Android – Play store Beta Testing returning 404

androidgoogle-play

I'm a developer and i was thrilled when I was watching Google IO 2013 and learned about the new Beta testing feature. So I created a Google+ community and a google group and placed the testers in there (me included).

Beta test screenshot

All we get (the developers and testers) when we visit the https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.package.stuff
is this:

404

Is there any trick I am missing? I would really like to use this feature.

I know there are alternatives like https://testflightapp.com/ but I'd rather keep my app under this environment where I can "promote" the Beta apk to the Production phase and so on.

Best Answer

I had this same issue. The reason the link is not working is because the app must be published before the link will be active. I repeat the app must be published, this does not mean there must be an APK in production. On the top right of your applications developer console page there is a drop down menu that allows you to publish the app. That link will become active immediately and your app will be available in a few hours to your testers on the Play Store.

enter image description here

Java

final String appPackageName = getPackageName(); // getPackageName() from Context or Activity object
try {
    startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + appPackageName)));
} catch (android.content.ActivityNotFoundException anfe) {
    startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + appPackageName)));
}

Kotlin

try {
    startActivity(Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("market://details?id=$packageName")))
} catch (e: ActivityNotFoundException) {
    startActivity(Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=$packageName")))
}

We use a try/catch block here because an Exception will be thrown if the Play Store is not installed on the target device.

NOTE: any app can register as capable of handling the market://details?id=<appId> Uri, if you want to specifically target Google Play check the Berťák answer

Android – Google Play Beta testing without a published app

You can put your Google Play Developer Console into "Advanced Mode" by clicking the button in the top right corner. Then you can activate/deactivate APKs as necessary, and upload APKs specifically for beta testers only. You do not need to change the package name.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Android – How to open the Google Play Store directly from the Android application

Java

Kotlin

Android – Google Play Beta testing without a published app

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