Why the SKStoreReviewController does not let me submit a review?

Question

I succeeded implementing the SKStoreReviewController. But when the prompt comes up, the "Submit" button is grey & disabled.

I thought it was because I was in debug mode, but when I ship the app with Ad-Hoc PP the result is the same.

Why?

Presidio

Answer 1

Apple provides the answer for you right here.

When you call this method in your shipping app and a rating/review request view is displayed, the system handles the entire process for you.

Emphasis mine.

To help clarify this some:

1. When building in Xcode, you will see what the OP shows in the screenshot
2. When building from a CI solution for release, you will not see anything
3. When running from TestFlight, you will not see anything
4. When running from the AppStore, only users who purchased (free or paid) your app will see it up to three times a year
5. When running from the AppStore, users who obtain your app via Connect promo codes will not see it
6. Users who disable In-App Ratings & Reviews under iTunes & App Stores in the Settings app will never see these prompts under any condition

Apple spells out point 3 here on the provided link:

When you call this method while your app is still in development mode, a rating/review request view is always displayed so that you can test the user interface and experience. However, this method has no effect when you call it in an app that you distribute using TestFlight.

And for point 5, here is what Apple has to say on it at the provided link:

However, customers aren’t able to rate or review an app that was downloaded using an iTunes Connect promo code.

So sorry, you can't pad reviews via promo codes ;)

Hurty

You would think would simply disable submit in TestFlight the same as development. – Ardra

@Jack Just a guess, but since TestFlight builds can be sent to testers, my guess is that Apple wants to avoid confusion. Otherwise, testers may submit bugs that the review does not work. – Hurty

Good point, would be nice if TestFlight would allow it for internal testers and not for beta testers/external testers. Or have a way to config it as a setting in TestFlight. – Ardra

What about enterprise builds? – Lit

There's a difference between "rating" and "review." The OP's question title asked about reviews, and the API docs say: requestReview: Tells StoreKit to ask the user to rate or review your app, if appropriate. All the dialogs I've seen only allow a rating. How does the dialog support entering a review? – Homophile

Answer 2

Submit button is disabled in development version and the View doesn't even show up in Test Flight versions.

Zolnay

What happens after you click on the submit button click? Does it navigates the user to App Store or does it just assign ratings and dismisses the alert without leaving the app??? – Grier

ig it just assigns the rating and dismiss the alert. No redirection to the app store. Since the whole point is to take the user feedback quickly, without disrupting the current journey. – Inboard