Beta release notes template

Beta release notes tell your beta testers what changed in a build and where to look. Clear notes mean testers re-check the right things and stop reporting bugs you already fixed. Copy the template, and let your AI beta tester verify every "fixed" line before you send it.

Who it’s for

  • Teams shipping new builds to beta testers every week or two
  • Mobile developers distributing builds through TestFlight or a Play testing track
  • Product managers who write the changelog
  • Anyone whose beta testers keep reporting already-fixed bugs

Updated 2026-10-19.

What beta release notes are for

Release notes for a beta are a working document, not marketing. They help beta testers answer: what is new to try, what was fixed and should be re-checked, what is still broken (so they don't report it again), and what you want them to focus on in this build. Keep the tone plain and the list scannable.

The full template

[Product] beta: build [version / number], [date]

HIGHLIGHTS
  [One or two sentences on the most important change in this build]

NEW
  - [Feature]: [what it does, where to find it]
  - [Feature]: [what it does, where to find it]

CHANGED
  - [What changed and why, if behavior is different from the last build]

FIXED
  - [Bug title as testers reported it] ([report ID or reporter, optional])
  - [Bug title]

KNOWN ISSUES (please don't report these again)
  - [Issue], workaround: [workaround or "none yet"]
  - [Issue]

PLEASE TEST
  1. [Specific scenario to try in this build]
  2. [Specific scenario]

HOW TO UPDATE
  [Refresh / reinstall / TestFlight update / clear cache, if needed]

FEEDBACK
  Bugs: [link]   Questions: [channel]
  Thank you to [names or "everyone"] for this round's reports.

Short version for TestFlight "What to Test" or Play testing notes

Store testing notes have limited space, so keep only what testers need on the device.

Build [number]
New: [feature, where to find it]
Fixed: [top 2-3 fixes in testers' words]
Known: [issue to ignore]
Please test: [one or two scenarios]
Feedback: shake / screenshot to send, or [link]

Hotfix build note

[Product] beta: hotfix [version], [date]
Fixes [bug title] from build [previous version].
Nothing else changed. Please update and re-check: [scenario].

How to write beta release notes, step by step

  1. List every change merged since the last beta build.
  2. Sort each into New, Changed or Fixed; drop purely internal changes.
  3. Re-test every fix on the actual beta build before listing it.
  4. Copy open, confirmed bugs into Known issues, with workarounds.
  5. Pick two to five scenarios for Please test, focused on what changed.
  6. Rewrite anything in internal jargon into what testers will see.
  7. Send the notes with the build, in the same channel every time.

How to fill in each section

  • Highlights: the one thing you most want testers to notice.
  • New: say where to find each feature, not just its name. Testers can't test what they can't find.
  • Changed: anything that behaves differently from the last build, even if intended. Otherwise testers report it as a bug.
  • Fixed: use the wording testers used so they recognize their bug. Only list fixes verified in this build.
  • Known issues: the most useful section for your inbox. Every listed issue is a duplicate report avoided.
  • Please test: concrete scenarios get far better feedback than "test everything".

Example (fictional): a habit-tracking web app

Streakly beta: build 0.9.4, Tuesday

HIGHLIGHTS  Reminders now follow your time zone.
NEW         - Weekly summary: Settings > Notifications > Weekly summary
CHANGED     - Check-in circle now needs a long press on mobile, to avoid
              accidental taps
FIXED       - Checking in twice in one day counted as a 2-day streak
            - Settings page cut off on small phones
KNOWN       - Reminder emails can arrive up to 10 minutes late (no workaround yet)
PLEASE TEST 1. Change your time zone and confirm the next reminder time
            2. Long-press check-in on your phone three days in a row

What to put first

Order matters because many beta testers read only the top. Lead with anything that affects their data or blocks a core flow (a fixed crash, a changed login), then new features you want tested, then smaller fixes. Known issues that affect many testers belong near the top too.

Common mistakes

  • Listing unverified fixes: if a "fixed" bug is still there, testers stop trusting the notes. A bug from re-testing might look like this:
TITLE: Settings: page still cut off on small phones in build 0.9.4
SEVERITY: Minor      FREQUENCY: Always
ENVIRONMENT: /settings, iPhone SE (375px), Safari, build 0.9.4
STEPS: 1. Log in. 2. Open Settings. 3. Scroll to the bottom.
EXPECTED: "Delete account" button fully visible (listed as fixed).
ACTUAL: Last section cut off; button unreachable.
  • Internal jargon: ticket numbers and component names mean nothing to testers.
  • No known issues section: you get the same report from every tester.
  • Hiding behavior changes: an unmentioned intentional change looks like a regression.
  • Too long: if the notes don't fit on one screen, link the details.

Checking notes manually vs with an AI beta tester

You can re-test every line yourself, but it's easy to skip under release pressure. An AI beta tester (betatest.ing) takes the notes and the beta build link, re-tests each fix, tries each new feature where the notes say to find it, checks known issues are described accurately and runs a regression pass on core flows. Mismatches come back with steps, an annotated screenshot and a recording. It won't tell you whether testers find the notes clear or the changes worthwhile; that still comes from people.

The test task

What you send your AI beta tester. It works out the steps and tests like a real user.

Verify these beta release notes against the new build at [BUILD URL] before I send them to my beta testers: [YOUR RELEASE NOTES]. For each item under NEW, find the feature where the notes say it is and try it like a user. For each item under FIXED, try to reproduce the original bug and say whether it is really fixed. For each KNOWN ISSUE, check whether it still happens and whether the description and workaround are accurate. Then run a 10-minute regression pass on the main flows (signup or login, the core feature, settings) on desktop and mobile to catch anything this build broke. Log every mismatch or new bug as a finding with steps, an annotated screenshot and a recording. End with a table: each note item, verified / not verified, and a corrected version of the release notes.

Fill in your details

Here, or later in the chat with your tester.

  • [BUILD URL] The link to the beta build: staging URL, TestFlight or Play testing link.
  • [YOUR RELEASE NOTES] Paste your draft notes, or at least the new, fixed and known-issue lists.

What the AI beta tester checks

  • Every new feature, at the place the notes say to find it
  • Every fixed bug, by trying to reproduce it again
  • Known issues: still present, and described accurately
  • A quick regression pass on the core flows
  • Desktop and mobile layouts on the new build
  • Console errors and failed requests introduced by the build

What you get

  • A verified / not verified table for every line of the notes
  • Regressions and mismatches as bug reports with steps and annotated screenshots
  • Recordings of anything that fails
  • A corrected version of your release notes, ready to send

How to run it with betatest.ing

  1. Add your app as a project with the beta build link and a test login.
  2. Paste your draft release notes into the task above.
  3. Fix the build or correct the notes based on the verification table.
  4. Send the notes to beta testers and schedule the same check for the next build.

Tips

  • Write fixed items in the testers' own words so they recognise their reports.
  • Always include a known issues section, even if it has one line.
  • Put the update instructions in every release note; many testers stay on old builds.
  • Thank testers by name when their report led to a fix, if they are happy to be named.

Beta release notes template: FAQ

What should beta release notes include?

The build number and date, highlights, new features with where to find them, changed behaviour, fixed bugs, known issues with workarounds, what you want testers to focus on, how to update, and where to send feedback.

How are beta release notes different from public release notes?

Beta notes are written for testers: they list known issues openly, ask for specific tests, and reference bug reports. Public release notes focus on benefits for all users and usually leave out internal details.

How often should I send beta release notes?

With every build you give to beta testers. Short notes for every build are more useful than long notes for every third one, because testers need to know what changed before they test.

Should I list every bug fix?

List every fix that beta testers reported or could notice. Group small internal fixes into one line such as "stability improvements" so the list stays readable.

Can an AI beta tester check my release notes?

Yes. Send the notes and the build link, and it re-tests every fixed bug, tries every new feature and checks the known issues, then returns a verified / not verified table with evidence for anything that does not match.

Where do I put release notes in TestFlight?

TestFlight has a "What to Test" field for each build, which testers see in the TestFlight app. It has limited space, so use the short version: new features, top fixes, known issues and one or two scenarios. Link a longer page if you need more detail.

Should beta release notes mention who reported a bug?

It's a nice touch if testers are happy to be named, because it shows their reports lead to fixes. Ask first or use first names only. If you'd rather not name anyone, a general thank-you at the end works too.

What is the difference between a changelog and release notes?

A changelog is usually a complete, technical list of every change, often generated from commits. Release notes are written for the people using the build and only include what affects them. For beta testers, release notes with known issues and test requests are more useful than a raw changelog.

Related beta testing guides

  • Regression testing after deploys — Regression testing checks that what worked yesterday still works after today’s change. For small teams shipping often, a short regression suite run after every deploy prevents most "it used to work" bugs from reaching users.
  • Smoke testing — A smoke test is a short, shallow test that answers one question: is this build working well enough to use and test further? It takes minutes, and it is the first thing to run after any deploy.
  • How to run a beta test — A beta test works when it has a goal, the right testers, a way to collect bugs and a clear finish line. Here is a practical step-by-step process you can follow for a website, web app or mobile app.
  • Bug report template — A good bug report lets a developer reproduce the problem on the first try. This template has every field that matters and nothing extra. Give it to your beta testers, or ask your AI beta tester to file every bug in exactly this format.
  • iOS app beta testing — TestFlight is how almost every iOS app gets into beta testers' hands before the App Store. This guide explains how TestFlight testing works, what to check on iPhone that differs from Android, and how to run an AI beta test on a real iPhone from an uploaded .ipa build.
  • Free tool: Beta tester recruitment generator — An email, a social post, a Reddit post and a landing page blurb to recruit beta testers.

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