Where do alpha testers download Google Play Android apps?

android google-play google-play-services

195,990

Solution 1

You need to publish the app before it becomes available for testing.

if you publish the app and the apk is only in "alpha testing" section then it is NOT available to general public, only for activated testers in the alpha section.

EDIT: One additional note: "normal" users will not find your app on Google Play, but also the activated tester can not find the application by using the search box.

Only the direct link to the application package will work. (only for the activated testers).

Solution 2

Here is a check list for you:

1) Is your app published? (Production APK is not required for publishing)

2) Did your alpha/beta testers "Accept invitation" to Google+ community or Google group?

3) Are your alpha/beta testers logged in their Google+ account?

4) Are your alpha/beta testers using your link from Google Play developer console? It has format like this: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.yourdomain.package

Solution 3

Publish your alpha apk by pressing the submit button.
Wait until it's published.
(e.g.: CURRENT APK published on Apr 28, 2015, 2:20:13AM)
Select Alpha testers - click Manage list of testers.
Share the link with your testers (by email).
(e.g.: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/uk.co.xxxxx.xxxxx)

Solution 4

It should be noted that releasing an alpha app for the first time may take up to a few hours before an opt-in link is available and invitations are sent out to the email addresses in your testers list.

From Google support:

After publishing an alpha/beta app 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. [source]

You may want to wait until you have an initial opt-in link before publishing more changes to the app because doing so is likely to increase your wait time for receiving your tester link; or, may lead to your testers testing with the incorrect version.

Hope that clears things up for anyone confused about why they don't have an opt-in link as depicted in screenshots in this SO thread!

Solution 5

Under APK/ALPHA TESTING/MANAGE TESTERS you find:

Choose the method you want. Then you need to first upload your Apk. Before it can be published you need to go to the usual steps in publishing which means: you need icons, the FSK ratings, screenshots etc.

After you added it you click on publish.

You find the link for your testers at:

View more solutions

195,990

Cote Mounyo

Updated on June 28, 2020

Comments

Cote Mounyo almost 4 years
I have developed my app and have published it through Google Play for alpha testing. As one of the testers I get an opt-in link, where I signed in as a tester. After that I was hoping to download the app directly with my phone by going to the Play Store on my phone. But as it seems to turn out, I have to got to the app's web profile and then from there click download; only then does the Play Store download the app to my phone.

I want to get other alpha testers involved and I was hoping to make the process easier for them. Is there an easier way? As in, once they opt-in, I would like them to just use their Android phone to download the app the way they would any other app. Is there a way?

Clarifications:
- I am not looking for an alternative to Google Play
- I have already gone through the Google Group creation process. My question is concerning what happens after a group member opts-in. Can they use their phone directly (play-app on phone) or must they download from the website? So far I have not been successful using the play-app.
- apollosoftware.org almost 11 years
  
  Could you post the APK and distribute that to them?
- Cote Mounyo almost 11 years
  
  I don't understand the question.
- apollosoftware.org almost 11 years
  
  Your app has an APK once compiled. If you sign it properly and before you publish it you could theoretically distribute it to anyone you want, and they can manually install it.
- Cote Mounyo almost 11 years
  
  @AmitApollo I want to use google play for my testing. So within that constraint, what's the easiest way.
- apollosoftware.org almost 11 years
  
  You've added the testing accounts to GMAIL Accounts with Testing Access under Your Google Play Console?
- apollosoftware.org almost 11 years
  
  Also make sure those test accounts have devices that are supported for the APK.
- animuson over 10 years
  
  This question appears to be off-topic because it is about Google Play Store support.
- powder366 almost 10 years
  
  I had everything configured, but did not use the Chrome browser. After logging in with Chrome and clicking for the beta program it worked.
- TWiStErRob over 9 years
  
  "After publishing an alpha/beta APK, it may take up to 24 hours for your test link to be available to testers."
- sivi over 9 years
  
  if you are from the play developer console: go to apk after it is published=> click on "manage list of testers" => and paste the link from there to your tester account logged in browser: play.google.com/apps/testing/your.app.package if it does not work with firefox try from chrome
- dsdsdsdsd almost 9 years
  
  the idea of having to send alpha testers an email with a link goes against the normal usage model (which is: go to play store, click on an icon, follow directions) ... if I have to send them an email, that changes the normal usage model ...
- Michael Cole over 8 years
  
  This question is fine. Relax, developers are making apps.
- h8pathak over 4 years
  
  It had been significant time since my app was published to the alpha group. But I wasn't able to view the update on the playstore. But joining the beta group immediately made the alpha release available to me.
- O-9 over 3 years
  
  For some mysterous reason it gives me this Not found error when trying to access Play store view with my developer account altough it is also listed as one of the testers! I tried with my personal google acc. (also listed as tester), and it worked perfectly.
Daniel L. about 11 years

I want to allow only alpha testing (not to the general public).
iandouglas about 11 years

Holger is correct, you can publish just an alpha apk (I've done this myself in the past two weeks). Your testers will get a URL to download the app from the Play Store. If you publish another version of the app for your alpha testers, keep in mind that it can take a few hours for the new version to show up at the Play Store as well. Good luck.
Martin Marconcini almost 11 years

For Beta testers, they have to uninstall the production app (if they have it), enroll using your link and then Download the app from the Market again (after you have "published" your Beta). They will get the beta version instead.
Cote Mounyo almost 11 years

Actually, I am past the Google Group stage. When a group member opt-in: that's what my question is about. What happens then is what I have described. I am looking for an easier process if anyone knows of one.
Admin almost 11 years

When they go to your app in Google Play, it should allow them to opt in to the alpha version and also allow them to opt out easily. I don't believe there is an easier way than that. It just comes down to readable instructions at that point.
George over 10 years

4 solve problem for me. Where you are find this link format? I can not see it n developer console.
gingo over 10 years

APK->ALPHA TESTING->Alpha testers->Manage list of testers->Share the following link with your testers.
theczechsensation over 10 years

Make sure that beta testers give your the email address, which was used for registering their Android device. Any other personal email address will result in 404 error too.
FuZZbaLL over 10 years

I get the page saying u are a tester, but the only link i see for downloading is the "Download form playstore" when i press this link, the app cant be found. p.s. I have removed the other version from my device
FuZZbaLL over 10 years

UPDATE: Publishing took a bit longer then expected. Now it does work
Nathan Schwermann over 10 years

Using the link from 4. it has another link that says 'Download app from the play store' When I click that I get the 404
mico over 10 years

When clicking publish, the link appears on "Select testers" but if you don't select any group in the field above, the link does never come active. After adding one, it works perfectly. What confused me was that I added testers on settings, and I thought it was enough, but it wasn't.
AlvaroSantisteban over 10 years

When the tester clicks on the link that brings him/her to the PlayStore, there it should say "Update".
Matt Grande about 10 years

Thanks for this. I had my APK uploaded, but not published. Duh. Now Play is 404ing, but I'm hoping it will work in a few hours...
gingo about 10 years

@MattGrande yes, it takes some time before app is available on Google Play.
ben almost 10 years

One thing that caught me was that even after publishing an alpha app, the link to view it in the play store didn't work. You have to click on the "invite" button and you will then find the direct link there.
divillysausages over 9 years

I had to visit the Google Group to make sure I was logged in before the link would work for me
Anthony over 9 years

Also note: It sometimes takes 24-48 hours for your APK to appear. Annoyingly, it just appears as a vague error until it is available. It'd be nice if it mentioned that.
milosmns over 9 years

No email was sent (at least not automatically) about the test URL. I had only the regular one with ?id=bla.bla.bla Where did you find that link?
Anthony Horne about 9 years

The user must accept the invite, and then there is a little bit of a wait before the link works. Somewhat annoying - should be largely immediate.
slott almost 9 years

Amazing - accepting group invite isn't enough. Thank you so much for pointing out step 4 - that made the difference.
Murray over 8 years

I am having the same issue, contacted google via fro explanation (big mistake) the were rude.. and clue less. I have other google pay account, 1. 1. I crete test group , alpha or beta
Murray over 8 years

This is what I expect, but not happening... the only thing is I am not using the G+ community based testing and that may be the issue... I using closed alpha testing option. I will try ...
Murray over 8 years

I am having the same issue, contacted google via chat fro help.. (big mistake) they were rude.. and clueless. I have other google play accounts., and when I upload and publish, the tester receives notification after sometime that there is an update. If not, at least when they go the play store on their devices, they will see that there is an update for the alpha app....it not working that way now.. only way is to download from the "tester acceptance link"
Shobhit Puri over 8 years

@AnthonyHorne How long is the wait? I've been waiting for almost 7-8 hours for the new alpha version update. I already have a prod version on playstore.
Anthony Horne over 8 years

@ShobhitPuri Within a day. Make sure the link is not cached. Try a different browser on the phone, if necessary.
Ruchir Baronia almost 8 years

How do I get that link, it is not showing for me? stackoverflow.com/questions/38648707/…
Ruchir Baronia almost 8 years

Im unable to publish it to alpha testing, I just want to get the opt-in link...I get "An opt-in link will be available here when you publish your app." Here is my question: stackoverflow.com/questions/38648707/…
Ruchir Baronia almost 8 years

Im unable to publish it to alpha testing, I just want to get the opt-in link...I get "An opt-in link will be available here when you publish your app." Here is my question: stackoverflow.com/questions/38648707/…
Stevey about 7 years

I don't see this link anywhere. It was there back when I created the tester list, but I've never been able to get back to it. I published my alpha apk, and it's listed as published. But "Manage Testers" is not clickable, nor is "Closed alpha testing". There is nowhere I can manage my tester list. I haven't received any emails about it on the account I added to the alpha. Do I just have to wait some more? This is pretty ridiculous.
ralphgabb almost 7 years

What ? Do I have to manually send the link to their email ? I already save the form (with testers email list) but they don't received any email from google.
Demiurg over 6 years

Where is the invite button?
DrewT over 6 years

@user3562927 See my recent answer. It could explain what's happening in your specific cases.
DrewT over 6 years

@ralphgabb See my recent answer, it could explain what happened for you.
Stevey over 6 years

@DrewT -- my problem turned out to be Safari. I switched to Chrome and it magically appeared.
ekerner about 6 years

You almost answered the question, now if you could please advise where this 'direct link' can be found I can get to my app :)
Nirmalsinh Rathod over 5 years

@sansalk is that compulsory to publish application on production before publish on Beta?
qwlice over 5 years

I was able to make the alpha test app available in the Google Play Store (I can still find the apps from the search box on devices that have opted-in accounts). Now, as you say, with newly published apps I cannot find them on the Google Plays Store any-more.
Nick Turner about 5 years

it's stupid. You have to click a link in order to get access to the test builds. Why not create a test flight app for google. jeez
Mort almost 5 years

Your screenshot labeled "Managing Testers for Alpha Testing" shows a link to an opt-in URL. Instead of that link, I have a grey box that says "An opt-in link will be available here when you publish your app.". It has been more than 24 hours since I uploaded my .APK file and there still isn't any link there.
Kiran Maniya almost 5 years

You need to publish the app as alpha release. Once your app is published, you will get the Opt-In URL available there.
Mort over 4 years

does publishing my app mean clicking on the "Release to production" button? I thought "Release to production" meant releasing the app to the app store.
Kiran Maniya over 4 years

No, do not release to production, it means that you are rolling-out the apk to production. To release as alpha, Upload the apk file on on alpha test page and just click review. Once it is reviewed by play store team, you will get the opt-in url.
Mort over 4 years

Thank you, it appears that my app just took 4 days to get validated, before the link appeared. Google really could have made this more obvious, by replacing the grey text with "Waiting for app to be approved by Google..."
Kiran Maniya over 4 years

Aaah, I knew it. Maybe you have a new developer account. Google Play takes more time for app uploaded in a new account.
GiggleGirl over 4 years

I added myself as Alpha tester and rolled-out the Alpha Release, its been 17 hours i have not received any email. Shall i wait for more hours to get the email.
JVE999 over 4 years

To add to this, if you go to the page that lists your apps, you can see if the app has been published (I noticed there's no indicator in the release page itself).
Kiran Maniya almost 4 years

@Badr Yes, It is, but no other way. You have to go through it. :)