# How to respond to App Store reviews (with copy-paste templates) > A simple way to reply to App Store reviews, good and bad. Includes copy-paste reply templates, what Apple allows, and mistakes to avoid. Source: https://synthiya.ai/guides/respond-to-app-store-reviews · Updated 2026-10-09 · By Synthiya ## Key takeaways - You can reply to any App Store review in App Store Connect, no matter how old it is. You can edit or delete your reply at any time. - When you reply, Apple tells the reviewer, and they can update their review. A kind, useful reply can turn a 1-star review into a better one. - A good reply has four parts. Thank them, own the problem, give a fix or a next step, and invite them back. - Reply first to fresh 1- and 2-star reviews about a bug you have fixed or will fix soon. - Keep replies on topic and polite. Apple's rules say no personal data, spam or marketing in replies. Every review is a small public talk with a user. Other people read it too. A good reply can win back the person who wrote it. It also shows everyone else that a real human runs this app and cares. This guide shows you how to reply, what to say, and what not to say. You also get [copy-paste templates](#templates) for the reviews you see most. ## Can you reply to App Store reviews? Yes. You can reply to any review of your app in App Store Connect, no matter when it was written. Your reply shows right under the review on your App Store page. Each review shows one reply from you. Here is how to do it: 1. Sign in to App Store Connect. 2. Open your app and go to **Ratings and Reviews**. 3. Find the review and click **Reply**. 4. Write your reply and click **Submit**. You need the Account Holder, Admin or Customer Support role to reply. Apple says a reply can take up to 24 hours to go live. Until then it shows as pending. You can also edit or delete a reply later. Only your latest version shows, with a note that it was edited. If you have a lot of reviews, the App Store Connect API lets you reply from your own tools. > **Tip:** > On Google Play, you can reply to reviews in the Play Console. The same rules of thumb in this guide work there too. ## Why should you reply to reviews at all? Replies help the person who wrote the review, and everyone who reads it later. When you reply, Apple tells the reviewer. They can then update their review, and some will if you fixed their problem. Replies help in three other ways: - **They show the app is alive.** People shopping for an app read reviews. A page full of thoughtful replies looks cared for. - **They catch bugs.** Writing back makes you read closely. You spot the same crash or bad screen showing up again and again. - **They clear up myths.** If someone says "there is no way to export," you can show them where it is. The next reader learns it too. Apple's own advice is to reply quickly to new and updated reviews after a major release. That is when people care most and are most likely to talk back. ## What should a good reply include? A good reply is short, human and useful. Use this four-part shape: 1. **Thank them.** One line. They took time to write. 2. **Own it.** Name the problem in their words. Don't hide behind "we're sorry for any trouble." 3. **Fix it or give a next step.** Say what you changed, or what to try, or where to get help. 4. **Invite them back.** Ask them to try the new version, or to email you. Sign with your first name if you can. People are kinder to a person than to a brand. > **A weak reply and a better one:** > **Weak:** "We're sorry for any inconvenience. Please contact support." > > **Better:** "Thanks for telling us, Sam. You're right, sync broke for some people in 3.2. We fixed it in 3.2.1, out today. If it still fails, email me at help@yourapp.com and I'll look at your account myself. – Priya" The better reply names the bug, gives the fix, and offers a real person. It reads like a note, not a form letter. ## Reply templates you can copy Use these as a starting point. Always change the first line so it fits the review. Swap the parts in [brackets] for your own details. **Bug you have already fixed** ``` Thanks for the review, and sorry about [the problem]. You were right: it was a bug in version [x.x]. We fixed it in [x.x.x], which is live now. Please update and give it another try. If anything still looks off, email me at [email] and I'll help. – [Name] ``` **Bug you are still working on** ``` Thanks for flagging this, and sorry it got in your way. We can see [the problem] too, and we're working on a fix now. It should be in the next update. Want me to tell you when it's out? Just email [email]. – [Name] ``` **Feature request** ``` Thanks for the idea! [Feature] comes up a lot, and it's on our list. I can't promise a date yet, but your review helps us decide what to build next. – [Name] ``` **Price or paywall complaint** ``` Thanks for the honest feedback. We know price matters. The free version includes [what is free]. The paid plan pays for [what it pays for, like servers or new features]. If you think something should be free, I'd love to hear which part: [email]. – [Name] ``` **The user missed a feature that exists** ``` Thanks for the review! Good news: you can already [do the thing]. Go to [Screen] and tap [Button]. We'll make it easier to find in a future update. – [Name] ``` **A vague 1-star review** ``` Sorry the app let you down. I'd like to fix it, but I need a bit more detail. What were you trying to do when it went wrong? You can reply here or email me at [email]. – [Name] ``` **A happy review** ``` Thank you, this made our day! It's great to hear [what they liked] works for you. If you ever have an idea to make it better, we're all ears. – [Name] ``` **A support problem, like billing or a lost account** ``` Sorry for the trouble. We can't see account details from App Store reviews, so please email us at [email] with [what you need]. We'll sort it out quickly. – [Name] ``` Want a first draft written for you? Paste a review into our free [review reply generator](https://synthiya.ai/tools/review-reply-generator) and edit the result. ## Which reviews should you reply to first? Start with fresh 1- and 2-star reviews that name a problem you have fixed. These have the best chance of a happy update. Then work down this list: 1. **New negative reviews about a fixed bug.** Tell them it's fixed. 2. **Reviews with wrong facts.** Kindly set the record straight. 3. **Detailed feature requests.** Show you heard them. 4. **Thoughtful positive reviews.** Say thanks, and keep it short. You don't have to reply to every review. A short "thanks!" on hundreds of 5-star reviews adds little. Spend your time where a reply can change a mind. ## What should you never write in a reply? Never argue, and never copy-paste the same line to everyone. Apple's guidelines say to treat users with respect. Keep replies about what the user said. Don't include personal data, spam or marketing. > **Apple's rule:** > Apple's App Review Guidelines (5.6.1) ask you to keep replies "targeted to the user's comments." They also say not to include "personal information, spam, or marketing" in replies. So skip these: - **Arguing or blaming.** Even if the user is wrong, other readers will side with them. - **Asking for a better rating in return for something.** Apple does not allow paid or rewarded reviews. - **Ads for your other apps or a sale.** That counts as marketing. - **Their personal details.** Never repeat an email, order number or name they shared. - **Long walls of text.** Three or four short lines is plenty. ## How do you reply to lots of reviews without sounding like a robot? Use templates as a base, but write the first sentence fresh each time. That one line shows you read their review. A few habits help: - **Batch it.** Set aside 20 minutes, two or three times a week. Check every day for the week after a big release. - **Group by theme.** If 30 people report the same crash, fix the crash first. Then reply to all 30 with the news. - **Track what you promised.** If you said "coming soon," come back and reply again when it ships. To see which themes come up most, run a free [App Teardown](https://synthiya.ai/teardowns) on your own app. It sums up what users love, hate and ask for. You can also [compare your app with a rival](https://synthiya.ai/compare) to see where they win. Some people won't update their review, and that's fine. Your reply is still there for every future reader. But if many reviews blame the same thing, a reply isn't enough. You need a fix. Our guide on [handling a wave of bad reviews after an update](https://synthiya.ai/guides/handle-bad-reviews-after-update) walks you through it. ## Sources - [Apple: Respond to reviews](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/monitor-ratings-and-reviews/respond-to-reviews) - [Apple: Ratings, reviews, and responses](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/ratings-and-reviews/) - [Apple: App Review Guidelines](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/) ## FAQ ### Can you reply to App Store reviews? Yes. Open your app in App Store Connect, go to Ratings and Reviews, find the review and click Reply. You can reply to any review, old or new. ### Does the reviewer see my reply? Yes. Apple says the reviewer is notified when you respond, and they can choose to update their review. Your reply also shows under the review on your App Store page. ### Can I edit or delete my reply? Yes. You can edit or delete a reply at any time in App Store Connect. Only the latest version shows, and edited replies are marked as edited. ### How long does it take for my reply to show up? Apple says replies can take up to 24 hours to appear. Until then, they show as pending in App Store Connect. ### Can I delete a bad review of my app? No. There is no way for you to remove a review. Your best move is a calm, helpful reply and a real fix. Some people update their review once the problem is gone.