Apple Letting Devs Invite Beta Testers Using New TestFlight Public Links

[MacRumors]

Apple is introducing a new TestFlight feature that is designed to allow developers to create public links to invite new beta testers to try out their apps.

According to Apple, developers can enable a public a public link that can be shared with multiple users at one time, alleviating the need to send out individual invites. Potential beta testers can click the public link to install the app through TestFlight.

Now it's even easier to get valuable feedback on your app before releasing it on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Simply enable a public link for your app in App Store Connect that leads to an invitation to test in TestFlight. Share the link to let anyone discover the beta version of your app.

Apple first announced public links as an upcoming feature in June, but the Apple didn't make it available for developers until today.

Developers have the option to create a public link that allows for a limited number of testers. TestFlight supports up to 10,000 testers for each app that's being beta tested.

Article Link: Apple Letting Devs Invite Beta Testers Using New TestFlight Public Links

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Bit behind the news on this one. It's been available for a week or more.

 

[mariusignorello]

Conveniently after the beta of Siri Shortcuts.

 

[Junior117]

According to Apple, developers can enable a public a public link that can be shared with multiple users at one time, alleviating the need to send out individual invites. Potential beta testers can click the public link to install the app through TestFlight.

Probably want to fix this...

 

[zorinlynx]

One app I use lets you beta test directly; you download the .ipa and then trust the dev's certificate. How come more apps don't do it this way? It seems far more convenient.

 

[jonblatho]

One app I use lets you beta test directly; you download the .ipa and then trust the dev's certificate. How come more apps don't do it this way? It seems far more convenient.

…going to some strange website, getting an .ipa, installing it on the device (which last I checked requires a computer), going into Settings to trust a certificate, then not being notified of updates is easier than using TestFlight?

News to me.

I haven't tried the TestFlight public link process yet, but I do know how it works for closed betas:

1. Obtain an invitation from the developer
2. Redeem the code sent via email in the TestFlight app
3. Install the app

…and that's it.

 

[sumo.do]

I thinks this is a great idea for devs.

 

[Sir Ruben]

It works very well, already a tester for Hive, Deezer, and an amazing game called Sky (the next game by the people who made Journey).

 

[Scooz]

Long overdue. The current process of adding a test user was too cumbersome for a quick invite.

One app I use lets you beta test directly; you download the .ipa and then trust the dev's certificate. How come more apps don't do it this way? It seems far more convenient.

Not on the dev’s side as you have to register the tester’s device by its cryptic ID and even include it in the certificate. Also, the number of external users is limited, so these were usually saved for internal purposes/private betas.

News to me.

I haven't tried the TestFlight public link process yet, but I do know how it works for closed betas:

1. Obtain an invitation from the developer
2. Redeem the code sent via email in the TestFlight app
3. Install the app

…and that's it.

Right, that will basically look the same, but it‘s much easier now than before from the dev‘s point of view for adding a/many user(s) on the fly or let them add themselves via that link.

And after all, it‘s a great promo tool.

 

[MarchyStar]

Finally!

The TestFlight invite process made so little sense we basically never used this in the wild to invite beta testers.
For private testers (be in internal or friends of the company) we used Fabric/Beta, which is instant to upload (no processing / app review) and then push out to Production for any testing/wider iteration (essentially making TestFlight utterly useless)

There may actually be a place for a public Beta once again! =)