Trace both branches of the experience
Draw what happens after every answer to the sentiment question. Does one group receive the store request while another receives support? Does a low private score suppress access to public feedback? Apple’s policy addresses filtered review manipulation. Google’s in-app review guidance also tells developers not to ask opinion questions before the review card. A polished survey design can still create a problematic funnel.
Keep support available to everyone
Offer a clear support route whether the user likes the app or not. Let people report bugs without being forced to answer a satisfaction question first. Separately choose a task milestone at which the platform-supported review request makes sense. Do not decide eligibility using a requested star score, the contents of a private support message or the expectation that someone will praise the app.
Audit hidden versions of the filter
Check experiments, email segments, customer-success scripts and agency campaigns. A developer may remove the in-app gate while an email campaign still solicits public reviews only from survey respondents who gave maximum scores. Document your invitation criteria. Use behavior such as completing a meaningful task to time an invitation, while leaving the opinion and decision to participate entirely to the user.
Working example
A replacement flow can offer ‘Contact support’ in Settings to every user and request a store opinion after a saved project is completed. The request uses the platform’s supported interface, contains no incentive and does not ask the user to declare happiness first. Log the invitation event as a request attempt, not proof that a review was shown or submitted.
Your next steps
- Map all sentiment branches before releasing.
- Make support equally accessible.
- Remove star-score eligibility tests.
- Audit email and remote-config campaigns too.
Official sources
Sources checked October 2, 2026. Review the current provider documentation before acting on requirements.
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