How to Write Testing Instructions Testers Actually Follow
A simple template for closed testing instructions: what to test, daily tasks, how to report bugs, and what not to worry about. Includes a copy-paste example.
Short answer
Keep it to one screen: what the app does in one sentence, 2-4 tasks to try, how to report problems, and how long you need them. Rotate tasks over the 14 days so testers cover your main features, and say what’s unfinished so they don’t report it.
Why instructions matter
“Please test my app” gets one launch and nothing else. Specific tasks get testers through your core flows, produce feedback you can act on, and give you concrete evidence for the production access questionnaire, which asks how testers used your app.
The five parts
- One-sentence pitch: what the app does and who it’s for.
- Tasks: 2-4 concrete things to do, each one sentence.
- What to report: crashes, confusion, slow screens, and anything that surprised them.
- How to report: one channel (form, email, in-app button or check-in notes).
- Commitment: stay opted in for 14 days, open the app on most days.
Add a known issues line so testers don’t waste time on things you already know.
Copy-paste template
HabitDot helps you build one habit at a time with a daily check-off.
>
This week, please try: 1. Create a habit with a reminder time. 2. Check it off from the home-screen widget. 3. Change the reminder and see if the notification follows.
>
Report: crashes, anything confusing, anything slow. Use the feedback button in Settings.
>
Known issues: dark mode colours on the stats screen are unfinished.
>
Please stay opted in for 14 days and open the app on most days. Thank you!
Rotate tasks over 14 days
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | Onboarding, sign-up, first core action |
| 4-7 | Main features in depth, notifications |
| 8-11 | Edge cases: offline, rotation, low battery, permissions denied |
| 12-14 | Re-test fixes from updates, overall impressions |
Where to put them
- In the closed track’s description visible to testers, if you use one.
- In the message with the opt-in link.
- On TestersZone, in your app’s testing instructions field, which testers see before each check-in.
Next: collect in-app feedback and keep testers engaged.
Frequently asked questions
How long should instructions be?
Short enough to read on a phone in under a minute. If it scrolls more than one screen, cut it.
Should I tell testers what bugs I already know about?
Yes. A short known-issues line saves testers time and keeps reports focused on things you don’t know yet.
Should instructions change during the test?
Yes. Rotate tasks every few days so testers cover different features, and ask them to re-test fixes after each update.
Sources and how we keep this accurate
Policy facts are checked against Google's own documentation on the date shown above. Google can change requirements at any time, so confirm in your Play Console. Where we give advice or estimates rather than Google's rules, we say so. TestersZone is independent and not affiliated with Google. Drafts are AI-assisted and reviewed by our team.
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