You completed the purchase.
The charge attempt shows up.
But instead of confirmation, you see:
“Payment pending”
“Under review”
“Transaction being verified”
The service isn’t unlocked.
The purchase isn’t canceled.
Your store payment is being manually or automatically reviewed.
Why Store Payments Go Into Review
- Unusual purchase pattern detected
- First-time payment on the account
- High-value or bulk purchase attempt
- Payment method risk scoring triggered
- Regional or cross-border billing mismatch
App Store and Google Play run fraud prevention checks before finalizing certain transactions.
What Happens During the Review
- The charge may appear as a temporary hold
- The app or subscription remains locked
- No invoice is issued yet
- The transaction can still fail or clear
This stage is neither approved nor declined.
How Long Store Reviews Usually Take
- Most reviews finish within minutes to hours
- Some take up to 24–48 hours
- Rare cases extend to 3–5 business days
Delays are longer if banks or regional checks are involved.
What You Should Do (And Avoid)
- Do not retry the purchase repeatedly
- Avoid switching payment methods mid-review
- Check email for verification requests
- Confirm your billing info matches your store region
Retrying can trigger duplicate holds or extended reviews.
When to Contact Support
- The review exceeds 48 hours
- The charge is held but the purchase fails
- You see multiple pending transactions
Store payment reviews are temporary — but acting incorrectly can delay approval.