I shared a public TestFlight URL with a user, but they said the app didn’t appear in TestFlight—it just asked them for a redeem code instead.
I thought public links didn’t require any kind of TestFlight invitation code and would allow users to join directly. Is there a situation where a redeem code is still needed for public links? Or could this be due to a mistake in the invitation process or a device issue?
Would appreciate any clarification on how public TestFlight links work and when (if ever) a redeem code is involved.
Hey there! With my experience, public TestFlight links are typically designed to avoid the need for a TestFlight invitation code. You just share the link, and users should be able to tap on it, open TestFlight, and install the app straight away. If the user is being asked for a code, it’s likely they might have clicked on a private invite link by mistake, or maybe even an expired one. So, double-check that you’re sharing the correct public TestFlight link. Another thing to keep in mind is that device settings or even App Store region settings can sometimes cause these hiccups. It might help to ask the user to restart their device or ensure that their TestFlight app is up to date.
To wrap it up, when using a public TestFlight link, a TestFlight invitation code should never be required!
I see what might be happening! In my experience, a TestFlight invitation code usually only pops up with private or manual invites where Apple sends out a code for users to redeem. Public links are designed to streamline things so users can join without needing any code. So if your user is being asked for one, it seems like there’s a mix-up between the public and private invite types. My suggestion would be to resend the public TestFlight link from your developer dashboard, and double-check that the public invitation is still active, sometimes they get revoked or expire. This often clears things up!
So, in short: Make sure the link you shared is indeed public, and everything should go smoothly without needing that TestFlight invitation code.
I ran into a similar situation before. When you share a TestFlight invitation code via a public link, users shouldn’t be prompted for one. It should be a direct join process. However, there are a couple of things that could cause the redeem code request. For instance, if the app has been removed from public testing or the tester limit has been reached, the link could revert to asking for a redeem code. It might also be a device issue, sometimes network issues or an outdated iOS version can cause the link not to open correctly. In that case, you can ask the user to open TestFlight directly and enter the TestFlight invitation code if you’ve got one, or just resend the link.
Always a good idea to check the link status in App Store Connect to make sure it’s still active and functional. Hope that helps!