Android Open Beta Google Signup Guide

Android open beta and Google signup

Updated: Sunday, November 1, 2026 (America/Chicago).
In the app: Spaces → Links → Download the Android App (same words as Get Belong on your phone).
Tracks: #737, #746, #788.

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TL;DR

On your Android phone, tap Open the Android beta in Belong. The first time only, Google may ask you to sign in and tap Sign up on a card that says it will share your email address with the developer. Developer means Belong. That is not a waitlist and you are not creating a Firebase account. After that, tap Download and install. Google Play is still Pending.

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Summary

Belong’s Android app is in an open beta through Firebase App Distribution (Google’s pre–Play Store handout page). Anyone with the link can join; Google still requires a one-time signup so Belong knows which Google account may receive the build.

Members see calm copy before they leave Belong, an info control that explains Google’s email sentence, and two links:

Button	When to use	URL (Belong belongonthespectrum)
Open the Android beta	Everyday download (ongoing beta)	https://appdistribution.firebase.google.com/testerapps/1:207506875171:android:e578634c4bc21da2b96296
First time? Sign up with Google	Google says you have no apps yet, or you have not completed Sign up	https://appdistribution.firebase.google.com/i/be440f5ac9684d13

Play Store, App Store, and TestFlight stay Pending in Spaces → Links until real store listings exist.

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For members (plain language)

You do not need to know what “beta,” “Firebase,” or “pre-release” mean.

What you will see

1. In Belong, open Spaces → Links → Download the Android App.

2. Read the short Android section. It says the first visit may include Google Sign up. That is normal.

3. On your Android phone (not a computer), tap Open the Android beta.

4. If Google asks you to Sign in, use the Google account already on the phone (Gmail is fine).

5. If Google shows:

   Sign up to share your email address with the developer and get access.

   Developer = Belong on the Spectrum. Tap Sign up. You are not joining a waiting list. You are not signing up for a product called Firebase.

6. Tap Download, then Install. If Android warns about unknown apps, follow the steps in the guide (allow only for this install; you can turn it off again). Leave Play Protect on.

7. Next time, Open the Android beta should go straight to Download.

If Google says you have no apps yet

Tap First time? Sign up with Google, complete Sign up, then tap Open the Android beta again.

Official help from Google (optional)

• Get set up as a tester (Android)
• If the phone blocks the install
• Download apps from other sources (Pixel help)
• About Play Protect

Pictures

When a volunteer captures a real Google signup screen, crop out names, emails, and avatars before adding it under docs/wiki/images/android-beta-signup/. Do not use a generic sign-in screenshot or a drawn mockup.

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For organizers and developers (technical)

What “open beta” means here

• Open: Belong’s invite link has no email-domain restriction in Firebase (anyone with the link can self-register as a tester).
• Not frictionless: Google always runs first-time tester acceptance (sign-in + optional “share email with developer”). Belong cannot embed or skip that UI in the PWA.
• Not Play Store: android_app_download_url in Remote Config remains reserved for a future Play listing (#45).

Canonical URLs in code

Defined in lib/src/features/install/domain/phone_install_links.dart:

Constant	Purpose
PhoneInstallLinks.androidBeta	Durable testerapps URL for the Belong Android app (all future beta builds on that app id)
PhoneInstallLinks.androidBetaSignup	Invite link /i/be440f5ac9684d13 for first-time Google signup

Firebase Android app id (must match google-services.json / firebase_initializer.dart):

1:207506875171:android:e578634c4bc21da2b96296

Project: belongonthespectrum (project number 207506875171).

HTTP behavior (unsigned browser)

Both URLs redirect to accounts.google.com when the browser has no Google session, then return to App Distribution. That is expected; the in-app copy should say so.

UI implementation (#788)

• PhoneInstallGuideView: blurb + Wrap (filled button + info IconButton) + signup TextButton; details in _AndroidBetaMore.
• No webview, no in-app email field, no new routes.
• Widget tests: test/features/install/phone_install_guide_test.dart (CI manifest).

Verification commands

dart format --output=none --set-exit-if-changed -l 100 \
  lib/src/features/install/domain/phone_install_links.dart \
  lib/src/features/install/presentation/phone_install_guide_view.dart \
  test/features/install/phone_install_guide_test.dart
dart analyze lib/src/features/install test/features/install/phone_install_guide_test.dart
flutter test test/features/install/phone_install_guide_test.dart

When to rotate links

• Regenerate the invite link in Firebase Console → App Distribution → Invite links if it is revoked or tied to the wrong group.
• Update PhoneInstallLinks.androidBetaSignup and this wiki in the same PR.
• Do not change androidBeta unless the Firebase Android app id changes (new Firebase app registration).

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Related pages

• Get Belong on your phone — full member install guide (iPhone website, pending stores)
• Why we are not in the app stores yet
• QA and Beta Testing Guide — organizer distribution commands