How To Update App On Google Play Developer Console?: Can you recall the first time you uploaded an app to google play? You probably still remember feeling excited and nervous.
If updating apps is already nerve-wracking, imagine doing updates via Google Play Developer Console. Uploading your app means taking a risk because your account might get suspended if the update doesn’t work as expected, and that could mean losing all of your carefully collected ratings and reviews.
When Google introduced staged rollout for developers, it opened up new opportunities for those who want to test their updates before putting them live.
But this method comes with its own trials. For example, unless your production version was set as default, you can’t make any changes to previously published items (you can’t make any changes to the production version).
But, if you are willing to take this risk, there are some important things you need to know.
Here Are 4 Tips That Might Save You From Account Suspension:
- Notify users before doing an update
It’s always a good idea to let your users know when the app will be updated, just in case they don’t want it or have issues with its functionality after an update.
You can send push notifications or email messages reminding them about the upcoming update. They will appreciate being notified beforehand so they won’t get frustrated by unexpected mobile app development behaviour.
- Test each build
Don’t assume that you can upload an update and expect it to work. It’s very important to test every build (even if you don’t use staged rollout) because the production version might behave differently than your testers’ versions.
So, what does this mean in practice? First, you need to download and install each new build right away and check if something is broken or needs fixing in your app.
- Make sure your app works when offline
Before publishing a major update, make sure the user has no issues when working offline. It’s very annoying if an app crashes or stops responding because of a bad connection.
Test your app thoroughly before publishing it. One way to do this is by switching the device with the testing build into airplane mode and checking if there is an issue with ads, purchases, and content updates.
Google allows you to check for several things: network status, connectivity, and storage. So if your app still works as intended when it’s turned off, the chances are high that everything will work out once users update it.
- Don’t make unilateral changes without user consent
Never make changes in your app unilaterally (i.e., without user consent) because it could lead to account suspension.
Also, don’t forget that Google recommends notifying users before making any significant mobile app design changes in your app (like altering app behaviour, changing permissions, or introducing new ads).
That’s why it’s always good to use A/B testing – you can test new versions on a random segment of your users and publish the version with the best results.
Keep in mind that if you change an existing feature, for example, don’t add an email sharing button without letting users know about this beforehand. It also helps to inform them about what has changed and why they should update to the latest version.
How To Update App On Google Play Developer Console?