" iPhones — 886 × 1920 px (portrait) or 1920 × 886 px (landscape)
• 5.5" iPhones — 1080 × 1920 px
• iPad — separate resolution per iPad class

Do not add letterbox bars or pillarbox bars. The video must fill the frame exactly. Any black bars added during export will show as permanent black bars on the App Store listing.

File size

Maximum file size is 500 MB per video. A well-encoded 30-second preview at 886 × 1920 px should be well under 100 MB — if your file is approaching 500 MB, the export settings are likely wrong.

Frame rate

Apple accepts 30 fps and 60 fps. Record and export at a consistent frame rate — do not mix frame rates within the file.

Content Rules

Real app footage only

Every frame of the preview must be actual in-app footage, captured from a live device or simulator. Mockups, 3D renders of app interfaces, and animated recreations of app screens are not permitted. Motion graphics and text overlays are allowed as long as they are layered over real footage.

No hidden or unfinished features

If a feature is shown in the preview, it must be available in the submitted app binary. Showing functionality that was removed or is still in development is a common cause of rejection.

The first three seconds work without sound

Previews autoplay silently in search results. Your first three seconds must communicate value through visuals and text alone. Play the video muted and ask whether a new viewer understands what the app does — if not, revise the opening.

No misleading claims

Text overlays claiming "#1 rated," "Best in category," or specific pricing must be verifiable from the App Store listing. Claims that cannot be substantiated within the listing are grounds for rejection.

No third-party intellectual property

Music, graphics, logos, and brand assets require licensing. Do not use commercial music unless you hold a sync license. Use royalty-free music with a clear commercial license.

Metadata Checks

App title consistency

The app name shown in your preview (if shown at all) must match the App Store listing exactly, including capitalization and punctuation.

Price and subscription terms

If your overlay or voiceover mentions a price or free trial, it must match the current App Store listing. Pricing discrepancies trigger rejection.

Screenshots are updated

Apple reviews screenshots and preview videos together. If your screenshots show an older version of the app that contradicts the preview, reviewers may flag the inconsistency.

Upload Process

Select the correct device slot

In App Store Connect, navigate to your app's version, then App Previews and Screenshots. Make sure you are uploading to the correct device slot — uploading a 886 × 1920 px file to the 5.5" slot will fail.

Set the poster frame

After upload, App Store Connect asks you to choose a poster frame — the still image shown before the preview begins playing. Choose a frame that communicates value clearly and looks good at small size. The first frame is almost never the best choice.

Place the preview first

The preview plays before screenshots in the App Store listing. App Store Connect lets you reorder assets — drag the preview to position 1 so it auto-plays when a user visits your listing.

Submit with the binary

Preview videos are reviewed as part of the app binary, not independently. You must submit your app binary for review after uploading the preview — previews uploaded to a draft version are not reviewed until the binary is submitted.

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