We need to distribute our App to some users for Beta App Testing. There are some tools available which can be used for this purpose like Diawi, Fabric etc.

Apple provides TestFlight iOS for distribution of App to Beta testers. To take advantage of TestFlight, simply upload a beta build of your app, and use iTunes Connect to add the names and email addresses of people you’d like to test your app. Testers will install the TestFlight iOS app, watchOS, and tvOS so they can use your beta apps and quickly provide feedback.

There are two types of testers in TestFlight.

1. Internal Testers

Each app can be tested by up to 25 members of your team who have been assigned the Admin, App Manager, Developer, or Marketer role in iTunes Connect. Each member can test on up to 30 devices. Internal testers can access all of your beta builds available for testing.

2. External Testers and Groups

Once you’re ready, you can invite up to 10,000 external testers who do not need to be part of your team to beta test an app that you intend for public release on the App Store. You can organize external testers into custom groups and share different builds with each group, depending on which features you want them to test. Before external testing can begin, the app must pass Beta App Review to make sure it complies with the full App Store Review Guidelines. Only the first build for the beta version requires a full review.

Supported Apps

Up to 100 apps can be tested at a time, internally or externally, and builds remain active for 90 days after they are uploaded. TestFlight supports multiple builds of iOS apps, watchOS apps, tvOS apps, and iMessage apps at the same time.

Steps to submit App to TestFlight :

1. Archive your App via Xcode.
2. Upload to App Store.
3. After getting success upload message, open your iTunes connect.
4. Go To MyApps section and choose your App.
5.  Now your app will be shown in Activities Tab, after 10 – 15 minutes app will be moved to TestFlight Tab.
6. Now you can add testers to your app.

Note : Sometimes App will not reflect in TestFlight Tab, and also disappears from Activity Tab. This means App has some issues, and we get a mail in iTunes Connect registered mailId regarding this issue. Then after resolving issue we need to submit App again.

Every time when we submit App to iTunes, App version must be increased.

Beta App Testing  via TestFlight iOS is really effective way to invite users to beta test versions of your app.

Happy Reading!!!