App Store RejectionGuideline 1.4 — Physical Harm

Apple Believes Your App Could Put People in Danger

This is one of the most serious rejection categories. Apps that feature dangerous challenges, unqualified medical advice, self-harm content, or instructions that could lead to physical injury are rejected under 1.4. Here's what needs to change.

What Apple said

“Your app contains content that could endanger users' health or safety. Specifically, the app includes content that could encourage dangerous behavior, provide unsafe medical guidance, or facilitate self-harm. Apps must not include content that could put users at risk of physical harm.”

What this actually means

Apple takes a very cautious position on any content that could translate into real-world physical harm. This covers a wide range: DIY medical procedures, instructions for dangerous activities without appropriate safety guidance, challenges that encourage risk-taking, or content that glorifies or normalizes self-harm. Even user-generated content in these areas can put you in violation.

What Apple needs to see

  • Removal or significant modification of any content that provides unsafe medical, dietary, or physical safety guidance
  • Clear, prominent disclaimers near any health or wellness content directing users to consult professionals
  • Robust content moderation for user-generated content to remove dangerous instructions or challenges
  • A terms of service that explicitly prohibits users from posting content that encourages physical harm
  1. 1Identify and remove or revise any content that provides specific medical advice, dosage recommendations, or treatment instructions
  2. 2Add professional consultation disclaimers to any health, fitness, diet, or safety content — be prominent, not buried
  3. 3If your app has UGC, implement reporting tools and a moderation workflow for dangerous content and document this in your review notes
  4. 4Update your terms of service at yourapp.baseterms.com/terms to include explicit prohibited content rules around dangerous activities
  5. 5Contact Apple through the Resolution Center with a detailed explanation of content changes and any professional review you've obtained

While you're at it — Apple also requires these pages for every app.

Fix this rejection, then make sure you're covered on the compliance side too. Apple requires every app to link to a hosted Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Support page, and Data Deletion page. No link means another rejection — just for a different reason.

Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Support Page
Data Deletion Page
Generate my compliance pages — $9

Common questions

My fitness app gives exercise guidance — is that a 1.4 risk?
Fitness guidance is generally fine with appropriate disclaimers. The risk goes up with extreme diets, specific supplement dosages, medical treatment claims, or exercises for people with medical conditions. Adding a consult-your-doctor disclaimer and disclaiming medical advice in your terms significantly reduces your risk.
Can I appeal a 1.4 rejection?
Yes, and you should if you believe the rejection is incorrect. Respond in the Resolution Center with a clear explanation of the safeguards in your app — disclaimers, content moderation, professional review. If Apple's concern was specific content, explain what you've changed or removed.
My app helps people with mental health — could it get flagged under 1.4?
Mental health apps are heavily scrutinized. Apple generally supports them but expects crisis resources (like hotlines), clear disclaimers that the app is not a medical device, and careful treatment of self-harm topics. Follow the Safe Messaging Guidelines for suicide and self-harm content in any discussion of these topics.