Testflight while app is "waiting for review"

Question

We are in a hurry to publish an app for a customer, so yesterday we published an app to App Store and now is "Waiting for review".

Meanwhile, the customer aked if he could have a preview. My idea was to send him a TestFlight beta testing. I'm thinking in several options:

• Start an internal testflight for the build that is in review for team customer users
• Start an external testflight with the build is in review for other customer users not in the team
• Send a new build and start internal testflight for team customer users
• Send a new build and start external testflight for other customer users not in the team

What I'm not sure is on each case (internal/external testflight):

• Can I start a testflight testing for a build that is "in review"? And if I can, will it cancel the "in review" process for this build?
• Can I send another build while there is already one "in review"? And if I can, will it cancel the "in review" process for the previous build? If it will not, can I start a testflight for a new build while previous one is in review?

As said, the priority here is not to stop the "in review" process.

EDIT

I've been reading docs at https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/iTunesConnect_Guide/Chapters/BetaTestingTheApp.html and what makes me be scared is:

When you are done using TestFlight beta testing, you can submit the app for final review

So it seems that testflight is more like an step in the process than a parallel option in the process...

Solution 1

From answer at below link:

Will submitting a build for TestFlight Beta Testing stop the Final Review Test for the same build?

Apple will review as normal even with an active TestFlight and external testers using it.

What apple doc at below link says:

https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/iTunesConnect_Guide/Chapters/BetaTestingTheApp.html

When you are done using TestFlight beta testing, you can submit the app for final review. Before you submit it, make sure you no longer want to test it or any builds you uploaded earlier than it. When the app becomes Ready for Sale in the App Store, testing automatically stops on earlier builds, and you will be unable to view or test them.

If you want to resume testing of an earlier build, you can upload it as a new build associated with a new prerelease version.

So, when the app becomes Ready for Sale in the App Store, testing automatically stops on this and earlier builds, and you will be unable to view or test them.

Solution 2

Would be nice to have had a reply after your "will give a try..."

So I had the same issues a few minutes ago:

• App is "waiting for review".
• And no internal/external testing available for the client.

Since the external testing will also need a review by Apple I went for the internal way. So I added my and the clients account to internal testing. Then I added the current build which is also in "waiting for review" state to the internal testing.

Result: It worked. I got the invite email and could download that build via TestFlight. The app is still "waiting for review".

Just in case someone else stumbles upon this question/answer here.

Solution 3

You can invite users to test even when the app is in review. It will not be available only when its in store.

For external testing you need the app to be reviewed by Apple just as you publish to store but for internal testing its not required.

1. Send invitation to the user
2. Select your app
3. Go to TestFlight
4. Select Internal Testing
5. Click select version to test on right hand side of the screen
6. Select the users to send test invite
7. Click save

App invite will be sent to all selected users.

Solution 4

You always have the option to build an adhoc distribution version of your app. With this anyone who has given you there udid and it has been added to the adhoc provisioning file can install via a link or by using an .IPA file.

The major benefit of this is that the there is no review process. You build and distribute.

https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/ToolsLanguages/Conceptual/DevPortalGuide/DistributinganApp/DistributinganApp.html#:~:text=the%20App%20Store.-,Ad%20Hoc%20Distribution%20Authorizes%20a%20Limited%20Set%20of%20Devices%20to,devices%20for%20testing%20purposes%20only.&text=You%20distribute%20your%20app%20by,to%20install%20on%20their%20devices

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