<p>Appcircle is a mobile CI/CD platform that provides a fully automated environment to manage mobile app CI, CD and CT (continuous testing). For continuous testing, you have a number of options with Appcircle and the two widely used options are also supported: Google Play Console Testing (tracks) and Apple TestFlight.</p>
<p>In this article, we will be setting a mobile CI/CD pipeline for deployment to these services in a few easy steps.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Manage your mobile CI, CD and CT (continuous testing) with Appcircle</em><br />
<button class="call-to-action"><a href="https://appcircle.io/start" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start for Free</a></button></p>
<h2>Adding the Right Signing Identities</h2>
<p>For deploying apps to Google Play Console and App Store Connect, the first step is to ensure that you have the right signing identities.</p>
<p>For Android, the keystore must match the keystore of the app currently in the store. You can get more information on managing Android keystores from the documentation: <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/signing-identities/android-keystores" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android Keystores</a></p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1649 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2.jpg" alt="Adding the Right Signing Identities" width="1479" height="806" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2.jpg 1479w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2-300x163.jpg 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2-1030x561.jpg 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2-768x419.jpg 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2-705x384.jpg 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-2-450x245.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1479px) 100vw, 1479px" /></a></p>
<p>For iOS, the app must be signed with a App Store distribution certificate. You can get more information on managing iOS certificates from the documentation: <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/signing-identities/ios-certificates-and-provisioning-profiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Certificates &amp; Provisioning Profiles</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1648 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1.jpg" alt="Adding the Right Signing Identities" width="1479" height="806" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1.jpg 1479w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1-300x163.jpg 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1-1030x561.jpg 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1-768x419.jpg 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1-705x384.jpg 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Signing-1-450x245.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1479px) 100vw, 1479px" /></a></p>
<h2>Building the App</h2>
<p>Building your mobile applications is very easy with Appcircle no matter what platform and language you are using. You can connect your repositories from GitHub, Bitbucket or GitLab to Appcircle.<br />
You can also connect to public repositories directly or use SSH for custom repository connections. To learn more about connecting your project, please refer to: <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build/adding-a-build-profile" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Adding a Build Profile &amp; Connecting a Repository</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1645 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect.png" alt="Building the App" width="1440" height="800" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect.png 1440w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect-300x167.png 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect-1030x572.png 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect-768x427.png 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect-705x392.png 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Connect-450x250.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></p>
<p>To deploy apps to Google Play Console Testing and App Store Connect, please make sure that your Android Package Name and iOS Bundle ID matches the destination app listing.</p>
<p>Appcircle will fetch all your branches and commits in your repository and lets you build any commit for testing. Before a build, you can configure your project by following the steps here: <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build/build-profile-configuration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Build Profile Configuration Overview</a>. AAB is also supported for Android apps.</p>
<p>For Android, you can assign the previously set up keystores in the <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build/building-android-applications#signing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android Signing tab</a> and for iOS, you can assign bundle IDs and provisioning profiles in the <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build/building-ios-applications#signing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS signing tab</a>.</p>
<p>Once the build is configured, you can easily <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build/build-manually-or-with-triggers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">build your app manually or automatically</a> and then, when the build is successfully complete, you can <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build/after-a-build" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">send it to the Appcircle Distribute module</a> for the next steps.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1644 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild.jpg" alt="Build Configuration" width="1496" height="812" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild.jpg 1496w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild-300x163.jpg 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild-1030x559.jpg 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild-768x417.jpg 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild-705x383.jpg 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Autobuild-450x244.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1496px) 100vw, 1496px" /></a></p>
<h2>Deploying the App</h2>
<p>Actually, Appcircle also offers a more convenient testing distribution tool in the Distribute module. You can use Appcircle to share your apps with testers and preview them on the in-browser simulator/emulator without the need for third-party tools and separate tools for iOS and Android. You can get more information about the <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/distribute/create-or-select-a-distribution-profile" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Appcircle Distribute module here</a>.</p>
<p>Regardless, it is necessary to deploy the app to the Distribute module before sending it to the stores. Once the app is deployed from the Build module or uploaded directly if it was built externally, you can <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/store-submit/google-play#deploying-the-binary-from-the-distribute-module" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deploy Android apps</a> to the Upload to Google Play module and <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/store-submit/apple-app-store#deploying-the-binary-from-the-distribute-module" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deploy iOS apps</a> to the Upload to App Store Connect module.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1646 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy.png" alt="Deploying the App" width="1440" height="800" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy.png 1440w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy-300x167.png 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy-1030x572.png 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy-768x427.png 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy-705x392.png 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Deploy-450x250.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></p>
<h2>Uploading the App to Google Play Console Testing</h2>
<h3>Configuring Google Play Developer API Keys</h3>
<p>To send apps from Appcircle, you need to provide a Google Developer API key. To add a key, go to My Organization and press the &#8220;Add New&#8221; button (or the &#8220;Manage&#8221; button first if you have saved keys) next to the &#8220;Google Play Developer API Keys&#8221; item under the Connections section. The add key screen will be displayed.</p>
<p>Create a key in JSON format in the Google Developer Console and upload it here for API authentication. Please keep this file as it is the only copy and it will be required during every store submission for security purposes.</p>
<p>Then enter a user-friendly name to identify the key in the lists and press save. You can use this key in multiple apps without the need for key uploads at every upload process.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1647 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key.png" alt="Uploading the App to Google Play Console Testing" width="1440" height="800" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key.png 1440w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key-300x167.png 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key-1030x572.png 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key-768x427.png 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key-705x392.png 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Google-Developer-API-Key-450x250.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></p>
<h3>Sending the App to a Selected Track in Google Play Console Testing</h3>
<p>Once deployed, the binary will be available in the related store submission profile. Note that the profile name and icon is automatically fetched from the latest binary.</p>
<p>There are three actions available for each version in the version list. The first action displays a screen where you can initiate the store upload. The second action allows you to view the logs of the latest upload of that binary and the third action button allows you to delete that version.</p>
<p>When you press the &#8220;Upload to Google Play&#8221; button, the Send App screen is displayed. If you don&#8217;t have a previously saved key, you will be prompted to upload a Google Play Developer API Key.</p>
<p>If you have saved keys, you can select them from the list. With the next option, select a release track for your app.</p>
<p>When you press the &#8220;Send App&#8221; button, the binary will be uploaded to the Google Play Console.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1650 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console.png" alt="Sending the App to a Selected Track in Google Play Console Testing" width="1440" height="800" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console.png 1440w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console-300x167.png 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console-1030x572.png 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console-768x427.png 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console-705x392.png 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-Google-Play-Console-450x250.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></p>
<h2>Uploading the App to App Store Connect</h2>
<h3>Configuring App Store Connect API Keys and Credentials</h3>
<p>To upload an app to TestFlight, you also need to provide either:</p>
<ul>
<li>An App Store Connect API Key as a P8 file along with the key ID and the issuer ID. This is the recommended authentication method. Please refer to the following document for more information about the App Store Connect API key:<br />
<a href="https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appstoreconnectapi/creating_api_keys_for_app_store_connect_api" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appstoreconnectapi/creating_api_keys_for_app_store_connect_api</a></li>
</ul>
<p>or</p>
<ul>
<li>An Apple Developer ID with an app-specific password. Please refer to the following document for more information about the app-specific passwords: <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204397" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204397</a></li>
</ul>
<p>To send apps from Appcircle, you need to provide an App Store Connect API key. To add a key, go to My Organization and press the &#8220;Add New&#8221; button (or the &#8220;Manage&#8221; button first if you have saved keys) next to the &#8220;App Store Connect API Keys&#8221; item under the Connections section. The add key screen will be displayed.</p>
<p>Create an API key in App Store Connect and upload it here for API authentication. Please keep this file as it is the only copy and it will be required during every store submission for security purposes. With the next option, enter the key ID and the issuer ID that can be obtained from the keys section in App Store Connect.</p>
<p>Then enter a user-friendly name to identify the key in the lists and press save. You can use this key in multiple apps without the need for key uploads at every upload process.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1642 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key.png" alt="Uploading the App to App Store Connect" width="1440" height="861" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key.png 1440w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key-300x179.png 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key-1030x616.png 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key-768x459.png 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key-705x422.png 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/App-Store-Connect-API-Key-450x269.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></p>
<p>You can alternatively provide an Apple Developer ID to send apps from Appcircle, To add a new Apple ID, go to My Organization and press the &#8220;Add New&#8221; button (or the &#8220;Manage&#8221; button first if you have saved keys) next to the &#8220;Apple Developer IDs&#8221; item under the Connections section. The add key screen will be displayed.</p>
<p>Create an app-specific password on the Apple ID account page and enter it here along with the Apple ID email for authentication. With the next option, enter the application Apple ID that can be obtained from the App Information section in App Store Connect.</p>
<p>Then enter a user-friendly name to identify the credentials in the lists and press save. You can use this Apple ID in multiple apps without the need for reentering the credentials at every upload process.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1643 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID.png" alt="Add an Apple Developer ID" width="1440" height="800" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID.png 1440w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID-300x167.png 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID-1030x572.png 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID-768x427.png 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID-705x392.png 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Apple-Developer-ID-450x250.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></p>
<h3>Sending the App to App Store Connect for TestFlight and for Store Submission</h3>
<p>Once deployed, the binary will be available in the related store submission profile. Note that the profile name and icon is automatically fetched from the latest binary.</p>
<p>There are three actions available for each version in the version list. The first action displays a screen where you can initiate the store upload to the specified destination. The second action allows you to view the logs of the latest upload of that binary and the third action allows you to delete that version.</p>
<p>When you press the &#8220;Upload to App Store Connect&#8221; button, you will be prompted to select an authentication method: with an App Store Connect API Key or with an Apple Developer ID using an app-specific password.</p>
<p>When you select an option, if you don&#8217;t have a previously saved API key or Apple ID, you will be prompted to add one. If you have saved keys or IDs, you can select them from the list.</p>
<p>When you press the &#8220;Send App&#8221; button, the binary will be uploaded to App Store Connect.</p>
<p>Instead of using TestFlight or Google Play internal track you may use Appcirle&#8217;s Testing Distribution. For example, TestFlight has the following limitations:</p>
<p>&#8211; Each update must be approved by Apple.<br />
&#8211; TestFlight apps are only valid for 90 days, after which the developer must upload a new build to keep testing.<br />
&#8211; Testers need to download the Testflight App.<br />
&#8211; It only allows you to test iOS applications<br />
&#8211; You need to wait for processing the app to send release notes or other metadata.</p>
<p><a href="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1651 size-full" src="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect.png" alt="Sending the App to App Store Connect for TestFlight and for Store Submission" width="1440" height="800" srcset="https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect.png 1440w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect-300x167.png 300w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect-1030x572.png 1030w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect-768x427.png 768w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect-705x392.png 705w, https://ac.appcircle.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Send-to-App-Store-Connect-450x250.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>With Appcircle, you can automate the full lifecycle of your mobile app with continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous testing.</em></p>
<p><button class="call-to-action"><a href="https://appcircle.io/start" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start Using Appcircle Now</a></button></p>


Save time, reduce costs and increase developer productivity now.

How to Build and Deploy Apps to Google Play Console Testing and Apple TestFlight

Related Posts

Best Mobile Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) Tools

Automate App Store Deployment to App Store, Google Play, and Huawei App Gallery with Appcircle

Continuous Deployment for Android Apps: A Complete Guide with Appcircle

How Mobile DevOps Enhances iOS and Android Pipelines?

How to Build and Deploy Apps to Google Play Console Testing and Apple TestFlight

Related Posts

Best Mobile Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) Tools

Automate App Store Deployment to App Store, Google Play, and Huawei App Gallery with Appcircle

Continuous Deployment for Android Apps: A Complete Guide with Appcircle

How Mobile DevOps Enhances iOS and Android Pipelines?

Subscribe to Appcircle Circle