How to manage a phased release from your iPhone
A phased release rolls your update out over 7 days to people with automatic updates. If something looks wrong, you can pause it; when you're confident, you can release it to everyone. Here is how that works and how to do it from your phone.
How phased release works on the App Store
This is Apple's behaviour, the same whichever tool you use. Once the version is released, Apple offers it to a growing random share of people who have automatic updates turned on:
| Day | Share of users |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | 1% |
| Day 2 | 2% |
| Day 3 | 5% |
| Day 4 | 10% |
| Day 5 | 20% |
| Day 6 | 50% |
| Day 7 | 100% |
- Anyone can still download the update by hand from the App Store at any time. The phases only apply to automatic updates.
- You can pause for up to 30 days in total, as often as you like. When you resume, the rollout picks up on the day it stopped.
- You can release to all users at any time once the version is Ready for Distribution. After that there is no way back to a phased rollout for this version.
Turn it on before release
Phased release is an option on the version in App Store Connect on the web: open the version, find Phased Release for Automatic Updates and choose "Release update over 7-day period using phased release", then save. Apple offers it while the version is being prepared, in review or Pending Developer Release. Shipcue shows whether it's on, and says so when you confirm a release.
Control it from Shipcue
-
Find the version
A version in a phased release shows its progress in the Shipcue feed, for example "Phased 5% · Day 3/7". Tap it to open the version.
-
Pause
Tap Pause Phased Release and confirm. The version stays at its current share of automatic updates. People can still update by hand.
-
Resume
Tap Resume Phased Release. Resuming can be reversed by pausing again, so there is no extra dialog.
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Release to all users
Tap Release to All Users, confirm and use Face ID. Automatic updates then go to everyone. This can't be undone, so Shipcue asks twice.
Good to know. These controls need an App Manager or Admin key and Shipcue Pro. Shipcue checks the live state at Apple before each change. It doesn't send a push for each day's step; open the app to see where the rollout is.
Questions
Does pausing stop people from getting the update?
Only through automatic updates. Anyone who opens the App Store and taps Update still gets the new version.
How long can I pause a phased release?
Apple allows up to 30 days of pause in total, with no limit on how many times you pause.
Can I go back to a phased rollout after releasing to all?
Not for the same version. Apple's advice is to make the version unavailable and submit a new update with phased release turned on.
Can I turn on phased release from Shipcue?
No. Turn it on for the version in App Store Connect before you release. Shipcue then lets you pause, resume or release to all.
Related
Keep an eye on every rollout
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