I am wondering can you create a .apk file for download without putting it on the play store? I am looking to get a couple of my friends to test an app i created but dont want to release it on the play store yet? I have tried to find different ways to do it but pretty much all of them are saying that i have to put it on the play store and then can directly download the app from a url. Thankyou for your help.
Definitely yes. It can be done. Send over your APK File. When they click it, it will ask for necessary permissions and upon user clicking Accept, the app will be installed.
But, "Install from unknown sources" options should be enabled in the mobile security settings.
Email the apk for instant share.
If you are planning to go alpha- and beta-testing route, it’s best to start with a small group of alpha testers (perhaps employees of your company, or a few fellow developers) and then move on to a larger group of beta testers.
In the APK section of your Google Play Developer Console you’ll find the Alpha Testing and Beta Testing tabs. Here you can upload versions of your apps’ APK files and define a list of testers as a Google Group or Google+ Community. Once this is done you’ll receive a URL that you forward to your testers, from which they can opt-in to the testing program.
After opting-in, your testers then go to your app’s product page and when they download the app Google Play will deliver them the alpha or beta version as appropriate. Incidentally, if a user happens to be opted-in to both your testing groups, Google Play will always deliver them the alpha test version.
Through alpha- and beta-testing functionality, Google Play Developer Console lets you test two different versions of your app at the same time in addition to your production version. Here’s how:
Select an APK for your alpha or beta test.
Select the group of users for each test.
Publish your alpha- or beta-test APK.
Ask your testers to opt in.
IMPORTANT:
Alpha- or beta-test apps will only appear in Google Play for testers
that opt-in and not to any other users.
A production APK is not required to publish an alpha- or beta-test
app.
It may take up to 24 hours after publishing for the test link to
become active.
Any change you make to your app's Pricing and Distribution page
affects Alpha, Beta, Production, and any future versions; this also
applies to setting the price of your app (Free or Paid).
The same is mentioned at Beta-testing and staged rollouts.
If you use Android Licensing API to protect your app, then you'll need to add the beta testers emails in the list of test accounts in the Google Play console > settings > Gmail accounts with testing access.
you can send the APK to them directly via email or something else and they can install it but need to have Unknown Sources option enabled in their devices.
Related
We recently decided to update our new application for Beta release on google play,
Now after reading the guide, there were some questions that I had in my mind and wanted to know more about them, I googled for further understanding found some answers but there are still somethings that I wasn't sure about so decided to put this question up:
For Beta releases is it possible to make a beta release that is available to all the google play users(as a normal production app) or will it be available to all?
(Since as per this guide it gives me an idea that the application will only be available to a set amount of users.)
Make sure users can join the tests. Your testers will need to have a Google account (#gmail.com) or a G Suite account to join a test.
Run tests internally. Use the internal testing track to push your app to up to 100 internal testers in seconds.
Once I release a beta application and I decide to now put it for production, will it be uploaded as a different application or the same also will the comments that were posted to the beta release google play app be visible on my production app?
(Didn't quite get anything in relation to this one.)
In one of the points, it said that my application should have a higher version code in the beta release then that of the production release, But if I have a higher version in that release would it not be the application that will be getting downloaded even when it might not be the most stable version? (this one actually confused me big time)
Check your Android App Bundle version number. For an app on the internal, closed, or open testing tracks to be available to testers, it must have a higher version code than your production version.
Is there a designated field where I can provide this email for the beta testers or can I just provide it in the description of the application?
Provide a channel for testers to send you feedback. For closed tests, offer testers the ability to provide feedback by email, at a website, in a message forum, or through another suitable mechanism.
For Beta releases is it possible to make a beta release that is available to all the google play users
You can release your app as an Open Beta, which anyone who wants can get access to (without being invited by you). See https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/3131213?hl=en (specifically the part Step 1: Set up test details - Open test: surface your test app on Google Play)
Once I release a beta application and I decide to now put it for production, will it be uploaded as a different application or the same
Same. There's no re-uploading - you just change the state of the release.
also will the comments that were posted to the beta release google play app be visible on my production app?
Testers can't leave public reviews on Google Play.
But if I have a higher version in that release would it not be the application that will be getting downloaded even when it might not be the most stable version?
Well, that's the point.They have opted in to be testers of your app, so they get the latest available version. If they want to revert back to only getting production versions they can opt out of the test program.
Is there a designated field where I can provide this email for the beta testers or can I just provide it in the description of the application?
This is explained on the page I linked to: Next to "Feedback channel," add an email address or URL to collect feedback from testers. Your app's feedback channel will be shown to users on your tester opt-in page.
Beta releases are just a different track on your app's page.
If you have a public beta program (you'll need to select that as your type), users will see a "Join Beta Program" card somewhere on your app's Play Store page when they visit it. This card should show up below the "Developer Contact" information.
If a user decides to join the beta program, they'll get any new versions you publish there just like a normal update. Beta users cannot leave reviews! Beta users can leave you, the developer, private comments, but unless they leave the beta program, they can't create a review or edit an existing one.
Once you promote your beta build to production, it'll be available to all users of your app as a normal update. Beta users won't receive an update, since they're already on the version you promoted, nor will they be pushed out of the beta program. If you upload an APK straight to production, beta users will receive it as well (they still won't be able to leave a review).
As for version numbers, you can't upload another APK to the Play Console unless it has a later version code than the latest one already uploaded. If you have version 7 in your production channel, you can't upload a new APK with version 7 to beta; it has to be version 8.
When you upload your app as a Beta version, The users who joined your beta testing can upgrade to that version. The other users who have not joined beta testing, will no see any update for your app.
When you want to make the beta version as a production release, you can do so by simply clicking on Promote to Production option on Google Play Store.
With concern to your confusion, when you have some apk in beta version (say versionCode 2), then you can promote that app as a production, or you can also upload another apk as a production but remember, that should have greater version code (say 3). If you do so, then all users will get that update including beta testers. That will be an update to the same app.(I think you're doubtful here) Hope this helps.
I posted an app into google play production section and now I want to download it for testing. It's not free. I don't want to buy it. How can I do that?
Uninstall your current app on your device
Go to play store and search your app
If you were an alpha or beta tester, renounce to it
Install your app again
I think the correct way is to have two applications, one for testing and one in release. It is really a mess because package name must be unique within the market...
But it is the only way I can imagine right now. Release one only for alpha/beta restricted users (you) and publish as paid one when done.
I´ve read also here How do I allow android app alpha/beta testers to download the app for free?
and here Google Play developer console: beta test paid apps for free?
I'm planning to start a beta test for a new Android app.
Is it allowed to upload a beta version of an app to Google Play with the purpose to remove it after 3 weeks?
The user would be informed that the app is only available for 3 weeks, it would be a free download and marked as Beta.
Google Play Store's Alpha/Beta testing feature allows you to upload APKs whose access is limited to a group of testers. These testers should be a part of a Google Group or a Google+ community.
But what you are trying to do is not for testing purpose, is it? For you, it would be more suitable to upload a free (beta) APK. After 3 weeks, unpublish the app from Play Store and then reupload a premium version. Remember that once you publish an app as Free you cannot make it Paid. So you will have to upload the premium version with a different package name.
You can do this, but are you planning on charging for the app in the final production release?
If so, you won't be able to charge for the app under the same Google Play Store product listing. You'll have to create a new Play Store listing with a new package name for your APK (this is a Google Play Store restriction: you can't go from free to paid with the same APK).
See this or this for info on how alpha/beta works and how price changes apply to alpha/beta. Basically:
Any change you make to your app's Pricing and Distribution page
affects Alpha, Beta, Production, and any future versions; this also
applies to setting the price of your app (Free or Paid).
If you still want to use the same product listing (and not have a different package from beta to prod), then you'll have to release the beta version with a price, and then just refund all the beta purchases from your Google Wallet account. This could make your beta testers a bit wary though, so just doing different packages might be your best option.
I am currently creating an android game using the Play Game Services for leader boards and achievements. I am currently testing the features under my account because I can clear the leader board when needed. However, I wanted to release an alpha test of my app. When I try to publish my game so my testers have access to it, it says I have to publish the Game Services first or they won't work. But, if I publish the game services can I still use testing accounts and change things? Or will it be final?
You don't need to "release" [edited] your game in order for testers to try out your game. One reason you may get the "I have to publish the Game Services first..." is because you most likely did not complete the Game Services and API setup between Google Play Developer Console and the app itself.
See steps:
https://developers.google.com/games/services/console/enabling#a_create_a_linked_application
Or, less likely, it could be that you still need to upload the APK:
Upload an Alpha or Beta APK, wait a few hours for it to become active in the system, and then add your tester group. This is a good place to start as of the date of my post:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/3131213
Some details from the link above:
Set up alpha/beta tests
Using the Google Play Developer Console, you can choose groups of users to beta test different versions of your app.
Testing basics
With the alpha/beta testing tools available in your Developer account, you can test different versions of your app.
You don't need a production APK to publish an alpha/beta app.
Users need a Google Account (#gmail.com) or a Google Apps account to join a test.
If you're testing an existing app that you've published before, only users in your test group will receive an update for your alpha/beta version. If you're testing a new app that you haven't published before, only users in your test group can find and download your app.
After publishing an alpha/beta APK for the first time, it may take a few hours for your test link to be available to testers. If you publish additional changes, they may take several hours to be available for testers.
If you make any changes to your app's Pricing & Distribution page, including setting your app price to Paid or Free, it affects your production, alpha, beta, and any future versions of your app.
Tip: When you're starting a new alpha/beta test, it's a good idea to start with a small group of alpha testers, then expand your test to a larger beta test group.
Definitely make sure to see more at the provided link:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/3131213
I just created a new app in the Google Play Developer Console. I haven't uploaded or published any beta or production APK's. I've only uploaded an alpha version.
Once uploaded (and once several hours have passed), how/where can I find the alpha version of my app? I can't seem to find it in the Google Play store on my phone.
You can provide access alpha version of app by following below steps:
Replace com.package.name with your app package name https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.package.name (Refer this), share this URL with your testers
After you open the URL page will have an option to "Become a tester", and proceed with the directions.
Note: Only members listed in the tester group can become a tester.
I'm using alpha and beta testing features and I think they are one of the most important features of Google Play. Hope this answer helps anyone who needs to use those features:
Direct answer to your question: At Google Play, only alpha testers can see an application which is published at Alpha Testing Stage. (Also, only Beta Testers can see an application which is published at Beta Testing Stage)
Detailed steps:
At Google Play Developer Console, select your application and go
to APK section.
Select Alpha Testing tab.
Upload your apk to Alpha Testing.
At Google Play an application which is published at Alpha Testing can only be seen by Alpha Testers. So you must define alpha tester groups.
Define tester group with Manage list of testers link at Alpha Testing tab. When you click that link you'll see a panel which asks; Add Google Groups or Google+ Communities.
If you don't have a group yet, you can Create a Google+ Community and add people to that group with
their google/gmail accounts.
Testers are going to see your application at Google Play if they are
logged in with the same google/gmail account which they are added as
tester.
NOTE: Process is same for Beta Testing. Just define another tester group and add testers to it.
I was wondering this myself when I saw that this was a new feature. While I haven't tried it, my guess would be to add you account to the testing enabled devices. This can be found like this:
Settings button on the left side(the one that is a gear)
Account details
Gmail accounts with testing access - add you account to this and you will probably be able to see your app on Google Play(you might have to wait a few hours for a refresh, so give it a chance
Have you published the app? Or just uploaded it?
You have enter some information and confirm publish restrictions, set the price, etc.
At the end you heve to press publish key on top right corner.
Follow this steps,
1) Upload app in alpha
2) Add any group groups, Google+ groups
3) Publish the app and again come alpha page added group, you will have url which you need to give to your tester.
Hope this help you, let me know if you have any issues.
if you mean how/where can you find the alpha version of your app? I think you could find the Opt-in URL to see and download your app.