Updating a mobile app is essential to build trust among users that you are willing to improve the overall user experience and fix the app issues that arise from time to time. Android developers also pay heed to that matter and regularly publish their app updates on Play Store. Google has recently brought a welcome change for Android developers by allowing them to use a timed publishing approach for updates on Play Store.

However, Android developers must not mistake time publishing approach for scheduled updates. It may appear from Google’s support document that Android developers can schedule time for publishing updates to their apps, but that is certainly not the case.

What is this timed publishing approach?

With timed publishing, Android developers need not to bear the stress of working out when their Android app updates may go live. Android developers first need to push the new APK for their apps and then wait for a couple of hours, which is the normal time for processing. After this, they will get a “Go Live” button, pressing on which will make the update available for all users within minutes and at the same time.

So, Android developers now have the option to make an update available for all users at once, but they still have to press the “Go Live” button. There is no option to choose a specific time to schedule the publishing time for an update, which may seem from what Google has worded the update in their support docs.

Limits of Timed publishing approach

Both Android developers and users appear rejoicing over the new change, but they must note that timed publishing is only meant for updates to an existing app in Play Store, and not for publishing a new app.

However, Android developers also must understand that Google has not removed the processing waiting period for app updates, and they can process only one change at a time. Besides, they will not be able to revert changes, meaning they need to fix all the bugs before making their update live for everyone at once. An extra stint would also be needed at Android developers' end to ensure that all their servers are in sync with each other and perform load testing on your android application.

Benefits of timed publishing approach

• Google says that Android app updates will not take more than a few minutes to be available for all users after the processing wait period is over, but it certainly won’t take hours like in the past for the same.

• The new change makes it easier for Android developers to make app updates available to users, without worrying about when they may go live as they were previously used to after hitting the publish button.

• Android app users also don’t need to wonder when updates would be available to them.

• Once an app update is successfully processed, Android app developers can choose to hit the “Go Live” button sometime later to coincide it with a press release, ad campaign or other events pertinent to their apps.

Timed publishing for Android app updates is a brilliant new feature for Android developers to take advantage of. Many app developers, without a doubt, will take cognizance of it and feel encouraged to shift their focus to Android development services, since Android users exist in abundance. If you have any additional information to share about timed publishing of Android app updates, please mention them in the comment box below.