Short answer: Do not restart blindly. Keep one closed test running, make sure 12 testers stay opted in for 14 continuous days, then apply again. If the counter reset, something in the test changed, so rebuild the tester list and the timeline.
If your Google Play closed test counter reset, the practical move is to stop changing the test, keep one eligible closed test active, and rebuild the 14 day run with 12 opted in testers. Google Play says new personal accounts need a closed test with at least 12 opted in testers for 14 days before production access.
The part people get wrong is thinking the counter is just about time. It is not. The requirement is tied to continuous opt in status, and Google Play can require more testing if testers were not engaged or if the group did not stay valid through the full period.
If your counter reset, first check whether you changed the thing Google is measuring. Common resets happen when a tester opts out, when you drop below 12 opted in testers, when you switch tester groups, or when you replace the closed track in a way that breaks continuity. Google Play’s help page makes clear that the 14 days have to be continuous, and that testers on internal testing do not count toward the closed testing requirement.
Here is the response that usually saves the least time.
Keep the same closed test running.
Make sure at least 12 people are opted in and stay opted in.
Do not move those people into internal testing and assume the clock still counts, because internal testing is separate and can support up to 100 testers, but it does not satisfy the closed test requirement.
Wait for a fresh continuous 14 day period after the test is stable.
Apply for production access only after the group has stayed valid the entire time.
The inconvenient part is that a reset usually means the old days do not carry over. If one tester drops out, or if the group stops being a valid closed test, you should assume the safe path is to start counting again from the next day the full requirement is met. Google Play’s documentation says the testers must be opted in continuously for the last 14 days before you can apply, which is why a brief dip below the threshold is treated as a problem, not a cosmetic warning.
Do not try to “fix” a reset by moving testers to internal testing. Internal testing is useful for quick QA and can include up to 100 testers, but it is not part of the closed testing requirement for production access. If your closed test collapses, internal testing can help you keep working, but it will not restore the production clock.
Do not assume the dashboard counter tells the whole story. Google Play’s own help text says the review can look at whether testers were engaged and whether the test stayed valid. That means a group can look fine on paper and still get pushed back if the testers were inactive or the program was unstable.
A clean recovery plan looks like this. Export your current tester list, confirm who is still opted in, remove the people who never actually joined, then replace them with reliable testers before you start the next 14 day run. If you can get 15 to 20 willing testers, you have a buffer against one or two people dropping off. That recommendation is useful because the requirement is measured against real opt in status, not promises.
If you are unsure whether the reset came from a track change, compare the date when the last stable tester group formed with the date you submitted the production request. The important date is the date the last full, continuous 12 tester group was in place, not the date you first created the app or the date you first uploaded a build. Google Play’s wording is about the last 14 continuous days of opted in testers before production access.
If you need a second place to validate your testing plan, Apple TestFlight works differently. Apple says TestFlight supports up to 10,000 external testers, and its beta testing flow does not use the same 14 day production gate that Google Play uses. That does not solve the Google problem, but it helps explain why advice from iOS communities often does not match Google Play’s rules.
If you are coordinating testers across both platforms, keep them separate. A tester in a Google Play internal test does not count toward closed testing, and Apple TestFlight testers do not count for Google Play at all. Treat each platform as its own ledger, with its own opt in state, its own build, and its own approval path.
If your closed test counter reset after you applied for production, wait for the review result before making another change. Google Play says it can review the request in about 7 days or less, though it may take longer, and it may ask you to continue testing if the app is not ready. Changing the test while the request is under review can make it harder to understand what actually failed.
The safe sequence is simple: stabilize the closed test, keep 12 opted in testers for 14 continuous days, then submit production access once. If it is rejected, read the reason, do not guess, and fix the exact break in continuity before restarting the clock. That is slower than hoping the counter will catch up on its own, but it is the path Google Play documents.
If you are organizing testers and want a structured way to keep track of who is opted in, who is active, and when the 14 day window starts over, use a tracker that lives on property you control, like the one at https://devconnectplatform.com?ref=devto. Keep the tracker simple: name, email, opt in date, current status, and last confirmed activity. The point is to see a reset early, not after you have already lost the window.
The main rule is this: once the counter resets, do not chase the old number. Rebuild a valid closed test and let the new 14 day period complete cleanly. That is the part that gets people unstuck.
Frequently asked
Does internal testing count toward the closed test requirement
No. Google Play says internal testing can have up to 100 testers, but it does not count toward the closed testing requirement for production access.
What if I still have 12 testers, but some are not opening the app
Google Play can still ask for more testing if testers were not engaged. Keep the group stable and active, not just opted in on paper.
Can I switch testers around during the 14 day period
You can manage testers, but if the change causes you to drop below 12 opted in testers or breaks continuity, assume the clock has reset and start a fresh 14 day run.
How many testers should I recruit so one person dropping out does not break the test
Google Play requires 12, but a larger buffer is safer. A practical target is 15 to 20 willing testers so one or two dropouts do not break continuity.
Does TestFlight have the same 14 day requirement
No. Apple’s TestFlight supports up to 10,000 external testers, and its beta process is different from Google Play’s closed test gate.
Sources
- App testing requirements for new personal developer accounts
- Set up an open, closed, or internal test
- TestFlight
- TestFlight overview
- Invite external testers
Originally published at devconnectplatform.com, where it is kept up to date.
