Finding 12 people with a smartwatch to test your watch face or Wear OS app is nearly impossible. The companion app strategy lets you use regular Android phone testers instead, and still get production access for your Wear OS app.
Google Play requires 12 active testers for 14 consecutive days before you can publish any app publicly. For regular Android apps this is manageable. For Wear OS apps and watch faces, it is a serious obstacle. Most people do not own a smartwatch. Among those who do, many have devices that are incompatible with your app. Wear OS apps also require installation through the watch's Play Store, which is a more involved process that discourages casual testers. Even if you convince friends and family to help, keeping 12 of them actively using the app on their watches for a full two weeks is extremely unreliable.
This is the problem that the companion app strategy solves. Instead of searching for smartwatch owners, you create a phone version of your app and use regular Android testers. It is faster, more reliable, and a standard practice used by major Wear OS developers.
A companion app is a regular Android phone application that shares the same package name as your Wear OS app or watch face. It installs on any Android phone and acts as a phone-side hub for your watch app. A typical companion app includes a button to open the watch app's Play Store listing, settings or customization options for the watch face, and basic information about the app.
The important part is the shared package name. Because both the phone app and the Wear OS app use the same package name, Google Play treats them as a single listing with multiple device targets. This means that testers who use the companion app on their phone count toward the closed testing requirement for your entire listing, including the Wear OS version.
In short: 12 people test the companion app on their phones for 14 days, and you unlock production access for both the phone app and your Wear OS app or watch face. No smartwatch required.
Five steps from generating the companion app to going live on the Play Store.
Use our free Companion App Generator tool. Enter your Wear OS app's package name, app name, and a short description. The tool creates an AAB file in seconds. The companion app will have the same package name as your watch app, which is the key to making this strategy work.
Open the free generatorThe generated AAB file needs to be signed with the same keystore (.jks file) you used for your Wear OS app. This is critical because Google Play requires both the phone and watch versions to share the same signing key. The signing process involves a few steps, but our full guide walks you through it with screenshots and includes a free AAB signing tool.
See the signing walkthrough in our full guideUpload the signed companion app AAB to Google Play Console. It goes under the same app listing as your Wear OS app. Set up a closed testing track and generate your testing link. The companion app installs on any Android phone, so your testers do not need a smartwatch.
Recruit 12 Android phone testers using any method. Because the companion app is a regular phone app, you have access to the full pool of Android users. Use the Testers Community free app, Reddit communities, or any other approach to find testers who will stay active for 14 consecutive days.
See all methods to find testersAfter 12 testers have used the companion app for 14 consecutive days, you meet Google's closed testing requirement. Apply for production access through Google Play Console. Once approved, both the phone companion app and your Wear OS app or watch face go live on the Play Store for anyone to download.
Your testers only need an Android phone. No searching for people who own a Samsung Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, or any other Wear OS device.
Because the companion app shares the same package name, completing closed testing unlocks production access for your entire listing. Both the phone and Wear OS versions go live.
A companion app gives you a phone-side presence on the Play Store. Users searching on their phone can discover your watch app through the companion, improving your visibility and download numbers.
Major watch face and Wear OS developers ship companion apps alongside their watch apps. It is a well-established pattern that Google Play fully supports and encourages.
Enter your package name and app details. Get a ready-to-sign AAB file in seconds. No coding required.
Open generatorDetailed walkthrough with screenshots covering companion app generation, AAB signing, and Google Play Console setup.
Read the guide5 proven methods to get testers for your companion app, including the free Testers Community app and Reddit communities.
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I reached out for help and quickly got 25 testers. Just 14 days later, I submitted my game for production release, and Google approved it on the first try. Huge thanks to the community!
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My app is available on Google Play Store thanks to Testers Community, and the support is amazing - very fast replies - and it was a smooth experience for me.
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I got my app rejected five times and finally, with the help of Testers Community, today I got production access permission from Google. All thanks to Testers Community and their team. The app is super simple and transparent.
I used the paid service and I got production access. You also get a PDF with real feedback and they downloaded my app 100 times. Also you get feedback on your developer account. Really good service. 10/10!
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Ready to publish your Wear OS app?
Generate your companion app AAB in seconds, find testers using any of the free methods, and get production access for your Wear OS app without needing smartwatch owners.
