Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Apple Halts App Store Updates for AI 'Vibe Coding' Apps Pending Rule-Compliant Changes

Apple cites a longstanding guideline against apps that execute new code after review.

Overview

  • Updates for platforms including Replit and Vibecode are paused until they alter features that let users generate and run software inside the app.
  • Apple’s review team flagged embedded web-view previews as violations and directed developers to open generated apps in external browsers or remove Apple-targeted generation.
  • People familiar with the process say updates for Replit and Vibecode are close to approval after the teams agreed to the requested modifications.
  • Apple says it is enforcing Guideline 2.5.2, which bars apps from downloading or executing code that changes functionality after App Store review, and it denies targeting any specific category.
  • The clampdown has had tangible effects—Replit’s iOS app has fallen in developer-tool rankings—and developers warn vibe coding enables web apps outside the App Store, raising competitive and revenue concerns, even as Apple adds AI agents to Xcode.