Why you should recruit 15 testers, not 12

October 14, 2026

Google's requirement for new personal developer accounts is 12 testers opted in for 14 continuous days. The key word is continuous: a tester who opts out on day 9 doesn't count, and you can't swap them in later without restarting their clock.

In practice a few testers always drop: phones get reset, people uninstall by accident, life happens. If you start with exactly 12, a single drop-out pushes your finish date back by up to two weeks.

Start 15–16 testers on the same day. That buffer absorbs two or three drop-outs, and starting together (a cohort) means everyone's 14 days end at the same time.

Genuine Testers helps by:

• warning testers before they're removed, so fewer drop out by accident;
• suggesting reliable replacements the moment someone leaves;
• showing a day-by-day grid so you spot at-risk testers early.