Google Play not updating internal app automatically

Question

I have an app that is released only as an "internal test" on the Google Play store

• When I go to the Google Play store on my phone, the app does not show up at all, under "installed" or "updates" or any other tab

• When I click the 'internal testing' link (the one that Google Play Console says to give to internal testers), it opens Google Play and shows my app's store page. The store page shows the correct latest version, but I'm unable to install it. My only options are "uninstall" and "open" (which opens the currently installed old version of the app)

• I have "enable auto-update" enabled from the Google Play store page

• I've waited two days

• I've made sure the app is closed completely on the phone

As far as I can tell, there's no way to update the app without uninstalling it, which deletes all the app data. How can my testers update the app?

Answer 1

There could be two problems:

A) Different app signatures : You might have installed the previous version via debugging and not from Internal Testing Link. In this case, you WILL LOSE all the data and to install the updated version you will have to uninstall the previous version.

B) Play Store update arrives late:

Solution for second scenario:

Try installing via web browser on a PC. In mobile it will redirect you to Play Store app (which, of course, you would want to avoid). (Follow these steps from the first install consistently to avoid future issues)

1. Open the Internal App Testing Link from "Testers" Tab in browser.
2. Make sure you are logged in with same google account as the one in Play Store App in Phone.
3. Click on "download it on Google Play".
4. Click "Install on more devices". It will then show you the devices in which you have play store installed.

It will always install the updated version on your phone. All the data previously generated will remain as-is.

Note: Starting from the first install, use this method. Be consistent and you won't face any issues in updating the app.

Answer 2

Requirements for getting the Internal Update on Play store

1. Add your same email Account in internal testing which you used as in play store.
2. Join Beta Testing program which will be visible when you search the same app on play store.
3. Turn on internal-app-sharing on playstore - > PlayStore->Setting->About ->PlayStore-version(press 7 times), Turn On Internal App Sharing in General Settings of play store.
4. Wait for some days & Get the app link from play store console to get the update version

Answer 3

I think I've found a workaround. It's now worked 3 times out of 3, so fingers crossed.

First, uninstall whatever version you have on your device.

Then visit the link provided from Google Play Console on a PC instead, and from there you click the 'If you don’t have the app installed, download it on Google Play.'-link.

Once there, press install, and choose your device.

This way, the latest version of the app is installed on your device, and not some random version; like seems to be the case, using the Play Store on the device.

Not ideal, but it works :)

Answer 4

Updating seems to be broken for apps that Google has not reviewed yet, which they don't do for internal apps.

I released the app to closed beta, causing Google to review it, and stopped using "internal releases" altogether. I'm not sure which of the two was the fix, but now auto updates work.