# App Store ratings explained: how the stars really work > How App Store ratings work, in plain English. Ratings vs reviews, the rating for each country, rating resets, review summaries, and what you control. Source: https://synthiya.ai/guides/app-store-ratings-explained · Updated 2026-10-09 · By Synthiya ## Key takeaways - A rating is 1 to 5 stars. A review is a rating plus written text. People can rate without writing a word. - Your App Store page shows one overall rating for each country or region. A rating counts toward the country where the person first got the app. - You can reset your overall rating when you release a new version. The reset hits every country at once, and written reviews stay. - If someone edits their rating or review, only the newest one shows. A new review from the same person replaces the old one. - On newer versions of iOS, Apple can show a short AI-written summary of your reviews on your App Store page. Your star rating shows up next to your app in search results and on your product page. But how is that number made? Who can change it? And when should you reset it? This guide explains how App Store ratings and reviews work, using what Apple says in its own docs. Where Apple doesn't say, we tell you that too. ## What is the difference between a rating and a review? A rating is a score from 1 to 5 stars. A review is a rating plus a title and written text. Plenty of people tap a star and move on without writing. Both come from the same places. People can rate your app on its App Store page at any time. They can also rate it from the review prompt inside your app, if you use Apple's [review prompt](https://synthiya.ai/glossary/in-app-review-prompt). A few more facts from Apple: - Users can rate apps on all Apple platforms. - Written reviews are possible for iOS, macOS and visionOS apps, but not tvOS apps. - If someone edits their rating or review, only the latest version shows. - If the same person submits a new rating or review, it replaces their old one. ## How is your App Store rating shown? Your App Store page shows one overall rating for each country or region. Apple calls it the summary or overview rating. It appears on your product page and in search results. The country matters. Apple says a rating counts toward the country where the person first got the app. That's why your app can have 4.7 stars in one country and 4.1 in another. > **Tip:** > When you check your rating, check the countries where most of your users live. Your home store may not tell the whole story. Some apps share one rating across devices. Apple says iOS apps that use WatchKit or Messages share the same rating across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and iMessage. ## Is the App Store rating a simple average? Apple's help pages don't spell out the exact formula behind the overall rating. So be wary of anyone who claims to know it. What you can do is track it yourself. Write down your rating and rating count each week. Look at your recent reviews too. Recent reviews tell you how the current version feels. The all-time number moves slowly. ## What does it mean to reset your rating? A reset clears your overall star rating and starts it fresh. You can only do it when you release a new version of your app. Here is what Apple says happens: - The reset applies to every country and region at the same time. - Written reviews are not removed. They still show on your App Store page. - A message on your page says the rating was recently reset. - A new overall rating appears once enough people rate the new version. - Once the new version is out, you can't bring back the old rating. For universal apps, the reset only applies to the platform version you reset. You need the Admin or App Manager role to do it. To reset, open the new version in App Store Connect. In the Reset Overview Rating section, choose to reset the rating when this version is released. Then save. ## Should you reset your App Store rating? Reset only when your old rating no longer reflects your app, and you have fixed the reason. Apple itself recommends using the feature sparingly. | Reset can make sense when | Think twice when | |---|---| | A big bug dragged your rating down, and it's now fixed | Your rating is fine but you want it higher | | You rebuilt the app and old complaints no longer apply | You don't have many active users to rate again | | The old rating is mostly about features you removed | The same problems still show up in new reviews | Remember the downside. For a while, your page shows a "recently reset" note instead of stars. If few people rate the new version, that can last a long time. And if you haven't fixed the root problem, the new rating will slide back down. ## Can you remove or change reviews? No. You can't delete or edit someone's review. What you can do is reply. You can reply to any review in App Store Connect, and Apple notifies the reviewer. They can then update their review if you solved their problem. See our guide on [how to respond to App Store reviews](https://synthiya.ai/guides/respond-to-app-store-reviews) for templates you can copy. ## What are App Store review summaries? On newer versions of iOS, Apple can show a short summary of your reviews on your App Store page. Apple says it's written with large language models and shows key points from user reviews. It only appears when there are enough reviews. This matters because shoppers may read the summary before any single review. If many reviews mention the same problem, the summary may mention it too. The fix is the same as always. Find the main themes in your reviews and fix the bad ones. Want to see the themes in your reviews right now? Run a free [App Teardown](https://synthiya.ai/teardowns) on your app. You can also [compare your app with a competitor](https://synthiya.ai/compare) to see how your themes differ. ## How do ratings affect downloads? Apple notes that people often view ratings and reviews before they download an app. Your rating also shows up in search results, next to your app's name and icon. So ratings are part of your store page, just like your screenshots. A higher rating won't fix a weak app. But a low one can turn people away before they ever try it. Our guide to [what makes a good App Store rating](https://synthiya.ai/guides/good-app-rating) goes deeper on this. ## Sources - [Apple: Ratings and reviews overview](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/monitor-ratings-and-reviews/ratings-and-reviews-overview) - [Apple: Reset an app's overview rating](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/monitor-ratings-and-reviews/reset-an-app-summary-rating) - [Apple: Ratings, reviews, and responses](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/ratings-and-reviews/) ## FAQ ### Why is my App Store rating different in another country? Apple shows a separate overall rating for each country or region. A rating counts toward the country where the person first got your app. So each store has its own score. ### Can I reset my App Store rating without an update? No. You can choose to reset the overall rating only when you release a new version. You turn it on for that version in App Store Connect. ### Do reviews disappear when I reset my rating? No. A reset clears the overall star score, but written reviews stay on your App Store page. ### Can I see all my ratings and reviews? Yes. App Store Connect shows all your ratings and reviews from the App Store, and you can reply to reviews there. ### Can people write reviews for Apple TV apps? Users can rate apps from 1 to 5 stars on all platforms. Apple says they can write reviews for iOS, macOS and visionOS apps, but not for tvOS apps.