Are beta only apps visible in Google Play Store - android-testing

I'm launching a new app and have tried to take steps to release beta versions of my app (prior to actual launch in Google Play Store).
Here is what I have done so far.
1. Uploaded a beta APK
2. Filled out enough meta data so that the portal allows me to 'publish' my app, so I have no production APK, just a beta APK.
3. Created a Google Group for testers to joined and have linked that google group to my beta list.
So my question is, I realize that members of the Google group I'm using for testing must be logged into the play store with the same account they joined my testing google group with.
Assuming they are logged into Play store with the correct account on the device, should they be able to see my beta only app in the play store?
The link from the developer portal entitled 'View in Play store' errors out with the message 'We're sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server.' Which makes sense to me as my app has no production APK at this point (this is run from my desk top, not the device).
So my question is, how should testers find my build to install it or is this an indication I've missed a step in prepping an APK for beta distribution.

So this was pretty clear after sorting through the documentation.
There's a URL listed on the same screen where you manage testers. You share that URL with testers (who have joined the group). When they access that URL on their phone and following the prompting the will be able to see and download your app.
Works like a charm.

Related

Users are not able to download app via firebase App Distribution – flutter

I'm starting to distribute my app to some testers via Firebase Distribution (IOS)
What I did: opened project in Xcode -> archive -> distribute app -> Ad Hoc -> .ipa file
dragged .ipa file to the informed place.
First, I added my email, followed the steps and was able to download the app.
But, now I'm not being able. When the users accepts the invite and download the profile in "general", the app download isn't available. They get the message:
Registered device! The developer now needs to update their app to run on the device. You will receive an email when the app is available for testing.
The, I get an email with a UDID from each user.
I don't have any idea what to do.
Did I do something wrong? its it possible to the user automatically have the app available for download?
You did nothing wrong, this is how Firebase works. As long as you're on iOS, it is not possible to have the app automatically available. (If it were possible, you could use Firebase instead of the App Store, and Apple wants to avoid that).
You need to do the following:
Go to Apple's developer site and add the device(s) to your test devices list. It should be here: https://developer.apple.com/account/resources/devices/list and you'll need to sign it with your Apple ID. If you are part of multiple developer teams, make sure you select the right one in the top right of the screen.
Add those new device(s) to the Ad Hoc profile that you are using for building this device. If you check the list here https://developer.apple.com/account/resources/profiles/list there should be a profile with the ID of your app
Build the app again with your updated profile. How you do this will depend on your build process
Upload the new build to firebase. (It is possible to do this automatically if you are using a tool like Fastlane). Make sure your tester has access to the new build: this can be done in the Firebase UI by adding testers or groups to the build. (It can also be done automatically if you are uploading automatically)
Your tester should receive an email about the new build. When they check the App Distribution app that they have installed, they will see a list of versions with the newest one available to download

Not able to test play store In-App-Purchase with licensed tester account

I have uploaded an app in play store. I have created releases in Internal Test and Closed Test tracks. I have created In-App products also. Then I have added testers account for licensed testers. I have opted in using the opt-in url. But when I installed the debug build of the app in physical device with same package name which is configured in play console I am unable to test In-App products.
Actually its been 2 days since i have uploaded my app for first time. Using test accounts, I am unable to download the app from play store. It seems, google will take time to review the app and approve it. But in the docs(added url below), they have mentioned that we can test In-App products with debug builds. But I am unable to test it.
My debug build has same package name as that of app uploaded in play console. I have configured the product id correctly too. Can somebody help what might be the issue. Should I wait for google to complete the review and approve my app?
https://developer.android.com/google/play/billing/test
Check out this post: Testing in-app purchases on Android
This should solve your issue and make this process clear for you.

Exporting Xcode app for individuals to download over web server

I have an Xcode app that I have just finished developing. I do not wish to put this app on the App Store. Instead I would like to build the app and then serve it over my local host, so anyone connected to the URL on my network can simply download the app and use it.
How exactly can I achieve this?
One issue I am running into when selecting the organizer after archiving is that the buttons for export is grayed out. I am signing as my (personal team) but it does not seem to cooperate. How can I do this?
You have a few options here:
Enterprise developer account
Additional cost and can't upload to AppStore, users when installing for the first time have to trust the developer before the app will run
Ad Hoc profile
Requires adding UDIDs for all of the devices that you want to be able to run. Profiles will eventually expire (12 months I think). Would usually use this option with a service like HockeyApp/Diawi
Testflight
If you use internal testers then limited to 100 users that have to be invited to the Apple developer tea. If using external testers then can have much higher number of users, but app has to go through a short review process similar to when submitting for review to the app store

Distribution of IOS app through website

Initially the plan was for me to publish the IOS app on app store. However, as apple need 1 to 2 week time to approve by app, it would be impossible for the app to be available for my company event on Monday. So my boss suggested me to put the IPA file on company website for customer to download the app.
Question 1 : Is it possible to distribute IOS app through a download link in a website to download the IPA file so that any customer will be able to install it on their device?
I have tested and tried installing the IPA file using itune, diawi,ifunbox but it did not install successfully.However it works when i use xcode to install the IPA file on the apple device
Question 2:
From what i read from https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3927786, does it mean that my code has to include some form of device id to allow certain device to be able to install?
Question 3:
Is there any way for me to allow customer to download my company IOS app without app store. This is because my apple developer account is still pending creation and the company event is on monday?
If what you are trying is possible then it would be a lot of competitors to Apple's AppStore , the only possible way is to collect the UUIDs for any device that can download the app , add them in the development provision profile and upload the build to say diawi , so it can be download but for devices included only which it should be up to 100 devices

Distribute iOS App executable ( iPA ) to a set of users over email to install

I recently finished an application in Unity for a client who runs a sporting event and wanted the app to let the referees keep a more accurate log of the statistics of each game. When building for android, i get a single file that i can send to my device and install it/run it. The part that i have some questions is re-building that same project for IOS.
I know i MUST have xcode which means i MUST have a mac OS, but here are a few questions that i am unaware of.
1) With the most recent release of xcode, developers dont need the $99 apple developers kit to produce something and test it on their device. From what i learned, is it true that you need to verify each device you send the application to in order to test it?
2) Is there a way to compile the IOS application in a way that i can get a single file, or even a folder, and send it via email to my client, at which point they can download the file to their phone and have the application installed?
3) What is the easiest route i can take in order to get my application into ~30 peoples iphones without individually signing each phone to my application?
Thankyou for your help!
You will have to remove this question as what i understand this is a programming site, Please find the answer for reference below as per your question order.
with xCode 7.0 you can do this, we dont need any licenses and its free for any number of devices to test , refer :- link
Yes you can generate a executable which is termed as iPA , but if you want anyone else to install the iPA, either you will have to generate this using a enterprise profile, or you wil have to add you client device id while generating the profile on apple developer protal :- refer :- link
post which they can install the iPA using itunes
This is not possible as per my knowledge, as Apple has strict poilicies as you cant distribute witout their knowledge. that is the reason of having the apple developer account at first place.
Hope the following helps:
1) For testing on your local device XCode should set up proper provisioning files for the development builds of your app automatically once you purchase a developer license.
2) I build Enterprise Ad Hoc applications for a large publicly traded client and I'm able to send the compiled .IPA file to the client and have him test it by installing it via iTunes after I've signed it with a production certificate through XCode. He tests the app using that method before using a third party vendor to distribute the app on their corporately owned iPhones. The same should work if you sign your application with a production cert, although the aforementioned may be limited to the enterprise account's certificate.
3) If you're trying to remotely install a development version of the app on a test phone you will need to verify the phone via UDID in the Apple Developer center for AdHoc distribution, or use the TestFlight method. You can read more about how to do both of these methods here.
Hope this answer will help you out & good luck!
I think for that what you want you need a Paid Apple Developer because it is not possible (without Jailbreak) to install Apps which are not from the AppStore in iOS. So you have to "test" the App on each iPhone you want the App to run on, or you have to publish it to the AppStore, where you can set, that only specific Apple-IDs may download your app.
Thanks luca4499 and Max. I guess the $99 apple dev kit is the way i'm going to have to go then.
To clarify to other users interested in the same questions.
You can develop for multiple people without using the dev kit as long as your list of people isnt changing often, or you are ok with adding each device separately.
If you want to distribute your application, the easiest way is to get the apple dev kit.

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