Posted on

How to Test or Preview Your App While Building it?

Getting Started

To test beta versions of apps and App Clips using with an Apple device you will need to use the TestFlight app, you’ll need to accept an email or public link invitation from us and have a device that you can use to test.

All other invited testers can access builds that the developer makes available to them. A developer can invite you to test with an email or a public link.

The testing process with Android devices are much simpler – simply download our Preview Tool App and input the Preview Code and you are set. You will be able to see a working prototype of your app on your smart phone.

Required platforms

  • iOS apps: iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 8 or later. App Clips require iOS 14 or later. iMessage apps and sticker packs require iOS 10 or later.
  • tvOS apps: Apple TV running tvOS 9 or later.
  • watchOS apps: Apple Watch running watchOS 2 or later.

TestFlight is not available for Mac apps.

Available Languages

TestFlight for both iOS and tvOS is available in Arabic, Catalan, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (Australia), English (U.K.), English (U.S.), Finnish, French, French (Canada), German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Spanish (Latin America), Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Installing and Testing Beta Apps

Each build is available to test for up to 90 days, starting from the day the developer uploads their build. You can see how many days you have left for testing under the app name in TestFlight. TestFlight will notify you each time a new build is available and will include instructions on what you need to test. Alternatively, with TestFlight 3 or later, you can turn on automatic updates to have the latest beta builds install automatically.

When the testing period is over, you’ll no longer be able to open the beta build. To install the App Store version of the app, download or purchase the app from the App Store. In-app purchases are free only during beta testing, and any in-app purchases made during testing will not carry over to App Store versions.

Installation

To get started, install TestFlight on the device you’ll use for testing. Then, accept your email invitation or follow the public link invitation to install the beta app. You can install the beta app on up to 30 devices.

Installing a Beta iOS App via Email or Public Link Invitation

  1. Install TestFlight on the iOS device that you’ll use for testing.
  2. Open your invitation email or tap on the public link on your iOS device.
  3. Tap View in TestFlight or Start Testing; or tap Install or Update for the app you want to test.

Installing a Beta tvOS App via Email Invitation

  1. Install TestFlight on Apple TV.
  2. Open your invitation email on a mobile device or computer.
  3. Click or tap Start Testing. You’ll be taken to a web page with a redemption code.
  4. Open TestFlight on Apple TV.
  5. Go to Redeem and enter the redemption code.
  1. Install TestFlight on an iOS device and Apple TV where you can sign in to the same App Store account.
  2. Tap the public link on your iOS device.
  3. Tap Accept for the app you want to test.
  4. Open TestFlight on Apple TV. You must be signed in to the same App Store account you used on your iOS device.
  5. Install the app you want to test.

Installing a Beta watchOS App via Email or Public Link Invitation

  1. Install TestFlight on the iOS device that you’ll use for testing.
  2. Open your invitation email or tap on the public link on your iOS device.
  3. Tap View in TestFlight or Start Testing.
  4. If you’re testing an app that’s for Apple Watch only, tap Install or Update from the Apps list.
  5. If the app is an iOS app that includes an Apple Watch app, install the iOS app first, then from the App Details page under the Information section, you will see a Watch section. If the Apple Watch app is available and compatible with your watch, you’ll see a button to install it.

Testing

Testing iMessage Apps (iOS 10 or later)

  1. Install TestFlight on the iOS device that you’ll use for testing.
  2. Open your invitation email or tap on the public link on your iOS device.
  3. Tap View in TestFlight or Start Testing; or tap Install or Update for the app you want to test.
  4. If you’re testing an iOS app that includes an iMessage app, launch the beta app from the home screen as you would with any app.
  5. If you’re testing an app that’s for iMessage only or a sticker pack, you can launch it from inside Messages.

Testing Beta App Clips (iOS 14 or later)

After accepting your email or public link invitation to test the app, you’ll see the option to test the App Clip in TestFlight. You can install either the app or the App Clip on your device (but not both at once), and can replace one with the other at any time. If the app is installed on your device, testing the App Clip will replace the app and some app data may be lost. You can reinstall the app by tapping Install on the app’s page in TestFlight.

  1. Install TestFlight on the iOS device that you’ll use for testing.
  2. Open your invitation email or tap on the public link on your iOS device.
  3. Tap View in TestFlight or Start Testing; or tap Install or Update for the app you want to test.
  4. Go to the app’s page in TestFlight.
  5. In the App Clips section, tap TEST next to the beta App Clip you want to test.

Managing Automatic Updates

After installing TestFlight 3 or later, you’ll be prompted to turn on automatic updates. This allows the latest available beta builds to install automatically. TestFlight will notify you each time a new build is installed on your device. Automatic updates can be turned off at any time.

Change automatic update settings for all of the beta apps you’re testing using TestFlight:

TestFlight for iOS

  1. Open TestFlight and tap Settings in the upper-right corner.
  2. Tap Automatic Updates.
  3. Tap On or Off.

TestFlight for tvOS

  1. Open TestFlight and click the Settings tab at the top.
  2. Under GENERAL INFORMATION, turn Automatic Updates On or Off.

Change automatic update settings for individual beta apps you’re testing using TestFlight:

TestFlight for iOS

  1. Open TestFlight and go to the app’s page.
  2. Under App Information, turn Automatic Updates On or Off.

TestFlight for tvOS

  1. Open TestFlight and go to the app’s page.
  2. Under the app icon, click the More button.
  3. Click Turn On Automatic Updates or Turn Off Automatic Updates.

Testing Previous Builds

When viewing an app in TestFlight, you’ll see the latest available build by default. You can still test all other builds that are available to you.

  1. Go to the app’s page in TestFlight.
  2. Tap on Previous Builds.
  3. Tap and install the build you want to test. The one you select will replace what’s currently installed.

If you already have the App Store version of the app installed on your device, the beta version of the app will replace it. After you download the beta app, you’ll see an orange dot next to its name that identifies it as a beta.

When you accept a TestFlight invitation through a public link, your name and email address are not visible to the developer. However, they’ll be able to see your number of sessions and crashes, the day you installed their app, and the latest installed version.

Giving Feedback

While testing a beta version of an app or App Clip, you can send the developer feedback about issues you experience or make suggestions for improvements based on the “What to Test” content. Feedback you submit through TestFlight is also provided to Apple as part of the TestFlight service.

iOS Apps

If your device is running iOS 13 or later, you can send feedback through the TestFlight app or directly from the beta app or beta App Clip by taking a screenshot, and you can report a crash after it occurs. If you were invited to test an app with a public link, you can choose not to provide your email address or other personal information to the developer. Apple will also receive all feedback you submit and will be able to tie it to your Apple ID.

Sending Feedback through the TestFlight App (iOS 13 or later)

  1. Open the TestFlight app on your device.
  2. From the Apps list, tap the app.
  3. Tap Send Beta Feedback.
  4. In the share dialog, tap Include Screenshot to choose a screenshot. If you don’t want to send an attachment, tap Don’t Include Screenshot.
  5. Add your comments (up to 2,000 characters), and optionally enter your email address if you were invited with a public link.
  6. Tap Submit.

Sending Feedback through the Beta App (iOS 13 or later)

When you take a screenshot while testing a beta app or beta App Clip, you can send the screenshot with feedback directly to the developer without leaving the app or App Clip Experience. Developers can opt out of receiving this type of feedback, so this option is only available if the developer has it enabled.

  1. Take a screenshot on your device. For details on how to take screenshots, see Take a screenshot on your iPhone, Take a screenshot on your iPad, and Take a screenshot on your iPod touch.
  2. A thumbnail of your screenshot appears in the lower-left corner of your device. Tap the thumbnail and, if needed, add drawings and text with Markup. Then tap the Done button.
  3. Tap the Share Beta Feedback.
  4. Optionally, you can add comments (up to 2,000 characters), and your email address if you were invited with a public link.
  5. Tap Submit.

Sending Crash Information (iOS 13 or later)

If you experience a crash while testing a beta app or beta App Clip, you’ll receive an alert asking if you want to send crash details to the developer through TestFlight. Developers can opt out of receiving this type of feedback, so this option is only available if the developer has it enabled.

When the crash alert displays, tap Share, add any additional comments, and tap Submit.

Sending Feedback through the TestFlight App (iOS 12.4 or earlier)

If your device is running iOS 12.4 or earlier, tap Send Beta Feedback to compose an email to the developer. The feedback email contains detailed information about the beta app and about your iOS device. You can also provide additional information, such as necessary screenshots and steps required to reproduce any issues. Your email address will be visible to the developer when you send email feedback through the TestFlight app even if you were invited through a public link.