Many closed tests fail for a boring reason: the testers were not told clearly what to do. Google's help page advises you to give testers clear instructions on how to test your app and report bugs, to specify the type of feedback you want, to provide a clear feedback channel, and to inform them that they must stay opted in for at least 14 days. This guide gives you a message that does all of that. The advice is from Google's own help page.

The message (copy and change the brackets)

Hi [name],

Thank you for helping me test my Android app, [app name]. It takes a few minutes a day for two weeks.

1. Join the test (important) Open this link on your phone, using the Google account you use in the Play Store: [opt-in link]. Tap "Become a tester", then install the app.

2. Please stay opted in for 14 days Google only counts testers who stay opted in for at least 14 days in a row. If you leave the test early, you will not count. Please do not opt out or remove yourself, even if you are done early.

3. What to try Over the two weeks, please try: [feature 1], [feature 2] and [feature 3]. Use the app the way a real user would.

4. How to tell me what you find Send me a short note at [email / group link]. Tell me what you tried, what went wrong or felt confusing, and your phone model. A screenshot helps. You can also use the feedback option in Google Play.

5. How often Open the app a few times a week. If you can, open it on different days.

Thank you again. If anything does not work, write to me and I will fix it quickly.

[your name]

Why each part is there

• Join with the right Google account. Testers who join with a different account than the one on their phone cannot install the test version.
• The 14-day reminder. It is the single most important line. Google says testers who leave before 14 days do not count.
• Specific tasks. Google encourages testers to use as many features as possible. Naming three features gives them a starting point.
• A clear channel. A tester who does not know where to write will not write.
• Phone model. It helps you spot problems that only happen on certain devices.

Follow-up messages

Send a short reminder on day 3, day 7 and day 12:

Quick reminder: please stay opted in until [date]. If you found anything, send it to [channel]. Thank you!

Replace the date each time so people know exactly when they are free to leave.

Do not

• Do not ask testers to give you positive reviews or ratings. That is not what a closed test is for.
• Do not send passwords or private data in the message. If the app needs a login, create a test account.

If you do not want to run this yourself

ClosedTest recruits and coordinates real testers for the 14 days and records daily check-ins. See our pricing, or the format of the results in the sample report.

ClosedTest is an independent service and is not affiliated with Google.