por App Store Connect is an Apple platform that has several tools for application developers. This is linked to the TestFlight application which, broadly speaking, serves to distribute test versions, also known as beta versions, to different users, both internal and external. To delve deeper into this topic, In this post, we will talk to you about how to publish an app in TestFlight through Apple.
If you want to know more about this platform offered by Apple, which is related to application development, We invite you to read our post What is App Store Connect and how it works, where we mention some of its main characteristics.
First steps before publishing an app on TestFlight
Something you can ask yourself when you want to upload a beta version to the App Store is how to publish an app in TestFlight. There are several steps you must follow before you can publish apps with Apple. The first thing you should take into account is the subscription to the Apple Developer Program, which is necessary to have access to the different options that are intended for Apple developers, such as TestFlight.
After this, you must set the application identifier, which is also known as the bundle identifier. Next, you must create a new project in Xcode, but this has to be linked to your Apple ID from the Apple developer portal, and copy the respective identifier that you have already created previously. Something you should always remember is that identifiers are unique for each application, for this reason, it is not possible to use one that is already associated with another app.
The next thing you should do is fill out all the data that Xcode asks you forsuch as establishing the version of the app that is being developed and which devices will be compatible with it.
As a last step, you must carry out the entire process in App Store Connect to create the necessary certificates and profiles (in this case, the Development profile would have to be created). You can find a little more information about how to create certificates for Apple and what App Store profiles are in our posts App certificates at Apple and App profiles on Applerespectively.
How to publish an app to TestFlight through Apple
Now that you have completed the pre-publishing steps, it’s time to learn how to publish an app on TestFlight Apps.
When you already have the compilation of your app in Xcode, You go to the App Store Connect platform to select the “My Apps” option. In this section you have to click on the plus icon (+), which is located in the upper left corner of your screen.
After doing this, A screen will appear where you are asked for some information.such as system type, application name, primary language, and identifier or bundle identifier. You need to fill out all the fields to be able to upload the file to the App Store.
When you have the Xcode file with all the application data, you have to select the option that says “distribute app”. When you do this, you will have to wait a moment until the app finishes uploading and, when everything is ready, you will get a message indicating that the upload was completed correctly.
The last thing you should do is re-enter the App Store Connect and go to the “users and accesses” section to add the users. beta testingboth internal and external to TestFlight Apps. Something important is that, if your beta version is intended for internal testers, you have a limit of people you can add, which is 100 users; In the case of external evaluators, the limit is wider, since the platform allows you to have up to 10,000 users. Still, in this case, you must first wait for the Apple team to review your app and verify that there is no problem with it.
Now you just have to wait for the testers to accept your TestFlight invitation Apps and start using your app, so that, in this way, you can obtain information and comments about its performance and functionality.
Where to continue?
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