iOS App Phase Release in 1% result in huge number of updates

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iOS App Phase Release in 1% result in huge number of updates

I recently release a new major version of an existing app with phase release.

We tested with the last major version 9.x.x with patch update in phase release before, and the updates on 1% on first day is only around 10k, which is normal as our app total installation is around 1M

However when we release 10.0.0 with phase release, the updates on 1% on first day is 40k, and on third day which should be 5%, the update is 110k, which is much more than expected, and the Product Page View is 10K, which means that 100k is by auto update but not update on store manually.

How do Apple count that 1% of user? Why just two different versions would result in such a huge difference? Do changing Major version affect the phase release base?

Thank you.

iPhone 15

Posted on Dec 8, 2023 1:20 AM

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Answer 1

etresoft

Level 9

57,002 points

Dec 8, 2023 8:31 AM in response to TSSSY

TSSSY wrote:

How do Apple count that 1% of user?

Randomly.

Why just two different versions would result in such a huge difference? Do changing Major version affect the phase release base?

The important thing to keep in mind is that it isn't a phased "release" at all. The release is 100%, immediate. It is the update notifications that are dribbled out. These days, people are positively addicted to updates. There are lots of 3rd party update services. They aren't going to respect your phased release. Once any of those notice that your app version is bumped, they broadcast it.

Why are you doing a phased release anyway? What's the logic? If you are concerned about bugs in a major new version, then you should probably doing TestFlight instead. Did I mention how people are obsessed with updates? I'm willing to bet your beta subscriptions would go at a faster rate than your phased release.

With 1M users, my recommendation is to put much more effort into internal testing (truly a lost art) and then do beta releases and phased releases all for show, just to drive "buzz". This is how the world works today.

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Answer 2

MrHoffman

Level 10

148,521 points

Dec 8, 2023 8:25 AM in response to TSSSY

This is the first discussion of a phased release I can recall around here.

For reference: Release a version update in phases - Update your app - App Store Connect - Help - Apple Developer

Per that, manual downloads can happen at any time, so it’s certainly conceivable that users learned of the update and have manually downloaded it.

Past that, you’ll have to ask Apple App Store Connect Support that.

You can pause the release if you choose: App Store Version Phased Releases | Apple Developer Documentation

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iOS App Phase Release in 1% result in huge number of updates

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