Set up alpha/beta tests

We recommend starting with a small group of alpha testers, then expanding your test to a larger beta test group.

Closed beta: Consider closed beta testing if you want to run a test with a smaller group (like within your company or team) or when you know the exact users you want to test your app. 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.

Open beta: Consider open beta testing if you want to run a test with a large group and surface your app's beta version on the Play Store. If you run an open beta test, anyone can join your beta program and submit private feedback to you. Make sure your app is ready for visibility on the Play Store before choosing this option.

Keep in mind, the open and closed beta version of your app won't have public ratings.

If you want to run multiple tests on the same app, keep the following in mind:

• We recommend you set up one test as a closed alpha and another as an open beta. This works because you can run one test at a time per testing method (e.g. open & closed).
• If you run an open alpha test, you can't use the open or closed beta track. This happens because you can't run two open tests simultaneously or run a closed beta given version code requirements.

With closed beta testing, you can create a list of beta testers by email address. You can create up to 50 lists per track with up to 2,000 users in each.

Start a closed beta test

1. Sign in to your Google Play Developer Console.
2. Select an app.
3. On the left menu, select APK > Beta testing.
4. If you see Choose a testing method, select the drop-down arrow .
5. Select Set up Closed Beta Testing > Create list.
6. Type a name to identify your list of testers. You can use the same list for future tests on any of your apps.
7. Add email addresses separated by commas or click Upload new CSV file. If you use a .CSV file, put each email address on its own line without any commas. If you upload a .CSV file, it will overwrite any email addresses you've added.
8. Click Save.
9. Check the box next to the list of testers you want to use.
10. Copy the "Beta opt-in URL" to share with your testers.
11. 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.
12. Click Save.

Share your opt-in URL with users

After you create a test, you'll get a URL link to your alpha/beta app to share with your testers.

• The link uses the following format: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.package.name
• The opt-in link only shows when an app is "Published." Apps in "Draft" or "Pending publication" won't show the opt-in link.
• After clicking the opt-in link, your testers will get an explanation of what it means to be a tester and a link to opt-in. Each tester needs to opt-in using the link to be part of the beta test.

If you set up an open beta test, users can find your beta app on the Play Store. Make sure your app is ready for visibility on the Play Store before choosing this option.

• For early access apps (new apps that haven't been published to production): Users can find your beta version via search on the Play Store. Once users find your listing, they can install your app normally.
• For apps with a live production version: Users can opt-in to your beta program from your store listing.

You can also share a URL link on a website or email and every user with the link can download the beta version of your app.

Start an open beta test

1. Sign in to your Google Play Developer Console.
2. Select an app.
3. On the left menu, click APK > Beta testing.
4. If you see Choose a testing method, select the drop-down arrow .
5. Select Set up Open Beta Testing.
6. Optional: Type the maximum number of users you want to test your app (must be at least 1,000). If unspecified, no maximum number will be used.
7. Copy the "Beta opt-in URL" to share with your testers.
8. 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.
9. Click Save.

Share your opt-in URL with users

After you create a test, you'll also get a URL link to your alpha/beta app to share with testers.

• The link uses the following format: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.package.name
• The opt-in link only shows when an app is "Published." Apps in "Draft" or "Pending publication" won't show the opt-in link.
• After clicking the opt-in link, your testers will get an explanation of what it means to be a tester and a link to opt-in. Each tester needs to opt-in using the link to be part of the beta test.

1. Sign in to your Google Play Developer Console.
2. Select an app.
3. On the left menu, click APK > Beta testing.
4. If you see Choose a testing method, select the drop-down arrow .
5. Select Set up Groups or Community Beta Testing.
6. Type the Google Group email address or Google+ Community URL in one of the following formats:
   • Google Groups: yourgroupname@googlegroups.com
   • Google+ Community: https://plus.google.com/communities/123456789012345678901
7. Click Add.
8. Copy the "Beta opt-in URL" to share with your testers.

Note: For more information on how to manage Google Groups, go to the Google Apps Administrator Help Center.

Share your opt-in URL with users

• Before your testers can opt-in to your beta test, they need to join the Google Group or Google+ Community that you've added. After they've joined the Group or Community, they also need to opt-in to your beta test.
• The link uses the following format: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.package.name
• The opt-in link only shows when an app is "Published." Apps in "Draft" or "Pending publication" won't show the opt-in link.
• After clicking the opt-in link, your testers will get an explanation of what it means to be a tester and a link to opt-in. Each tester needs to opt-in using the link to be part of the beta test.

If you use Google Play Games Services, alpha and beta tester groups are automatically shared between your APK and Google Play Game Services.

On your Game services Testing page, you can use the alpha and beta testers switch to automatically include any users that are opted-in to alpha and beta testing for your APK.

To manually add individual testers for Google Play Games Services:

1. Sign in to your Google Play Developer Console.
2. Click Game services .
3. Select a game.
4. On the left menu, click Testing > Add testers.
5. Type the email addresses you'd like to add. Email addresses must be valid Google accounts that use Google+.
6. Click Add.

Once users have opted-in to your test group, they can sign in using Google+, earn draft or published achievements, and post to draft or published leaderboards.