I am seeking guidance from an Apple App Store Connect or StoreKit engineer regarding a submission issue that prevents the initial release of my standalone watchOS application.
Application configuration
App: My Curl Clock
Developer: Frostline Labs Inc.
Platform: Standalone watchOS (watch-only)
App version: 1.0, Build 5
Architecture: Xcode-generated iOS wrapper containing the watchOS application
Monetization: Two auto-renewable subscriptions (Basic Annual and Pro Annual)
Subscription group: My Curl Clock
Background
My application was previously rejected under App Review Guideline 2.1(b). App Review instructed me to submit the subscriptions together with a new app binary.
I have configured both subscription products and their subscription group in App Store Connect.
I then created a draft submission containing:
My Curl Clock Version 1.0 (Build 5)
Basic Annual subscription
Pro Annual subscription
My Curl Clock subscription group
However, App Store Connect prevents submission with the following validation error:
In-app purchases and subscriptions are currently not supported on Apple Watch. To submit this app version, you must remove all in-app purchases or subscriptions from this submission.
Conflicting requirements
Apple's App Store Connect documentation states that the first auto-renewable subscription must be submitted with a new app version.
The same documentation also states that in-app purchases and subscriptions cannot be included in an Apple Watch app-version submission.
Apple's documentation for independent watchOS applications describes an iOS wrapper architecture and supports purchases directly on Apple Watch.
These requirements appear to create a circular submission problem:
The first subscription requires an app version.
App Store Connect blocks adding subscriptions to the Apple Watch app-version submission.
Removing the subscriptions conflicts with App Review's instructions.
Steps already taken
Confirmed that both subscriptions and their subscription group are included in the draft submission.
Contacted Apple Developer Support (Case 103004272249).
Provided the exact validation error and supporting screenshot.
Submitted a formal report through Feedback Assistant (FB25450734).
Developer Support has recommended posting in the Developer Forums but has not identified a supported submission procedure or workaround.
Questions for Apple engineers
What is the supported procedure for submitting the first auto-renewable subscriptions for a standalone watchOS application?
Can the initial subscription group and products be submitted separately or associated with the app version through an alternative supported process?
Does App Store Connect require a functional iOS companion app for the initial approval of subscriptions, despite StoreKit supporting purchases directly on Apple Watch?
Is this a known App Store Connect limitation, particularly following the changes to the submission process in July 2026?
Is there a supported workaround that allows compliance with both App Review's instructions and App Store Connect's validation requirements?
References
Apple — Creating independent watchOS apps:
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/watchos-apps/creating-independent-watchos-apps
Apple — Submit an In-App Purchase:
https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-submissions-to-app-review/submit-an-in-app-purchase
Related developer discussion:
https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/842983
Feedback Assistant: FB25450734
I would appreciate guidance from an Apple engineer familiar with App Store Connect submissions and StoreKit on watchOS.
At present, this issue completely prevents the initial release of an otherwise completed application.