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Guide: Managing Testers and Links in Google Play "Closed Testing"

This guide will show you how to add new testers, share the installation link, and publish changes within a Closed Testing track in your Google Play Console.

David Arau avatar
Written by David Arau
Updated over a week ago

Part 1: Adding New Testers to the List

  1. Log in: Go to the Google Play Console and select your app.
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  2. Navigate to Closed Testing: In the left-hand menu, under the "Testing" section, click on "Closed testing".
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  3. Select the Track: You will see your active track (usually named "Alpha" or "Closed Testing"). Click on "Manage track" next to it.
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  4. Testers Tab: At the top of the page, click on the "Testers" tab.
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  5. Choose or Create a List:

    • Under "Email lists," you can select an existing list or click "Create email list".

    • If creating a new one, give it a name (e.g., "Internal Team") and add the email addresses separated by commas.

    • Click "Save changes" at the bottom right.
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  6. Important: Make sure the checkbox for the list you want to use is selected in the "Email lists" section of the track.
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Part 2: How to Share the Installation Link

Once the testers are added, they won't find the app by searching in the Play Store; you must send them a specific link.

  1. Stay in the "Testers" tab: Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the "How testers join your test" section.

  2. Copy the Link: You will see a section called "Join on Android" or "Join on the web."

    • Click "Copy link" (usually under the "Join on the web" option).
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  3. Share: Send this link to your testers via email or message.

    • Note: Testers must open the link while logged into the same Google account you added to the list.

    • They must click "Accept Invitation" before they can download the app.

Part 3: Publishing Changes

If you have made updates to the testers list or track settings, you must ensure they are "Live."

  1. Review and Summary: After clicking "Save changes" at the bottom of the Testers page, look at the top of the console.
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  2. Publishing Overview: If your account has "Managed Publishing" turned on, go to "Publishing overview" in the left sidebar.
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  3. Send for Review: You will see your pending changes. Click "Send for review".

    • Note: Even changes to tester lists sometimes require a brief review by Google (though it is usually much faster than a full app review).
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Pro Tip: If your testers see a "URL not found" error, it is usually because they are logged into a different Google account in their browser or haven't been added to the email list correctly.

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