Distribute Installable Sample App to Users

Important

Visual Studio App Center is scheduled for retirement on March 31, 2025. While you can continue to use Visual Studio App Center until it is fully retired, there are several recommended alternatives that you may consider migrating to.

Learn more about support timelines and alternatives.

Prerequisites

Choose a build to distribute

There are two ways you can distribute the app. If you have already completed the Build tutorial and built the sample app:

  1. Navigate to the Build service in App Center and click on settings from your latest successful build.

  2. Turn Distribute builds on and select a collaborator group. You can edit groups and add new groups in the Distribute service.

  3. Click Save and allow the branch to build again.

Another way is to upload your own .apk file: Optional: From the Distribute service, click New Group at the top of the page to add people to test the app or collaborate with you.

  1. Click Distribute new release at the top of the page.

  2. Under Upload your release, navigate to the app-release.apk file that was generated when you signed the APK. Click Next.

  3. Leave Release notes blank. Click Next.

  4. Under Who are you distributing this release to? select the distribution group. Click Next.

  5. Click Distribute.

Install the sample app

  1. You, and all other specified testers, should receive an email with a link to download the sample app.

  2. Open the link and follow the instructions to register your device with App Center, and the app will begin installing.