Play Store - Internal app sharing does not work

Question

I am trying to upload my app using internal app sharing last 2 days, but no matter what I do, I cant make it work. This is what I did:

1. In Console I clicked on app -> release -> internal app sharing
2. I uploaded apk
3. I added myself into email list both UPLOADERS AND TESTERS (1st tab) and also EMAIL LISTS -> Downloaders (2nd tab)
4. I even enabled "Anyone you shared the link with can download"

Here is how it looks in the console.

APK was sucessfully uploaded, and then I copied the link and saved it to Google Keep.

Then I try to open the link on my phone, I click on link, it opens webpage displaying this and when I click on "OPEN IN PLAY STORE", it just takes me to Play Store, but there is only official version available (not the internal version I uploaded).

Am I doing anything wrong? I try almost 2 days to make a simply thing like this work, and it is very frustrating...

Answer 1

Nothing we can do right now - Internal app sharing seems to be totally broken at the moment. Great work Google

Answer 2

You need to turn on the option to use Internal App Sharing in the Google Play app on your phone.

Look under the heading How authorized testers turn on internal app sharing

Before authorized testers can download apps using internal app sharing, they need to turn on internal app sharing on their Google Play Store app.

1. Open the Google Play Store app Google Play.
2. Tap Menu Menu > Settings.
3. In the “About” section, tap the Play Store version 7 times.
4. After the Internal app sharing setting appears, tap the switch to turn on internal app sharing.
5. Tap Turn on.

(Note that in 4. above, the option may appear under the "User Controls" section)