Overview
In-app updates help you notify users of the recent updates by configuring app update alerts and ensure they experience the latest versions of your app. It allows your users to gain more control over their app updates and let them try new features as and when they are released.
When an update is available for your app, you can configure an in-app update pop-up, enabling them to update the app and install the latest version from the respective app store. You can configure app updates alerts for iOS, Android, and other platforms from within the console. Further, you can also configure these in-app updates for your independently-hosted apps as well.
Note: If the user chooses 'DO NOT ASK AGAIN', the update pop-up will not appear for them again.
Templates and types of in-app update alerts
There are three update alerts templates that you can configure in Apptics, i.e., Android in-app alerts, Apptics native alerts, and Apptics custom alerts. Under each update alert template, you can configure different types of in-app update alerts.
Android in-app alerts
This update alert template is provided by Google and is available only for Android applications with Android OS version 5.0 and above. You can configure three types of update alerts:
- Flexible updates - This alert type allows the user to continue using the app while the update gets installed in the background.
- Immediate update - This alert types provides the option to go to Play Store, install the update, and then restart the app to continue using it. This alert type is used for updates that are critical to continue using the app.
- Force update - This alert type is an additional option provided by Apptics. You can use this alert type for shipping critical updates that will impact the your app's performance. These updates must be installed immediately to continue using the app.
Apptics native alerts
The alert template is provided by Apptics and follows the native platform's UI. You can configure four types of alerts as explained in the custom alerts.
Apptics custom alerts
The alert template's UI can be customized using Apptics' SDK APIs to suit your needs.
Under the Apptics native alerts and Apptics custom alerts, you can configure 4 types of alerts:
Ignorable - This alert type provides options for the user to ignore the update, get reminded after a few days, or update the app immediately.
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You can show this update pop up when the update has enhancements but doesn't affect the app's performance experience.
Remind me - This alert types provides the option to either get reminded a few days later or update the app immediately.
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You can show this update pop up when the update is important but is can be installed after a few more days.
Force update - This alert type forces the user to install the latest version to continue using the app.
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You can show this update pop up time-critical updates that can impact user experience, app performance, or bring security vulnerability.
Non-supported OS - This alert type tells the user needs to update to the latest OS version to continue using the app.
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You can show this pop up when the user using an outdated app version or when your app doesn't support a particular OS version, etc.
For Android:
- Navigate to Grow > In-app updates.
- Select the package name for which you want to configure an update alert and click Configure to start configuring the in-app updates.
- Choose the latest app version that you want to promote and the minimum SDK version required to update the app.
- You can download the sample file for the update alert content for your reference and then download the language.json file in which you can update and upload the content for the update alert message.
- Once you make the necessary changes in the content for the update alert message, click Upload and upload the language.json file.
- Click on the Preview alert message to get a preview of how the alert message will appear on the user screen.
- Choose the alert type from the three given options, i.e., Android in-app alerts, Apptics custom alerts, or Apptics native alerts.
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- Configure the app versions for which you want to show the update alert.
- Configure when to remind the users of the update again (applicable only for Ignorable and Remind Me alerts).
Note: You cannot set the reminder days for Force update or OS update, as these are critical updates and need to be installed immediately for an uninterrupted app experience.
- For non-supported OS, you can configure the message to be shown in the app UI for the user to take appropriate actions.
- These app update alerts are usually distributed via Google Play Store. If you wish to distribute your in-app updates via any custom URL, click the Yes box and provide the download URL.
- Click Publish update to save your configuration and a confirmation popup will appear.
- Click Confirm & save and your configuration will be saved. Once the configuration is saved, you will be redirected to the In-app updates dashboard.
For iOS:
- Navigate to Grow > In-app updates.
- Select the bundle ID for which you want to configure an update alert and click Configure to start configuring the in-app updates.
- Choose the latest app version that you want to promote and the deployment target, i.e., the minimum OS version required to update the app.
- You can download the sample file for the update alert content for your reference and then download the language.json file in which you can update and upload the content for the update alert message.
- Once you make the necessary changes in the content for the update alert message, click Upload and upload the language.json file.
- Choose the alert type from the given options, i.e., Apptics custom alerts and Apptics native alerts.
- Configure the app versions for which you want to show the update alert.
- Configure when to remind the users of the update again (applicable only for Ignorable and Remind Me alerts).
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Note: You cannot set the reminder days for Force update and OS update as these are critical updates and need to be installed immediately for an uninterrupted app experience.
- For Non-supported OS, you can configure the messages to be shown in the app UI for the user to take appropriate actions.
- In-app updates are distributed via the App Store. If you wish to distribute your in-app updates via any custom URL, click the Yes box and provide the Store URL.
- Click Publish update to save your configuration and a confirmation popup will appear.
- Click Confirm & save and your configuration will be saved. Once the configuration is saved, you will be redirected to the In-app updates dashboard.
In-app updates dashboard
The in-app updates dashboard gives you an overview of the number of devices using each app version (app version distribution) and displays data about the update alerts you have configured for the selected application ID. Once the update popup is shown to users, you can view stats like the number of impressions, downloads, etc. for the individual update alert you have configured.
- If you want to disable the configuration for the selected application id, click on the Enable/Disable toggle switch.
- Click on the individual update alert you have configured for the application ID for more details and stats like the number of downloads and impressions for the update alert. The stats include downloads, impressions, number of devices who wanted to get reminded later, etc.
- Click on View detailed report to drill down the stats based on app versions, device version, device model, and country.