App Store Connect for TestFlight beta programs.

What TestFlight program owners specifically struggle with

• The 90-day build expiry. TestFlight builds become unusable 90 days after upload. For slow-moving beta programs (enterprise customers, infrequent testers), you end up uploading "keep-alive" builds just to prevent expiry — and tracking which groups are on which build is a mess.
• Beta App Review delays external rollout. The first time you distribute a new build version to external testers, Apple reviews it (typically a day or two). Missing the required Beta App Information fields — demo account, beta description, contact info — turns a one-day wait into a rejection and another round trip.
• Internal vs external tester management splits. Internal testers get builds instantly; external testers wait for Beta Review. Keeping feature branches separated across the two groups, and communicating which group is testing what, requires discipline the web UI doesn't help with.
• Tester invitations and onboarding. Adding testers one at a time to each group, emailing invitations, tracking who accepted, and removing lapsed testers is a job. Public TestFlight links help but give up email data collection.
• Feedback triage is scattered. Crash reports appear in App Store Connect's Crashes screen. Screenshot feedback appears in TestFlight. What To Test notes live per build. Cross-referencing "which tester reported this on which build" is multi-tab work.

How AppConsul helps TestFlight program owners

TestFlight as a first-class sidebar

TestFlight isn't buried under a secondary menu in AppConsul — it's a top-level surface per app. You see internal groups, external groups, current distributed build per group, days until expiry, and Beta App Review status at a glance.

Build expiry warnings

AppConsul flags builds within two weeks of expiry and surfaces the latest non-expired build per group. When a build is about to expire, the UI nudges you toward uploading a replacement rather than waiting until testers complain the app won't launch.

Guided Flow for Set Up TestFlight Beta

One of the five Guided Flows walks through TestFlight group creation, adding testers, attaching the build you just archived from Xcode, writing tester-facing What to Test notes, and submitting to Beta App Review if this is the first distribution of a new build version to externals. Good for onboarding someone who's never run a TestFlight beta before.

Beta App Information always in view

The required fields for Beta App Review — demo account credentials, beta app description, contact name/email/phone, beta app feedback email, and review notes — are first-class editable text in the TestFlight panel, not buried in a submission modal. Keep them current between releases instead of rediscovering them every time.

Internal and external groups side by side

Internal and external groups live in the same TestFlight surface with different badges. You can assign a build to internals only (e.g. a pre-Beta- Review dev build), or promote it to externals once it's stable. Tester counts, group membership, and active-build assignment are all editable in place.

Tester import via CSV or email list

Bulk-add testers by pasting email addresses or importing a CSV. Bulk-remove lapsed testers. Generate and copy a public TestFlight link per group for large-scale open betas without collecting emails up front.

Build history and release-notes per build

Every build uploaded to App Store Connect shows up in AppConsul's build list with processing status, expiry date, distributed-to-groups list, crash count, and feedback count. Click a build to drill into tester feedback and What to Test notes per locale.

Recommended TestFlight workflow

1. CI uploads the build. Xcode Cloud, Fastlane, EAS, or your CI uploads the archive to App Store Connect.
2. AppConsul notifies when build finishes processing.
3. TestFlight panel → assign build to internal group. Instant distribution, no review.
4. Internal testers verify the build. AppConsul shows feedback and crashes as they come in.
5. Promote build to external group(s). If this is a new build version, submit to Beta App Review from AppConsul. Apple reviews (typically a day or two); AppConsul notifies on transition.
6. External testers receive the build. Invitations email out automatically for new testers; existing testers get an update notification.
7. Monitor feedback and crashes. Triage via the TestFlight panel. Crashes link to App Store Connect's deeper diagnostics.
8. Build approaches 90-day expiry. AppConsul flags it. Repeat the loop with a fresh build.

For teams mixing TestFlight with production release, the manage versions, builds, and TestFlight guide covers the handover from beta to submitted-for-review.

Tools you'll use most

• Version and build number helper — to keep TestFlight build numbers monotonically increasing, which Apple requires.
• Submission checklist — the production-submission version, adapted for the eventual App Store release after TestFlight.
• API key validator — when the TestFlight-owning team member changes, validate the new Team Key before you depend on it.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between internal and external TestFlight testers?

Internal testers are App Store Connect team members (up to 100) — builds distribute instantly, no review. External testers are anyone outside the team (up to 10,000 per app) — first build of a new version goes through Beta App Review.

How does AppConsul handle the 90-day build expiry?

TestFlight panel flags builds near expiry and surfaces the latest non-expired build per group. When you upload a replacement, AppConsul walks you through group reassignment.

Can AppConsul send invitations to external testers?

Yes. Add testers by email or CSV, assign to groups, send invitations. Public TestFlight links supported for large-scale open beta without email collection.

Where does tester feedback show up?

In the TestFlight panel alongside the build that produced it. Screenshot feedback and crash reports are listed per tester per build. Crash logs link to App Store Connect's deeper Crashes view.

Does AppConsul help with Beta App Review?

Yes. Beta App Information fields (demo account, description, contact, review notes) are first-class editable text. Submit to Beta Review from the TestFlight panel.

Can I run TestFlight for multiple apps in one AppConsul install?

Yes. Every app has its own TestFlight surface. On Pro, unlimited apps means unlimited TestFlight programs. See multi-app studios for the portfolio view.