How to upload your iOS app to TestFlight for distribution/beta
This is a quick guide to upload your app for distribution through Testflight. It assumes you have the appropriate access to both developer.apple.com and appstoreconnect.apple.com .
You will need:
- Web browser
- Xcode
- Patience!
Create your App Bundle Id or have it created for you.If you are new to mobile apps, there is an unofficial standard of using reverse domains to name your app's package, e.g. com.yourcompany.yourappname.
Step 1 - Set up your project in the App Store
Sign in to https://developer.apple.com and make sure that in the top right of the screen you are in the correct company account.
Click on Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles in the sidebar. Click on App IDs under Identifiers and then the + button on the top right to add a new app ID. Fill out the App ID Description and then add your bundle ID under the Explicit App ID option.
Then click continue.
Step 2 - Add your details to the App Store project
Go back to https://developer.apple.com and click on Apple Store Connect. Click on My Apps Click on the + button and then choose New App Complete the details and make sure to choose your app’s bundle id correctly.
Step 3 - Upload your project
In Xcode, add your bundle ID to the app’s settings and select the company from the Signing options. Select Generic iOS Device from the top menu.
Select Archive from the Product menu.
Once this completes, it will open a window called the Organiser. You can find it at Window -> Organiser in the top menu of XCode.
Click the Upload to App Store button followed by Next and wait for it to upload. This may take a while. If for any reason it fails at this point, it will be due to a certificate error and you will have to contact someone from your Apple Developer Account team.
Step 4 - push it live
Log in to https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/ In your app, click on TestFlight in the top menu. You should see the build uploaded. Be sure to note down your build number for adding to a beta group.
By default you will be able to test your app yourself, simply by installing the TestFlight app on your phone. In the sidebar you can add extra people to beta test the app.
Click on New Group in the sidebar and create a beta testing group if you do not have one. Invite your testers by adding their email address. Click on the Builds tab in the main window. Click on the (+) icon and you can select your build number to add to the testers group. You will receive an email from Apple when it is available as well.
Once you have selected a build you will be asked for some testing information. Fill this out as much as you can and explain how to use your app. Apple does review this even for beta testing and they will reject apps from being submitted to TestFlight.
You will receive an email within 24 hours (typically) letting you know if your app was rejected or not. If not, then you (and anyone else in the beta list) will receive an email from TestFlight.
*Adding Internal Testers
ReplyDeleteTo add an internal tester, head to the Users and Access section in App Store Connect. For this example, use your own email address. If you were adding other internal testers, you’d use their email addresses and they would carry out the steps of accepting an invitation.
Click the + button to add a new user. Then, fill in your new user information using an email address you have access to.
Note: If the email address entered isn’t associated with an Apple ID, your tester will have to create an Apple ID to accept the invitation. This only applies to internal testers, as they need to access App Store Connect.
Now, assign a role for the new user. View the privileges for each role by clicking on See Permissions and choose the appropriate one. You can also choose to either limit access to a single app via the Apps drop-down or leave the default All Apps access.
New Users page in App Store Connect, where you also assign roles
If you’re unsure which role to choose, use App Manager, which allows beta testing management and the ability to download apps. Once you’re done setting up your new user, click Invite. This sends an email to the new user, and the user must accept the invitation before you can select that person as a tester.
Email sent banner
Go to the inbox for the new user’s email address, find the email entitled You’ve been invited to App Store Connect and click Accept Invitation. Once you’re done with this process, the new user is eligible to be an internal tester.
Sample invitation email
Creating a new internal beta tester is only the first part of the process. The remaining step is to invite this particular person to test your latest build.
It’s time to enable testing on your app so the tester actually has something to test! :]
*Accepting the Invitation
ReplyDeleteBoth internal and external testers receive similar emails from TestFlight. This email will invite the user to view the app in TestFlight.
The link looks a little different in that it lays out the two steps: downloading TestFlight and app installation. Otherwise, the process is pretty much the same as when it’s done by email.
*Installing TestFlight
ReplyDeleteLinks from both invitations bring the user to TestFlight in the App Store:
The user will download the TestFlight app and launch it.
*Redeeming Your App
ReplyDeleteWhen a new build is available, or when you add a new tester, the tester receives an invitation to test the build via TestFlight.
Note: If you’re following along in real time, it’s unlikely App Store review has time to approve your build. As such, your app will only be available to internal testers at this point.
After opening the invitation and clicking View in TestFlight, TestFlight will launch and redeem the invitation using the Apple ID currently in use in the TestFlight app.
Then users will see an app preview page. This will show the app icon, build number and the testing information you provided.
After tapping Install, the app will download and appear on the home screen. Now, users can treat it like any other app. It’ll have an orange dot near the name in app to show it’s a TestFlight install.