python / python/cpython

Tkinter apps can't be distributed on the macOS App Store

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#129,247 2 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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OS-mac topic-tkinter type-bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Bug report

Bug description:

If you use tkinter in your app, and package the app for distribution in the macOS App Store, the app will be rejected with a message to the effect that:

Guideline 2.5.1 - Performance - Software Requirements

Your app uses or references the following non-public or deprecated APIs:

Contents/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.12/lib/libtk8.6.dylib

Symbols:

• _NSWindowDidOrderOnScreenNotification

The use of non-public or deprecated APIs is not permitted on the App Store, as they can lead to a poor user experience should these APIs change and are otherwise not supported on Apple platforms.

(or similar).

This appears to be a known issue in Tk.

This ticket is mostly to log the issue as something that can affect macOS users; there's not much we can do to fix it until such time as Tk fixes the problem and releases the fix in a version that Python can incorporate into a release (or, I guess, Apple changes their App Store review policies).

CPython versions tested on:

3.14, 3.13, 3.12, 3.11, 3.10, 3.9, CPython main branch

Operating systems tested on:

macOS

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

The report names no CPython file or test; start by reading the linked Tk issue and comparing the macOS App Store rejection across the listed Python versions. Done would require a Tk fix released and incorporated into CPython, or a change in Apple's review policy; the issue says no CPython fix is currently available.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
macos, python
Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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