Mobile App Testing Checklist – Points You Should Not Miss

Every mobile application, irrespective of its category, has a common goal of creating an impeccable user experience. App users want to see something new and innovative. And even though the great user experience is the most important, it only comes with quality.  To make your mobile app work efficiently, make sure these mobile app testing checklists are followed.

Checklist for Mobile App Testing

To ensure quality, mobile app testing is essential. In this blog, we will discuss a step-by-step mobile app testing checklist. 

1.Test your app for cross-platform Compatibility

Your Android application may run fine on Oreo (Android 10), but the same might not be true with Marshmallow(Android 6.0). This is where cross-platform testing comes into the picture. 

You should test your application on all the possible combinations of operating systems, screen sizes and resolutions that the app users might be using. This ensures that the app will behave uniformly across all devices.

2.Test your app against all possible settings and configurations

A mobile app interacts with many features – both in-app and mobile device based. The app should be compatible with all the possible settings and configurations. These may include screen resolution, orientation, different versions of operating systems, camera, motion sensor, etc. 

3.Base your test cases on the type of app you are testing

A mobile app generally falls under three categories – native, web, and hybrid.

i. Web app testing :

Optimized for mobile browsing and server-driven, the web apps should be tested for UI to ensure all the app elements are aligned for different screens and resolutions. Since the mobile apps have limited storage space and power supply, test for memory and battery usage. Avoid excessive usage of JavaScript  – this might drain the mobile’s battery.

ii. Native and Hybrid app testing :

Although driven by different technologies, native and hybrid apps share similar functionality and hence, their approach to testing. Functional testing is the key player here  – run functional tests to validate key aspects such as screen orientation, gestures, compatibility, connectivity, performance, and interruptions such as calls and push notifications.

4.Test the GUI of your app thoroughly

Front-end testing validates the features available on the UI of an app – testers check the functionality of the mobile app’s GUI. This includes testing the menus, dropdowns, navigation buttons, and gestures, forms, and other features used by the end user. 

Front-end testing will ensure that the app under test will perform on different browsers and devices. Perform unit, regression, performance, integration, and acceptance tests on the app for comprehensive front-end testing.

5.Test your app for back-end/database-related functionalities

Back-end or database testing deals with the server side of the mobile app. Today, most mobile apps are API-driven. Data is populated via REST APIs displayed in the UI. Use a proxy to track the app’s requests and responses. Perform SQL, performance, and security testing to prevent deadlock, data loss, etc.

6.Test your app for all positive and negative test cases around storage/memory in use

Mobile users want to have all their essential apps on the go. However, the devices do not have enough storage to fulfill the need of installing high-resolution apps. 

Keep an eye on the app size with every release. You should not be in a situation where the end-user might not download the app only because of its large size.

7.Test your app on all types of networks that the users may use on it

Run the app on different network conditions to measure its performance under weak signal and data transition. To test for network performance, consider the following aspects:

i. Jitters
Occurs during a delay in data collection. As the data travels in packets, these packets may disperse while moving from the sender to the receiver. Hence, the data becomes scrambled, and this is called jitters. In such cases, the app should notify the user to either resend the data or wait for the system to respond.

ii. Packet Loss
During complete packet loss, ensure the app resends the data request or notify the end-user. Rather than keeping the user waiting, the app should prompt the app user to try again.

iii. Network Speed and Type
Network speeds vary from time to time – ideally, this should not hamper the user experience. Check the app on different networks and speeds. Validate how the app behaves when the mobile app moves from mobile data to WiFi and vice versa.

8.Accessibility and Usability Testing

• Accessibility: Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation).

Usability: Validate intuitive navigation, clear labeling, error handling, and overall user experience.

9.Test your mobile app for the user journeys – the path a real user might take while using your app

A good mobile app flow is the one that needs no explanation and can be understood on the first go. The user flow can vary based on how the app responds to different devices and operating systems.

For example, to log in to an app, a user may choose from fingerprint, face identification, or login via username and password. Validate all the possible capabilities to ensure the best possible digital experience to the users.

Now, Testsigma supports inspection as well as execution of your mobile test cases without any kind of setup at your end.

10.Make sure your app is safe and secure for the users

Due to the diverse operating system components, mobile app security can look quite intimidating. However, you can follow these common steps to mobile app security.

i. Secure the source code and database

ii. Perform Input Validation

iii. Perform Penetration Testing

iv. Use Cryptography

v. Prevent Client Side Injection

vi. Implement HTTPS – SSL/TLS Security Layer

vii. Protect Local Storage Data

Mobile App Automation

Automation can increase the productivity of your testing process by manifolds. Tools like Testsigma enable you to create custom IDEs, in-house scripts, and cloud-testing frameworks to detect bugs and errors.

What do you think about this mobile app testing checklist? Would you like to add a point to this list? If yes, which one? At Testsigma, we have a team of highly experienced QA engineers who are well-versed with the latest tools and technologies to take care of all your mobile app testing needs. Want to see the ROI of mobile app testing with Testsigma?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Mobile Application Testing Include?

Mobile application testing involves analyzing mobile apps across multiple devices for visual appeal, consistency, usability, compatibility, responsiveness, performance, security, and user experience. It’s crucial to ensure that the app meets quality standards and delivers a seamless experience. Testsigma’s low-code automation platform can help streamline the mobile application testing process and ensure high-quality outcomes.

How Do You Conduct a Mobile App Test?

To conduct a mobile application test, create a list of the agenda of your application covering the requirements across aspects like usability, functionality, consistency, and visual appeal, and then conduct testing either manually or automated, ensuring all these components are satisfied.

What are the Basic checks of Mobile Testing?

Network functionality, OS compatibility, Screen size and display resolution, UX and UI, and Content relevance are a few basics of mobile testing.

What is the main checklist point of mobile app testing?

The main checklist point for mobile app testing is to ensure that the app functions flawlessly across all devices, platforms, and network conditions, providing a seamless user experience. This involves comprehensive testing for compatibility, performance, security, and usability.