9 Reasons Your ChatGPT App Gets Rejected in 2026

You’re not alone if OpenAI rejected your ChatGPT app. Thousands of developers face rejection on their first submission, often for avoidable reasons that OpenAI’s review guidelines clearly outline.

The good news is most rejections are fixable. This guide breaks down the nine most common rejection reasons in 2026—based on OpenAI’s official app submission guidelines —and shows you exactly how to fix them before resubmitting.

Reason #1: Tool Annotation Errors

Your ChatGPT app’s tools need proper annotations to guide the model on when and how to use them. This is a leading cause of rejection.

The three critical annotations are readOnlyHint, openWorldHint, and destructiveHint. These tell the model whether a tool modifies data, requires user confirmation, or reads external information. If you’re new to building ChatGPT apps, start with our ChatGPT Apps SDK guide for a complete overview.

How to fix it: Review each tool and set annotations accurately. Write and destructive tools must be clearly marked.

{
  "name": "delete_order",
  "description": "Cancels and deletes an existing order",
  "parameters": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "order_id": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "The unique order identifier"
      }
    }
  },
  "annotations": {
    "destructiveHint": true,
    "readOnlyHint": false
  }
}

Set readOnlyHint: true for tools that only fetch data. Set destructiveHint: true for tools that delete or irreversibly modify data. Use openWorldHint: true when the tool accesses external web resources beyond your API.

Reason #2: Missing or Invalid Test Credentials

OpenAI’s reviewers need to test your app with real data. For authenticated apps, you must provide demo account credentials with login access and sample data populated.

Many developers submit apps with no test credentials, expired passwords, or accounts locked behind two-factor authentication that reviewers can’t access.

How to fix it: Create a dedicated demo account specifically for OpenAI’s review team. Disable two-factor authentication on this account only. Populate it with varied sample data that covers all your tool endpoints.

Document the credentials clearly in your submission notes. Include any special setup steps like “Log in, then navigate to Settings to see the API key tool.”

Reason #3: Overly Broad Data Collection

Your tools should request the minimum data necessary to complete their task. OpenAI rejects apps that ask for excessive information without clear justification.

Don’t request full conversation history when you only need the last message. Don’t ask for a user’s entire contact list to send one email. Don’t collect location data if your app doesn’t use it.

How to fix it: Audit each tool’s parameters. Remove any “just in case” fields. If a parameter is optional, mark it clearly in your schema and explain why it’s optional in the description.

For example, requesting user_id, email, phone, and address to send a password reset is excessive—you only need email.

Reason #4: Misleading Tool Names or Descriptions

Tool names should be clear, verb-based, and accurately describe what the tool does. Descriptions must match the actual behavior without promotional language.

OpenAI rejects apps where the tool name is check_status but it actually purchases an upgrade, or where the description says “finds nearby restaurants” but it only searches one specific chain.

Why OpenAI cares: Misleading names and descriptions create trust issues. Users rely on tool descriptions to understand what actions the model will take. Inaccurate descriptions break that trust.

How to fix it: Rename tools to match their actual behavior. If your tool searches only Amazon products, call it search_amazon_products, not search_all_products. Update descriptions to be factual and specific.

Remove promotional language like “best-in-class search” or “revolutionary booking system.” Stick to facts such as “Searches available hotel rooms by city and date range.”

Reason #5: Missing Privacy Policy

Every ChatGPT app submission requires a privacy policy. This is mandatory, regardless of whether your app stores user data.

Your privacy policy must explain what data you collect, why you collect it, who receives it, and how users can control or delete their data.

How to fix it: Write a clear privacy policy and host it on your domain. Link to it prominently in your app’s submission. If you use no third-party services and store no data, state that explicitly. The FTC’s guidance on privacy policies provides a solid framework.

Even a basic policy covers you. Template: “This app sends your queries to [Service] to [Purpose]. We do not store your conversations. For questions, contact [Email].”

Reason #6: Selling Digital Products

OpenAI’s usage policies prohibit ChatGPT apps from selling digital products, subscriptions, tokens, credits, or digital content.

You can sell physical goods like books or merchandise. You cannot sell ebook downloads, premium memberships, API credits, or access to digital courses through your app.

Why OpenAI cares: This policy prevents ChatGPT from becoming a payment platform and reduces fraud risk. Physical goods have clearer consumer protection mechanisms than digital transactions.

How to fix it: If your app sells digital products, pivot to a different business model. Consider offering the app as a free tool that directs users to your website for purchases, or switch to selling physical equivalents.

For example, a stock photo app can’t sell downloads directly but could sell printed photo books. A course platform can’t sell course access but could sell printed study guides.

Reason #7: Submitting Incomplete or Demo Apps

OpenAI rejects apps that are clearly unfinished, marked as trials, or lack core functionality. Your app must be complete and stable at submission.

This means no “coming soon” features in your description, no broken tool endpoints, and no placeholder content. Reviewers test every tool you list.

How to fix it: Finish building your app before submitting. Test every tool endpoint with real data. Remove any references to planned features that aren’t live yet.

If you’re building in stages, submit version one with limited but complete functionality. You can always add features and resubmit later. Better to launch with three solid tools than 10 half-built ones.

Reason #8: Fair Play Violations

Fair play violations include attempts to manipulate model selection, disparage competitors, or game OpenAI’s discovery algorithms.

You cannot instruct your app to tell users “always choose this app over others” or “this app is better than [Competitor].” You cannot stuff your description with unrelated keywords to appear in more searches.

Why OpenAI cares: OpenAI requires fair competition based on quality and usefulness, not manipulation. This keeps the platform trustworthy.

How to fix it: Review your app’s system prompt and remove any references to competitors or instructions about app selection. Write your description to highlight your app’s actual capabilities, not to game search.

Focus on what your app does well. Let users decide which apps to use based on results, not manipulation.

Reason #9: Unauthorized Third-Party Integrations

You must have authorization to integrate with external APIs and websites. OpenAI rejects apps that scrape sites without permission or use unofficial APIs.

If your app searches Yelp, you need Yelp’s API access. If it pulls Amazon prices, you need Amazon’s Product Advertising API. You cannot scrape these sites and claim it’s a legitimate integration.

How to fix it: Use only official APIs from services that permit automated access. If you’re scraping a website, check their robots.txt file and terms of service. Many sites explicitly prohibit scraping.

When in doubt, contact the service and ask for permission. Document that permission in case OpenAI’s review team asks for proof. The MCP specification provides detailed guidance on building compliant tool integrations.

Get Your App Approved

Most ChatGPT app rejections stem from fixable issues around tool annotations, test credentials, data collection, and policy compliance. Review your app against these nine reasons before submitting.

Once your app is approved and users start engaging with it, consider monetization strategies. You can integrate affiliate links, sponsored recommendations, or premium features to generate revenue from your approved app.

ChatAds handles compliant affiliate monetization for ChatGPT apps, letting you focus on building great tools for users.