Link to Release on install.appcenter.ms

[scottschmitz]

Describe the solution you'd like I would like to be able to generate links that launch directly to a release on install.appcenter.ms. It appears as though currently you can only generate links to all releases.

Describe alternatives you've considered Currently we can link to the list of all releases for an app. You can also by getting the link of the download button send a direct link to an apk. However it would be nice to be able to generate a link that launches to a release where you can view release notes

[ahdbilal]

This is at the top of the feature backlog and the team will pick this up soon. I will post an update here( with an ETA) when the team starts working on it.

[ieduardogf]

@ahdbilal Do we have any plan to tackle this issue soon? Thanks!

[noahsark769]

Should note that we're still eagerly waiting for this feature - currently there's no way to copy the install link to a specific build

[ahdbilal]

This is still at the top of the feature backlog but has been pushed back as the team had to undertake some urgent and critical backend work. I can post an update here when the team starts working on it.

[spacesuitdiver]

This is under distribution group settings, what even does this do?

[raybarrera]

Current UX is pretty bad without this functionality. Sharing builds with other teams is very inconvenient compared to HockeyApp.

[jacob-israel-turner]

This is under distribution group settings, what even does this do?

@spacesuitdiver This is unrelated - AFAIK it's been in the distribution group settings for ages. I believe, when enabled, it just allows downloading from the distribution link even when the consumer is not authenticated as a member of the distribution group.

@ahdbilal Any updates on ETA? We came up with a solution a while ago that posted download links to a Github PR so users can download it from there, but unfortunately the iOS link is very intermittent. The ability to land a consumer on a page within AppCenter to download would make our flow loads smoother and more consistent.

[lordzsolt]

@ahdbilal This has been on the "top of the feature backlog" for a year. 🙄 🙄 🙄 Any plans to change it?

I try not to be rude in general, but the current UX is straight up dogshit. You cannot access the install page from a Release URL. And you cannot access the Release URL from the Install page.

Our QA have to go through the release notes or look at the time the build was sent to identify which version they need to install. The only reason we're still using AppCenter is because HockeyApp was working so well before. But I'm adding "Migrate away from AppCenter" to the "top of my feature backlog".

[WahooChrisUroda]

@ahdbilal @botatoes @patniko My organisation really needs this feature also. It would be greatly appreciated if you can update here with the status of this feature, thanks.

[pankajgupta1]

Hi there! Any update about this? @ahdbilal

• Generate links that launch directly to a release on install.appcenter.ms
• The linked page should only contain the one version of the release (to which the link was generated)
• Public links should be shareable with anyone and shouldn't require one to login into appcenter.

We are really waiting for this old hockeyapp feature for some time already. Could you provide some info about the state of this requirement. Thanks :)

Hi, is there any update on this. I really need this for my organisation.

[pankajgupta1]

If there can be a unique public url, which always of latest build download, then that will be great.

[lordzsolt]

If there can be a unique public url, which always of latest build download, then that will be great.

If you are using Fastlane, there's a variable with this.

After running appcenter_upload you can do:

app_center_information = Actions.lane_context[Actions::SharedValues::APPCENTER_BUILD_INFORMATION]
download_url = app_center_information['install_url']

This is a link with the following prefix: itms-services://?action=download-manifest..... This is a publically accessible link. If you open it on your iPhone, you should get a dialog to install that version.

[pankajgupta1]

If there can be a unique public url, which always of latest build download, then that will be great.

If you are using Fastlane, there's a variable with this.

After running appcenter_upload you can do:

app_center_information = Actions.lane_context[Actions::SharedValues::APPCENTER_BUILD_INFORMATION]
download_url = app_center_information['install_url']

This is a link with the following prefix: itms-services://?action=download-manifest..... This is a publically accessible link. If you open it on your iPhone, you should get a dialog to install that version.

thanks @lordzsolt for the reply. But I am not using fastlane.

[sparkym3]

using the appcenter commands you can also do something like this to get the info, filling in the app name and release id

appcenter distribute releases show --app --release-id

[ghost]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[MKuckert]

bump to prevent a bot from closing this feature request. Should a human decide...

[ghost]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[noahsark769]

As far as I know this doesn't exist yet? It would definitely me a useful feature

[dk185213]

why is this so hard to implement? appcenter distribute release etc..... can just return the link ?

[ghost]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[lordzsolt]

Sigh, stale bot....

[stianjensen]

Here before stale bot pops in again to just remind you that this feature is heavily awaited! Our team has to consider finding a new way to distribute releases internally now due to the lack of direct links (also there's no link to a list for just one distribution group, which could have been a sort-of band-aid solution).

[ghost]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[stianjensen]

Still relevant.

[cybvitthal]

Copying the link of Download button under Distribute/Releases, its working for me to get exact APK directly without going to any group page and download.

[joshfriend]

The download button link is only valid for 24h after being generated. You can see it has a query parameter in the URL like se=2022-04-28T14%3A03%3A05Z which is the time at which the link expires.

[xwartz]

Any update?

[cybvitthal]

For now, we created dedicated distribution group and releasing apk to it. Its accessible via public link

[ghost]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[stianjensen]

Still relevant 👌

[cvetomirst]

Still relevant!

[mickey35vn]

Any update?

[evertoncunha]

still relevant

[microsoft-github-policy-service[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[stianjensen]

Hi!

[VillSkog]

I give up on this one, Microsoft are ridiculous. Unsuscribing.

[microsoft-github-policy-service[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[microsoft-github-policy-service[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days. It will be closed if no further activity occurs within 15 days of this comment.

[aknabi]

Rather than addressing the problem or resolution status Microsoft's out is to mark it "stale"... Microsoft doesn't really inspire confidence in their ability to manage software development.

[philliptharris]

My team needs this. We need to be able to link our release to a specific build in AppCenter.

[Maksym5732005]

This would be great to have a link to the apk file. Why it is not done for so long?

[ghost]

I'm having an issue where the app center only displays the latest release, upon trying to get the other ones by adding /releases/{release_id} I get the message "not found", meanwhile I know the release existed by checking one of the endpoints on the API, anyone knows what's up with this?