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I can see from my iTunes connect control panel how many users are on each version of the app I have in beta. When does TestFlight update those apps? Do they have to open TestFlight and manually choose to update? Does it happen automatically when they launch the app they are testing?

I can't seem to find any answer on Apple's documentation.

shim
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Mr Corbin
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  • The only way to force end users to update is by forcing them when they launch the app with an outdated version. A lot of desktop programs do this but I don't remember coming across a mobile app that ever did. – trndjc Jun 12 '22 at 23:20

4 Answers4

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They have to manually update it. A push notification and email is sent to let the user know that a new version is ready to be tested, but it's up to user to open test flight and install it.

Claudio Redi
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  • Interesting... Thanks for the clarification. – Mr Corbin Jun 18 '15 at 03:54
  • Is this the same for internal testers ? i can't find a way to make my internal testers update the app – Farid Al Haddad Jun 23 '17 at 14:05
  • @FaridAlHaddad: It's been long since last time I used test flight but I assume there was no change in relation to that and internat testers needs to follow the same procedure – Claudio Redi Jun 23 '17 at 17:04
  • @ClaudioRedi by uploading a new version OR build, it will send an email automatically for my users ? – Farid Al Haddad Jun 24 '17 at 13:01
  • @FaridAlHaddad: correct. An email is sent automatically – Claudio Redi Jun 24 '17 at 13:31
  • I don’t get it. I got an email about a new version, it says to click to open TestFlight, but no way to install the new version. What is going on – Gerry May 13 '19 at 05:33
  • I found the new version by selecting the app in TestFlight, then Previous Builds > [new version] > Install. Totally makes Apple sense – Guillaume Jul 22 '19 at 16:26
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    As of yesterday, this is no longer true. TestFlight now supports automatic updates: https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/11/testflight-app-automatic-update/ – Erik Nov 12 '20 at 14:17
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As of November 11, 2020, TestFlight version 3.0 now supports automatic updates:

enter image description here

Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/11/testflight-app-automatic-update/

Erik
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1

After a while, I found a solution that works every time.

You need to remove the version from testing by selecting Not Available for Testing. Then save, approve and reselect the version you want to test and save again.

This will make all your TestFlight users receive a notification with the update (event if they have a different version installed).

Guy Sopher
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0

It might be possible to do a force upgrade, see https://stackoverflow.com/a/12319198/330067, however I didn't find any details so far.

Community
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Lukasz Czerwinski
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    In that link they talk about Area51 - which is no longer available since Apple took over and included it into iTunesConnect. So right now Claudio is right, there is no option. – Toubey Aug 10 '16 at 07:23