Google has recently updated developer app submission requirements to ensure high-quality apps on Google Play. As part of these changes, app testing before submitting your app for review to the Google Play store is required for all new personal developer accounts, and recommended for all developers and organizations.

UPDATE! In Dec 2024, Google updated the requirements and now required just 12 testers rather than 20. Learn more here.

Read below to learn more about how BetaTesting helps to ensure you pass the Google Play app submission requirements.

From Google: "To help all developers to deliver high-quality apps, we're introducing new testing requirements. Developers with personal accounts created after 13 November 2023 will need to test their apps before those apps are eligible to be published for distribution on Google Play. Certain features in Play Console, such as Production (Release > Production) and Pre-registration (Release > Testing > Pre-registration), will be disabled until developers meet these requirements."

Updated requirements for new developer accounts:

As a personal developer account, you must run a closed test for your app with at least 12 testers who have opted-in for 14 days or more.
After meeting this criteria, you can apply for production access on in the Play Console
During the application process, you'll be asked questions about your app and its testing process and production readiness. In this process, you can reference your testing process with BetaTesting to collect bugs and feedback.

How does BetaTesting.com help?

BetaTesting provides pre-release testing to collect feedback and bugs to help bring higher quality apps into the world! Here's how our pre-submission testing program works:

Easily recruit 12 or more testers to test your app

We have a community of 450,000+ consumers and professionals available to help test and provide feedback for new apps and technology products. We recruit real people using real-world devices. We can recruit 12+ testers in a matter of minutes/hours.

Choose from a wide variety of targeting methods, including location (country, state, city), devices (Android phone, Android tablet, iOS, and many more), demographic criteria like age / gender / income, etc, and even include custom screening questions.

Testing Options on BetaTesting to Meet this Requirement:

1. Multiple Single Session Tests

A single-session test technically lasts just one sitting. However, you can successfully use this test type to facilitate testing over 14 days.

Run a Single Session Test. In the screening survey for this test, ask testers if they are OK committing to keep the app installed for 14 days. Let them know that you will be running a second test iteration in 1-2 weeks and they will be invited to that test too. Configure the screening survey so that only testers that agree to this are accepted.
Run a second Single Session Test with the same testers 2-weeks later. You can re-invite the same testers using the Community setting in the Tester Recruiting tab.

Run a Multi-Session Test Spanning 14 Days

The BetaTesting platform makes it easy to test with groups of testers over two weeks or more.

Use our Multi-Session test to design a test process for a 2-week test.
Our platform makes it easy to manage large groups of testers. See the progress for each tester and message testers one-to-one or en-masse.
Collect bug reports and survey feedback directly on BetaTesting and invite your team to see results.

How to distribute your app for Google Play Closed Testing:

Option 1 (recommended): Provide Closed Testing through a Google Group

Google gives the option to do closed testing through a Google Group.

Create a Google Group for the purpose of closed beta testing.
In Google Play, set up your app for distribution of a closed beta test through a Google Group
In the BetaTesting instructions (that testers get after being accepted into the test)
1. Provide the Google Group URL and tell testers to join it
2. Provide your app distribution URL. After joining your Google Group, testers can opt into beta testing and download the app.

Option 2: Collect emails from your testers and distribute your app using Google Play Console closed testing

In the screening/application survey, we'll ask for each tester's email. Then we'll provide you with each testers email after they are accepted into your test, so you can easily distribute your app through the Google Play Console.

Screenshot from platform: