I want to submit my Android app to Google Play, but I want to use the Closed track before I release the app into production. So I configured the email list for testers, hit the Review and Rollout buttons (everything in Closed track section), then a new button appeared "Release to Production". Does this mean Production for everybody, or just for my testers? And how are they going to access the app?
This is my first time submitting an app, and I am a little confused.
Thank you
Clicking the "Release to production" from a Closed Track release doesn't make the app available to everybody. The app will be only available to the list of your testers.
I know this wording from Google is a little confusing. Before it go to Production (Public Access), it moves from alpha -> Beta -> Production and you can track these releases.
Related
I am currently testing my app on Android with the help of the google play console. I started with closed testing on the Alpha Track and switched recently to the open Beta track for simpler distribution. I do not want to release new updates for the Alpha track due to ci limitations. Unfortunately I cant find any way to move my original testers from the closed testing to the open track.
If a user from the closed alpha opens the beta distribution link he still can only download my latest alpha release. Is there any way to move these testers or delete the closed alpha testing track?
Things I already tried:
Deleting users from the tester list
Uncheck the entire tester list
Pausing the alpha track
Trying to time a release exactly to match iOS store. I have a reviewed and published Closed Test track. A few questions, which I have been unable to find a definitive answer to:
Does promoting to Production go through review again? Lots of conflicting information about this one.
After promoting to Production, irrespective of the above, is the app Published to the store (with or without review), or does it go back into the Managed Publishing flow, and I have to click Publish before it goes to the store?
Basically I want to know if I should promote the release now, in case it does need to be reviewed again, knowing that it WILL NOT be live on the store, I have to click Publish before a Closed Test track published version that has been promoted goes live
In both Cases the app will be reviewed but the only difference is if you want to publish it automatically after reviewing or you need to do it manually so answering to your questions:
1.Does promoting to Production go through review again? Lots of conflicting information about this one.
ANSWER: YES
2.After promoting to Production, irrespective of the above, is the app Published to the store (with or without review), or does it go back into the Managed Publishing flow, and I have to click Publish before it goes to the store?
ANSWER: YES
The app will be reviewed again
If you choose the Managed Publishing so you need to publish it manually
after being reviewed and approved ,
otherwise if you turn it off, the app will be published automatically after
being reviewed and approved
Within our company we have someone that handles the upload and release of our Android apps to the Google Play Console. He told me that there previously was an option to promote an app from Alpha to Beta. As seen in this video there actually was an option.
However we currently don't see a way to move the Alpha app to Beta. There is only an option to promote the app to production.
Is it still possible to promote the Android app from Alpha to Beta? Or should we upload the same app to Beta again.
I have tried to use this option weeks ago. but I didn't find it, I have made some research about this and it sounds to be removed. to create beta release just go to the beta version and click on create a beta release and click choose from the library, choose the APK in the alpha channel then publish it
I've solved the issue for one of our apps. It seems that Google limited the process so you can't move an app from the closed alpha track to the closed beta track (or any other closed track). This is probably due to the fact that Google wants to promote open beta testing. Once I changed my closed beta track to an open beta track the button reappeared.
Note that once you set the track to open you can't change it back to closed, so you'll have to be sure that this is what you want.
To move the beta track from closed to open:
click on the manage button next to the beta track.
open up the manage testers panel.
select the open beta testing option next to choose a testing method
Now this option available Go Alpha-> Manage
I recently created a new app and had this issue. The solution was to:
Have the app reviewed by Google. It seems you can't do an open test before then.
Go to the "open testing" tab and click "unpause track". For some reason, the beta track is "paused" by default.
About one month ago i upload my first App to the PlayStore and I reserved it only for beta testers. The App is now stable and I decide to move it from beta to production tab.
My question is: How can I disable App beta tester so they can rate my app? Is there a why to do that in the developer console or every single beta tester must leave the program from the playstore?
I found this button but I'm not sure what's going to happen if i click yes,
Will all my users continue to use the app and exit the beta testing program without uninstalling and reinstalling the app?
For all those who have my own doubts I wanted to share my solution.
I clicked "YES" on the button that you see in the image, now all my beta testers are able to review and evaluate my app without having to uninstall the application or leave the beta test manually
hope it might be useful to someone in the future
Now the button is called Pause track.
It stops offering the Join the beta button on Google Play.
How to publish beta test-version in Android play store ?
I'm trying to allow beta test my phonegap build app in the android play store. I already uploaded a signed apk in the beta tab and added a google+ group with some users inside ... but I'm slightly surprised that I cannot find how to install or even find this app on the testers smartphones. I opted myself as user in the group but cant see a link to the app or something like that. Shouldn't the app be already visible to beta users in the app store? Or do I have to push the publish button? The info popup tells:
"Your app can only be used by your testers when it is published to Google Play.
If your app has no production APK then it will only be visible to Alpha and Beta
testers. The link that your testers can use to opt-in will be displayed here when
you have published your app."
Sounds to me that it should be published. But doesn't it mean that the beta apk will be moved to the published-area and not being then a beta any more? I'm afraid that the app will be then visible to all users in the play store not only for my beta testers.
Could someone explain me how to publish a beta for my testers only?
EDIT:
It seems that everything I need is the opt-in link that is missing. Any idea why?
In order to be able to get the link to share with your group you have to first press the "Publish" button in the upper right. After doing this you will see the link to share with users appear as brheal shows above.
I'm adding this graphic to the discussion to help clarify exactly which one to press and which to not press.
Per the discussion above I was still a bit worried about pressing the publish button. I just did it and it works.
For more clarity I thought I'd share what it looks like. After publishing your beta apk you have to wait up to 24 hours (it took mine about 12) and then go to 'Manage list of testers' in your 'Beta Testing' tab. When it's ready you will see the opt in link available to share:
This is really an issue Google should address ASAP. You enter the console hoping to find the sections but the documentation says something else altogether. I just solved this and found the link, here are the steps updated with the current UI of the console which is not matching the documentation:
Open Google Play Console
Open your app
In the left panel go to Release management -> App releases
Scroll down to Open track, Closed track or Internal test track section according to your case, click Manage
Go to the section Manage testers and click Internal test
At the bottom you will see the link if everything is properly configured and the app is published.
VERY IMPORTANT
You need to configure the internal test list, I assume that if you
are looking for the link you've already done this.
The app needs to be published, remember it takes some hours, otherwise you won´t be able to see the link.
Here are the screenshots:
Not enough points to comment, hence a separate answer.
My suggestion is to upload a new build after setting up the beta testing.
I created a new app and rolled out the Beta version of the app.
After that I enabled the "Closed Beta testing" for a list of users - alas no opt-in link was ever generated.
After scratching my head a bit I released a NEW build which generated the opt-in link immediately.
I figured that enabling the "Closed Beta testing" AFTER the Beta version was released could have caused the issue and is maybe why the UI is constructed the way it is.... just a guess.
Try and release a new build.