How to enable automatic updates for alpha/beta testers at Google Play Store

Question

I have configured the alpha/beta tests at the Google Play Store. New Google Group has been created for that purposes and required users were invited and joined the group.

When new update is available users have to go by the alpha/beta link to download and install the update. Is there any option to push update to alpha/beta testers (like prod Play Store works)?

Solution

I believe what is happening is that you did not send the "become a tester" link to your testers for them to click.

Apparently the part where you add the Google Group or Google+ Community to the Alpha/Beta testers on the Google Play Developers console you did all OK.

But also there on the console you'll get a link that is: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/<your app package name>

all those users/testers MUST click this link and click on the button "Become a tester" for it to work.

After that initial setup is done, your users should receive automatic updates just like normal production version.

hope it helps.

Comments

[Alexey Strakh]

I did send that link. Users press "become a tester" and after that click on link provided below the "become a tester" to download and install the app. After new update they have to hit the link again, but next they already a testers and what they are doing is downloading the app and installing manually

[Lou Morda]

so, why did you accept the answer, and is there a resolution to your problem? i am having the same issue.

[Admin]

I am also having the same issue. It always has to be updated manually.

[Maxx]

I'm having the same issue. It's been nearly a week since the latest alpha version went live. When I look on the play store, the update button is available for me. The app is on the list of Google play apps available to update. Other apps in that list are updating, but my app remains out of date and will still not update automatically.

[Amrut Bidri]

my beta version code is 4 which is already available with few beta testers and i updated version to 5 in beta itself, now will my beta testers receive an app update notification from the play store?

[ifeins]

I'm having the same issue with my app that it's currently in Alpha version. Testers don't get automatic updates.

[Juli]

Did anybody get this fixed?