TestFlight Guide for Beginners: Step by Step
Updated: October 2026
TestFlight is Apple’s official tool for sharing beta builds of your iOS app with testers before the App Store release. You upload a build, invite people, and they install it on their iPhone through the TestFlight app and send feedback.
What do you need before you start?
- An Apple Developer Program membership
- Your app created in App Store Connect
- Xcode, to archive and upload the build
- A build that runs correctly on a real iPhone
Step 1: Create the app in App Store Connect
Add a new app with its name, bundle ID, language and SKU. The bundle ID must match the one in your Xcode project.
Step 2: Archive and upload your build
In Xcode, choose a generic iOS device, then Product, then Archive. When the archive finishes, use Distribute App and upload it to App Store Connect.
Step 3: Wait for processing
After the upload, App Store Connect processes the build. This can take a few minutes or longer. You will see it in the TestFlight tab when it is ready. If it asks about export compliance (encryption), answer the questions so the build becomes available to testers.
Step 4: Add testers
TestFlight has two kinds of testers:
- Internal testers: people who have a role in your App Store Connect team. You can add up to 100. They can usually test a build without Beta App Review.
- External testers: anyone you invite by email or public link. You can add up to 10,000. The first build of a version usually needs Beta App Review before external testers can install it.
Step 5: Write “What to Test”
Tell testers which features are new and what you want them to check. A clear note gets much better feedback than a blank field.
Step 6: Testers install the build
Each tester installs the TestFlight app from the App Store, accepts your invitation, and installs your build. They can send feedback and screenshots from inside TestFlight.
Step 7: Collect feedback and fix bugs
Read the feedback, fix the problems and upload a new build. Remember that TestFlight builds expire after 90 days, so upload a fresh one if testing takes long.
Checklist: a good TestFlight round
- The build was tested by you on a real iPhone first
- Export compliance questions are answered
- “What to Test” is written
- A test account is ready, if the app has a login
- Your backend is live
- Testers know how to send feedback
The common problem: no one tests properly
TestFlight gives you a way to distribute your app, but it does not give you testers. Many developers invite a few friends and receive little useful feedback. If you want a documented test, RealAppTest can be your tester: invite us in TestFlight and we test your app by hand on a real iPhone, then send you a detailed report.
Frequently asked questions
Is TestFlight free?
It is included with the Apple Developer Program.
Do testers need a paid account?
No. Testers only need an Apple ID and the TestFlight app.
Is TestFlight the same as App Review?
No. TestFlight is for beta testing. The App Store release has its own review.