Google play store alpha and beta tracks

Question

I have an application in the play store and I want to set up a beta track and an alpha track. In short, the beta track is intended to be open so people can opt-in anytime, while the alpha track is intended for select invitations only.

One of the problems that I'm having is that the beta-track seems to be recognized on my phone but the alpha track weirdly is not. The alpha track has a higher release version than the beta track has, so I am expecting the play store to show list the version of the alpha track (on my personal devices) however it quite persistently keeps showing the version of the beta track.

Anybody know what this is about? Am I using the playstore wrong is there something else I should enable first?

Answer 1

Your understanding for the play store is a bit different. Its better to look at the channels as below:

1. Alpha Track as Closed Track. Only registered users can install the app in this track.
2. Beta Track is Open Track. Everyone who has opted for Beta testing can install the app.
3. Production Track is your main track. Play store will use this to distribute your app to your end users.

To register your users for the Closed Track(Alpha), go to the Alpha track and add a list of users by their emails who can download app through this channel. My company uses Developers who can access the Closed track, so simply add all the developer's emails in that list and you are good to go.

Answer 2

Firstly you have to register alpha testing group for your app. If you register both alpha and beta testing groups, your project's version code is important. You are going to see the biggest version code number app in your phone alpha, beta or production. For example you have an apk in beta with version code 3 and you have an apk with version code 4 in alpha, you should see alpha version available on google play.I mean that the important thing is version code of your app.