In this guide
The owner of an app decides whether to accept your feedback. Feedback must be at least 50 characters (max 5000) and you add a screenshot first. Beyond that, the owner can act on feedback that is specific and clear, and cannot act on feedback that is vague. This page shows what an owner can use, with examples of weaker feedback and why it falls short.
Four things owners can use
- Specifics. What exactly happened, on which screen.
- Steps. How to get there again, in order.
- Device. Phone model and system version, so the owner can compare.
- A suggestion. Optional but welcome: what you would try, marked as a suggestion.
Add what you expected, so the owner sees the gap between expectation and result.
Annotated examples
All examples are made up.
Example 1: too vague
"The app is slow."
Why it falls short: no screen, no action, no number. The owner cannot tell if it is the start, a list or a download.
Better:
"Opening the Orders list takes a long time (I stopped counting after about half a minute) on [model], system [version]. The other screens open at once."
Example 2: opinion without a reason
"I don't like the colours."
Why it falls short: taste is not a finding. Say what the colours did to you.
Better:
"The grey text on the light background in Settings is hard for me to read outdoors. Maybe a darker grey."
Example 3: missing steps
"It crashed."
Why it falls short: the owner cannot reproduce it.
Better:
"The app closed when I tapped Share on the result screen after a search for 'test'. It happened twice. [model], system [version]."
Example 4: several problems in one
"Login is slow, the logo is blurry and the settings page has a typo and also the back button..."
Why it falls short: the owner has to untangle it. One problem per entry.
A checklist for your next feedback
- [ ] Can the owner tell which screen?
- [ ] Can a stranger follow the steps?
- [ ] Do I say what I expected and what happened?
- [ ] Is my device named?
- [ ] Is it one problem?
- [ ] Is a suggestion marked as a suggestion?
- [ ] Is it respectful? See tester etiquette.
About AppReviewX
Feedback is private and structured: it goes to the app's owner. 1 accepted feedback = 1 credit (declined = none); new accounts start with 0 credits. Store ratings are voluntary, unpaid and never required.
Next steps
Test an app and earn credits. Read the longer article how to give useful app feedback.
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