iOS 8 Beta Testing using TestFlight

Xcode 6 and iOS 8 were released together with a new way of beta testing iOS applications. This is an introduction and a step-by-step guide for setting up an iTunes Connect and TestFlight Beta Test with internal testers.

1. Sign in to iTunes Connect and add iTunes Connect users under “Users and Roles”. When you have entered the details for the user you will be able to choose this user’s role, “Technical” (Read Only) is the one to prefer if you don’t want to give the user access to maintaining your available apps,

(cont’d) The users you’re adding will receive an e-mail. You can add and delete users whenever and however you want. Every user will have to verify their e-mail,

(cont’d) When the users have verified their e-mail you will find them under “Users and Roles”. Click on the e-mail for the user and turn on the switch “Internal Tester”,

2. Install Xcode 6 from the iOS Dev Center. If you want to keep previous versions of Xcode you can create a folder inside Applications and move your existing Xcode version to that folder.

3. Archive your project, choose Product > Archive,

(cont’d) Now click on the “Submit…” button,

(cont’d) Choose your Development Team to use for provisioning,

(cont’d) Submit your app,

4. In your iTunes Connect account you can now browse to your app, you find it under “My Apps”. Go to “Prerelease”, here you’ll find your uploaded build. Enable beta testing for this build by turning on the switch on the right hand side of the screen,

5. Inside “Prerelease” there’s a submenu containing “Builds” and “Internal Testers”. Now that you’ve enabled TestFlight beta testing you can invite testers under “Internal Testers”. Checkmark the testers you want to invite and click the “Invite” button,

(cont’d) Testers will receive an e-mail with an invite,

(cont’d) When the testers click “Open in TestFlight” they will be redirected to the TestFlight app and asked to install the app,

(cont’d) Testing is now under way and a orange dot will appear next to the beta version of the app,

Conclusion

We, Beta Family, will still provide developers with our awesome community of testers, but now without trouble involving UDIDs. Tester management will now be easier with Apple IDs which Beta Family, of course, will provide for you. Also their will be zero file handling and this will without doubt speed up the testing process since the upload and adding users can be managed instantly.

Note: Of course you will be able to use the system just like before.