Guide

Install on Android

Getting the Bosca alpha onto your Android phone via Firebase App Distribution — including every scary-looking warning and what to do about it.

🤖 Android setup (Firebase App Distribution)

Android alpha builds are delivered through Google's Firebase App Distribution. You'll accept an invite with your Google account, then install Bosca directly.

Find your invitation email
Look for an email titled something like "You've been invited to test Bosca for Android" from Firebase App Distribution. It goes to the Google account address you gave us — check spam if it's missing.
Accept the invite
Open the email on your Android phone and tap Get started. Sign in with the same Google account the invite was sent to, and accept the invitation.
Download the build
You'll see the Bosca Expenses test build with a Download button. Tap it. (Firebase may offer its App Tester companion app — installing it is optional but recommended, as it notifies you when new builds arrive.)
Allow the install — and don't be alarmed by the warnings
Because this build comes from us rather than the Play Store, Android puts up some scary-looking prompts: Chrome may say the file "might be harmful" (tap Download anyway), you may need to switch on Allow from this source, and Google Play Protect may say it has blocked the app — tap More details, then Install anyway. All of this is normal for pre-release apps and disappears once Bosca is on the Play Store. On Samsung phones, if you see "Auto Blocker prevents installation", turn Auto Blocker off under Settings → Security and Privacy, then install again.
Open Bosca and sign in
Launch Bosca and sign in with your Google account.
Scan your first receipt
Tap the Scan button in the middle of the bottom bar, allow camera access, and photograph any receipt. Bosca reads the merchant, date, amount and VAT automatically — check what it got right and wrong. (Want to see the whole scan flow in pictures? It's in the product guide.)

The full install, screen by screen

Step through with the arrows (or swipe on your phone) — click any screenshot to view it full size. Slides 6, 11 and 12 show the warnings from step 4, so you'll know them when you see them.

Firebase App Distribution invitation email: you've been invited to test Bosca for Android — **1 · The invitation email**"You've been invited to test Bosca for Android", sent by Firebase App Distribution — Google's official service for delivering test builds. Open it on your Android phone.

The invitation email's how-to-start-testing steps with the Get started button — **2 · Get started**The email lists the steps itself. Tap *Get started*.

Firebase page accepting the invitation with a Google account and a consent checkbox — **3 · Accept as your Google account**Check it's the account we invited (use *Switch* if not), then tick the consent box…

Consent box ticked and the Accept invitation button enabled — **4 · Accept the invitation**…and tap *Accept invitation*.

Bosca releases page showing the latest build with a Download button — **5 · Download the build**The releases page shows the latest version with our notes underneath. Tap *Download*.

Chrome warning that the APK file might be harmful, with the Download anyway option — **6 · "File might be harmful"**Chrome says this about *any* app downloaded outside the Play Store — it's expected. Tap *Download anyway*.

File downloaded banner with the Open button — **7 · Open the download**When the download finishes, tap *Open*.

Android asking which app to open the file with — choose Package installer — **8 · Package installer**If Android asks what to open it with, choose *Package installer*.

Android dialog asking do you want to install this app — **9 · Confirm**"Do you want to install this app?" — tap *Install*.

Bosca installing progress dialog — **10 · Installing…**A few seconds.

Google Play Protect dialog: app blocked to protect your device, with a More details link — **11 · The Play Protect check**Play Protect blocks apps from developers it hasn't seen before — and Bosca isn't on the Play Store yet, so that's us. Tap *More details*.

Play Protect dialog expanded, revealing the Install anyway option — **12 · Install anyway**The expanded dialog reveals *Install anyway* — tap it.

App installed dialog with the Open button — **13 · Installed**That's the last hurdle. Tap *Open*.

Bosca first launch welcome screen with the Sign In button — **14 · Welcome to Bosca**Sign in with your Google account and you're testing. Bosca is on your home screen like any other app.

Updates: when we ship a new Android build you'll get an email (and a notification, if you installed App Tester). Download and install over the top — your data is kept.

More guides

Browse all the guides — or send us anything odd at support@boscaexpenses.com.