Release app updates with staged rollouts

You can release an app update to production and test tracks using a staged rollout. With a staged rollout, your update reaches only a percentage of your users, which you can increase over time.

Staged rollouts can only be used for app updates, not when publishing an app for the first time.

User eligibility and targeting

• New and existing users are eligible to receive updates from staged rollouts and are chosen at random for each new release rollout.
• When you halt and then resume the rollout of your release, you'll be affecting the same set of users.
• When you do a staged rollout of a new release before completing the rollout of the previous release, the new release will use the same group of users as the previous release (depending on the percentage of the rollout).
• Your app update will be available to the percentage of users in your staged rollout, but it may take time for the full group to receive the update.
• Users won't be notified if they receive a version of your app in a staged rollout.
• If you choose specific countries for your staged rollout, the upgrade will be limited to users with Google Play accounts in those locations.

Set up and maintain a staged rollout

Select staged rollout percentage

When you roll out a release, you select the percentage of users who will receive your rollout. For more information, go to prepare and roll out a release.

Keep in mind, your app's staged rollout percentage won't increase automatically. To include a larger percentage of users in a staged rollout, follow the instructions below.

Release a staged rollout to specific countries

When you're releasing an app using a staged rollout, you can start with a limited set of countries.

• By default, your staged rollout country availability matches the locations you've set up for your app's production track.
• Once a staged rollout has started, you can't remove any countries.

To set up country targeting:

1. Open Play Console and go to the Production page if you want to update a production release. If your app is in testing, go to the Open testing or Closed testing page.
   • If you can’t see or access the Production page, make sure that you have permission to manage production releases.
2. Select the Releases tab.
3. For the release you want to update, click Edit.
4. If you don’t want to make any other changes to your release, you don’t need to make any changes in the “Prepare” section on the Create production release page. You can click Review release at the bottom of your screen to move on to the “Review and release” section.
5. Scroll to the "Staged rollout" section.
6. Enter a rollout percentage.
7. Under "Country availability," select Select specific countries/regions, check the box next to any country/region you want your app to be available in as part of your staged rollout. "Country availability" options are available only when updating a production release.
8. Click Start rollout to production.

Increase your staged rollout percentage

1. Open Play Console and go to the Production page if you want to update a production release. If your app is in testing, go to the Open testing or Closed testing page.
   • If you can’t see or access the Production page, make sure you have permission to manage production releases.
2. Select the Releases tab.
3. Under the release you want to update, select Manage rollout > Update rollout.
4. Update the rollout percentage.
5. Click Confirm update.

Halt a staged rollout

If you discover an issue, you can halt a staged rollout to help minimize the number of users who experience the issue with your app.

When you halt a staged rollout, no additional users will receive the app version in your existing staged rollout. Users who already received the app version in your staged rollout version will remain on that version.

Halt using the Play Console website

1. Open Play Console and go to the Production page if you want to update a production release. If your app is in testing, go to the Open testing or Closed testing page.
   • If you can’t see or access the Production page, make sure that you have permission to manage production releases.
2. Select the Releases tab.
3. Under the release you want to halt, select Manage rollout > Halt rollout.

Resume a staged rollout

If you find your existing Android App Bundle doesn't have any issues, you can resume a halted staged rollout.

Using the Play Console website

1. Open Play Console and go to the Production page if you want to update a production release. If your app is in testing, go to the Open testing or Closed testing page.
   • If you can’t see or access the Production page, make sure you have permission to manage production releases.
2. Select the Releases tab.
3. Under the release you want to halt, select Manage rollout > Resume rollout.
4. Update the rollout percentage.
5. Click Confirm update.

Using the Play Console app

1. Open the Play Console app .
2. Select an app.
3. On the "Active releases" card, tap the track for the release you want to resume.
4. Tap Staged rollout > Resume rollout > Resume.

Tip: If you find an issue with your existing app bundle, create and roll out a new release with a fixed app bundle.

Tips for live staged rollouts

• If your app update requires changes to the store listing, we recommend updating your store listing after your release rolls out to 100% of users.
• During a staged rollout, it's a good idea to closely monitor crash reports and user feedback. Users receiving the staged rollout can leave public reviews on Google Play. Learn how to view your ratings and reviews with Play Console.

Related content

• Learn more about releasing updates progressively with staged rollouts in Play Academy.