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.
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
I had an app in Alpha, that I wanted to get a bit more people to test. I set an open beta, and the app became searchable in the app store. I had some issues and the client wanted to go back to an close Alpha test and have the employees keep getting updates through the app store.
I can go back to the closed Alpha, but I cannot seem to remove the open beta track and the app is still searchable in the app store.
How can I resolve this?
To remove the open beta, create an empty release (one with no APKs on it) and publish it to the open beta track.
Note that I believe this will not prevent people who have already seen the app from seeing the listing. But they won't be able to install it.
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.
if I run a open beta test for payable app in google play store, what happens if I close the beta test. Will the users still be able to use the app forever ?
Situation:
1. I open my App for open beta test
2. USER A finds the app in GooglePLay for betatesting (Thats I guess, not sure how it works really )
3. After while I close the betatest phase.
4. Will USER A still be able to use the app ?
I read somewhere in documentation they go back to the available public version and cant re-enroll as an open beta tester until the next public release is shipped live.
If you close the open beta testing and move on to some other type of testing like closed beta testing or alpha testing, the user (if not mentioned as a tester in the closed beta testing or alpha testing) will be able to use your app but will not be able to make any purchases.
Hope this is what you were looking for :)
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.