Play Core In-App Review API not showing the Review Activity

Question

I\'m trying to utilize the Review API (Play Core library 1.8.0) from Google which was just released yesterday. See https://developer.android.com/guide/playcore/in-app-review

Answer 1

Okay, I had exactly the same problem as described by the OP and as is listed on the issue tracker here: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/167352813 and has still not been resolved as yet by GoogleDev.

Same UI manifestation(s), same log entries (incidentally, the log entries are the same when it works though, complete with the entry that says “ReviewService : linkToDeath”, but let’s not worry about that eh?)

The key thing, you'll no-doubt want to know though, to avoid too much suspense, is that IT WORKS. The in-app review API works! No need for me to repeat the block of code for calling the review flow, it is pretty much exactly the same as in the docs, similar to what the OP has listed, and several others have kindly repeated.

Took me a while, but I got to the bottom of it as follows, in a nutshell:

1. Your device needs to have the latest Google Play system update

2. Irrespective of whether your app is published on the Play Store YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO YOUR TESTING VIA INTERNAL APP TESTING or SHARING (I only did “Internal App Testing”, but I expect the same applies)

3. To debug your code with Android Studio, you need to have installed your Internal App Testing version on your device AND RUN THE DEBUGGER SUCCESSFULLY WITH YOUR IAT VERSION STILL INSTALLED ON THE DEVICE AT LEAST ONCE

4. Once you are up and running, when the review dialog pops up, you have to note that, if you submit a review, then you have utilised all your quota. When you try and launch the review flow again it looks like the “problem” has returned. You get “successful” launch but nothing shows. If you have submitted a review (and this is why it absolutely needs to be in IAT), then it is only a “private review” (not seen publicly on your app page), and you need to DELETE THE REVIEW TO GET THE POP UP TO SHOW AGAIN.

5. You can select “Not Now” instead of "Submit" ad infinitum (well, I tried about two-dozen times) and the pop-up dialog will launch each time you (re)call the flow.

So, step-by-step fix:

1. Prepare your device by uninstalling your app, then ensure you have the latest Google Play Store update. On my Sony Xperia X1 this is Settings->About Phone->Android version->Google Play system update.

2. Irrespective of whether the above restarted your device, turn your device off and then back on again (don’t restart - off then on i.e. cold boot).

3. Now go into Settings->Apps & notifications->Google Play->Storage & Cache, then do both CLEAR CACHE and CLEAR STORAGE. (This should not affect any of your installed apps).

4. Create a signed release for IAT based on your In-App review code base. You have to do this even if you have a release in production.

5. Now install your IAT RELEASE on your device - the words, "(Internal Beta)" or words to that effect, should be appended to your app name if you are downloading from the right location (i.e. IAT), (do not run it, just install)

6. In Android studio Clean, Rebuild and Debug, your app on the device with the IAT version installed. If you get a message saying "The device already has an application with the same package but a different signature." DON'T CLICK OK TO UNINSTALL YOUR IAT VERSION Follow the instructions here: Android: Error - App has same packaged different signature. The accepted answer is the correct one. If you have to do this, please note you should do a Clean and Rebuild->Debug again.

Hopefully, now all should be okay. Once you have done the above steps successfully, you can actually "clean" uninstall the app from the device on subsequent debugging sessions, and it will still work.

To test, and to delete a review note the following. When you submit a review, you will be able to see it in Google Play Console (not under "Reviews", incidentally but) under "Testing Feedback". Also you cannot delete your review under "Testing Feedback" it seems. You need to delete it from your IAT download page on the device. On there, under the heading Your private feedback, select the right-angled ellipsis thingy to the right of your review and simply "Delete".

Your pop-up will now show every time until you submit another review. Voila!