Everything about the 12 testers requirement - Google Play Developer Community

<div><div><div>In November 2023, Google Play introduced a policy that requires developers with newly created personal accounts to conduct closed testing of their apps with a minimum of 20 testers for 14 days to apply for production access. The purpose of this policy is to avoid publishing garbage/irrelevant apps on the Play Store and enhance app quality by ensuring that real users evaluate new applications, identifying and addressing potential issues before public release. </div> <div> </div> <div>However, after noticing the challenges faced by individual developers in finding sufficient testers, the Google Play Team revised this requirement in December 2024. The updated policy now requires the developers to engage at least 12 testers for the same 14-day testing duration. </div> <div> </div> <div>These are some FAQs that can answer your questions:</div> <div> </div> <div><b>Q. What is the need for this requirement?</b></div> <div class="ck-indent-1">A. There are a lot of fake, spamming, and irrelevant apps in the Google Play Store. To avoid these garbage/irrelevant apps on Play Store, this new requirement has been imposed.</div> <div> </div> <div><b>Q. Why did the Google Play Team reduce the tester requirement from 20 to 12 testers only?</b></div> <div class="ck-indent-1">A. With the number of feedback from developers, the team noticed that it is hard to enrol 20 testers if you have a smaller audience, particularly. Hence, the team changed the requirement from 20 testers to 12 testers only.</div> <div> </div> <div class="ck-indent-1"><b>Q. What type of developer account has to fulfil this requirement?</b><br>A. The 12 testers requirement is only applicable for the personal developer accounts created after <b>November 13, 2023</b>. There is no impact on current personal accounts and organizational accounts.</div> <div> </div> <div><b>Q. Where can I find 12 testers to test my app?</b></div> <div class="ck-indent-1">A. You can reach out to your <b>friends, family, colleagues, or classmates</b> to test your app as a beta tester. You can also reach out to third-party companies who are specialized in testing, it does not violate the policy. </div> <div> </div> <div><b>Q. Why don’t I have to do this on other platforms?</b></div> <div class="ck-indent-1">A. Android has a big ecosystem with many thousands of different devices which means a lot more testing needs to be done to ensure that your app works as seamlessly as possible across all devices.</div> <div> </div> <div><b>Q. I have a paid app. How can I give it to the testers for free?</b></div> <div class="ck-indent-1">A. The simple way is to create a promotion code that gives your testers a 100% discount. See this page for instructions: <a href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6321495" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>Create Promotions</u></a></div> <div> </div> <div><b>Q. Will this requirement change?</b></div> <div class="ck-indent-1">A. In December 2024, the Google Play Team acknowledged developers' feedback and reduced the testing requirements from 20 to 12 testers. However, the duration of the testing requirement remained the same.</div> <div> </div> <div><b>Q. Why do I have received an email that says "More testing required to access Google Play production"?</b></div> <div class="ck-indent-1">A. You would receive an email stating that more testing is required because one or more testers did not have your app installed on their device, did not actively test the app daily or were left out of the testing program during these 14 days.</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div><b><u>Things to remember:</u></b><u> </u></div> <div>Please ensure that the testers should remain opted in for closed testing for at least 14 days continuously.</div> <div>Google does not have control over the third-party testing company.</div> <div>Please be aware of a scam that people offering access to groups in return for a fee are not recognized testing companies.</div> <div> </div> <div>You can read more about this requirement in the official <a href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/14151465?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>help center article</u></a>.</div> <div> </div> <div>The original document was written by <a href="https://support.google.com/s/community/user/100135519" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>Avishkar Singh</u></a> with additions by <a href="https://support.google.com/profile/186792243" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>BenMcc</u></a></div> <div><i>Last modified on: Feb 26, 2025</i></div></div></div> <div> </div>