Beta testing: App not appearing in Play Store Beta tab

Question

I have been trying for several weeks now to get the Google Alpha / Beta testing functionality on the Play Store to work with no success. As far as I can tell I have followed

Answer 1

There are a couple of reasons why this might happen but admittedly we did not 100% confirm this.

1) One reason is that you are viewing Google Play under another account that is not on the beta tester list.

2) The other might be an issue (or feature) with the release management. Added a user to an existing closed beta release list. Changing a list does not activate or force a Save for the "Managed testers" section. After we edited another field (e.g. feedback channel) then the Save button became active and we clicked save. This might only then propagate changes. We cannot 100% confirm this was the issue we were facing but our experience points to this.

Answer 2

I was just setting up the Beta testing release for the first time and couldn't make the app visible in Play Store. Found the reason in Play Console Help:

After publishing an alpha/beta app for the first time, it may take a few hours for your test link to be available to testers. If you publish additional changes, they may take several hours to be available for testers.

After about 35 minutes the app was published.

As this might not be the issue mentioned in original question, it might help someone.

Answer 3

The suggestion from @Edgehog to use Open Testing solved my problem regarding being able to see my app in the Beta tab of the Play Store.

I have not found a reason yet why the closed beta testing (using emails or groups/communities) would not work.

Answer 4

In my case I had published the Beta version and had created the testers but not linked them together. What I had to do was:

1. Go to manage releases

2. Choose a testing method - Closed Beta Testing

3. Then when testers list shows, make active the group of testers you would like to test the app.

4. Save

5. Get Opt-in URL link and paste it in a new tab (you should be logged in to google)

6. Then click at the "Become a Tester" button

You should now be a tester and ready to go.

@Important If you still can not find the app by searching in Play Store just copy the "Opt-in URL" into your tester phone's browser and you should see the app.

Hope it helps

Answer 5

Make sure you also check this answer

• browser cache
• an actual active "testing track"

Answer 6

What solved this problem for me was clearing my Play Store app data.

In my case, I had already been on the testers list for days, already accepted the invitation link, and already gotten testing working on other devices. But, the Play Store still wouldn't show the beta version of the app on this particular device.

I went to "App info" for the Google Play Store app, "Memory", then "Clear data". Then I re-opened and was able to see the beta test app.

Disclaimer: Use with caution. Clearing your app data may remove some important information. I haven't personally experienced any problems with it, but that doesn't mean you won't.