If you have joined the Facebook beta program on Android and you have some questions, you are in the right place. In this article, we are going to answer some of the most asked questions about beta testing, and for Facebook in particular.
Let's start with the first one:
How do I keep up with the updates?
You can get automatic updates for the app through Google Play, or manually download and install APKs from APK Mirror. If you want to see also some detailed info about changes and new features, you can regularly check our TestingCatalog news for update reports and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
How do I report bugs?
Feel free to read our guide explaining "How to report bugs for Facebook beta on Android", which is applicable for the alpha too.
How can I submit a feature request?
If you have suggestions about a specific Facebook feature, you can fill in their "Give us feedback about a Facebook feature" form.
How often will I see new features to test?
They typically release new features once a month, but often only to a small subset of users. If you do see new features, know that they are in active development and might not work perfectly.
Why don't you roll out new features to everyone in the beta at once? When will I get access to them?
Releasing new features to small groups of beta testers allows addressing specific issues and bugs as they arise. The order and way that they test new features depend on a variety of things that change rapidly, so it is impossible to give ETAs. For your information, turning on auto-updates to receive the latest versions as soon as they arrive is a great way to increase the chances that you'll see new features earlier.
A feature I liked disappeared! Where did it go?
They deactivate features sometimes to test specific bugs. You can help to figure out what isn't working by sending a report. Also, some of these features may return in the future but may be completely different in terms of looks and functionality.
What will I get in return for bug reporting?
Each month there are posts that are being published on the Facebook Beta for Android page with special thanks to bug hunters, who have found some pretty nasty ones and made very detailed reports about them. So, it is not about the number of issues found, but more about consistency and staying in touch with the developers to help them sort them out.
Update: Facebook Beta page on facebook is not available anymore.
