How to Test Mobile Application Manually

Internet penetration to this extent was only made possible by mobile phones. More than half of internet users present use mobile phones to connect, engage in social media and consume a hell lot of content.

From simple calendars to cutting-edge AI-based tools, apps reach out to a plethora of audiences with unimaginable functionalities and features.

But all those successful apps that have made millions and emerged highly successful have been able to offer an exceptional user experience.

But how?

Is it because they have spent so much time and money on their product?

Yes, of course that’s true. But they did something smarter. They tested their app and found most of the issues users were likely to encounter, and they rectified those before deployment.

Software testing is the process of making the app robust by finishing out all the issues. It can be done in two ways – manually and in an automated fashion using various tools by skilled automation testers.

Let’s have a look at how to test a mobile app manually.

Advantages of Manual Testing

• First of all, cost is an important advantage of manual testing. One or two testers manually navigating through the software will not cost much when compared to setting up frameworks and deploying multiple technically skilled testers
• Human emotions cannot be evaluated by a tool. The emotional engagement of the app can only be done by a tester who can review the app from a user perspective
• UI elements can be tested using a tool. But when it comes to usability and aesthetics, manual testing is the best way
• A manual testing process can be performed irrespective of the environment. When it comes to test automation there are many limitations that need to be overcome and specifications to consider before carrying it out.
• Automated tests need a lot of preparation and planning. On the other hand, testing types like Adhoc and exploratory testing do not require much planning and preparation
• Even though the automation framework does not require human intervention, scripting is done by humans and often it can go wrong and create havoc in testing. Manual testing does not have that limitation.
• Certain functionalities can only be tested manually. For instance, human gestures can never be imitated by a tool even though you can check its code level aspect. It can be easily tested manually with practically no effort at all.

Manual Testing Process

1) Requirement gathering and analysis

Requirement gathering is the building block of any testing procedure. The complete requirements that are required for the tests will be gathered in this phase.

After gathering what’s required, test cases will be designed, required test conditions will be found, and the environment required to commence the tests will also be created.

There are instances where the requirements are not in sync with the project or might be gathered incorrectly. So, requirement analysis will also be done to make sure that there is nothing wrong with the requirements that have been gathered.

2) Test plan creation

A good test plan is crucial. Having a test plan that’s well defined in a document will make sure that the objectives that are required for carrying out the tests can be clearly defined. Also, the test plan helps in

• Reviewing test basis
• Identifying test conditions
• Writing test cases and designing test environments
• Helps in defining the scope for testing

3) Test case creation and execution

Based on the use cases, test cases and scenarios can be created along with the data that is required for carrying out the tests.

Test suites are a cardinal factor for efficient test execution. A test suite is simply a collection of test cases that are related to each other.

4) Defect Logging

Every defect, despite its importance or triviality, has to be logged. Those who possess maximum risk have to be grouped so that root cause analysis can be carried out.

5) Bug Fix

It’s a tester’s duty to coordinate the defect fix. Once an issue has been fixed, retesting needs to be carried out to make sure that the fix is rightly done.

Manual Testing Process for Mobile App

1) Have a definite plan

Even though less planning is one of the fortes of manual tests, there needs to be a direction for testers, and for that, a plan needs to be there. A test plan, first of all, helps you assess the progress of the tests.

A test plan helps in the correct and right testing intervention. It can serve as a manual for the effort that you need to spare for the testing process. The test plan also should mention the possible pitfalls in the process. More importantly, the test plan should have all the required details about the resources needed for testing.

2) Test equally on real devices and emulators

It’s not possible to test an app on real devices. However, it’s recommended to test the app on the most common devices (both leading and acclaimed ones) on Android and iOS.

Testing using real devices will ensure that real scenarios and conditions are in play. However, it’s not possible to buy all the devices. In this situation, it’s better to rely on a cloud-based environment. By doing so, you can simulate any type of device to test your app.

3) Pick complex use cases

When it comes to complex scenarios – for instance, in games, where multiple gestures, (such as tapping, swiping, etc.) and buttons have to be used at the same time.

In this type of situation, there can be endless combinations that need to be tested to ensure that nothing goes wrong after deployment.

In short, in many cases, manual testing is the only way forward.

4) Exploratory and Adhoc testing. The beauty and difference it makes

Adhoc and exploratory testing are both types of manual testing processes. In ad hoc testing, the tester is fully aware of the functioning of the software system. He picks up random test cases and executes them manually. Owing to the randomness, adhoc testing is also called monkey testing.

Exploratory testing is where the testers get to be more creative. They will explore the software randomly, and on the go, they will learn more about the software. By using this method, random bugs can be traced easily. Exploratory testing is still considered one of the most effective testing methods at present.

5) Write better click paths

Each use case needs to be studied thoroughly, and the click for each of them needs to be defined very clearly in the documentation of tests.

By doing so, you will get to optimize tests and enable faster execution times if the same kinds of tests are run on multiple devices.

Conclusion

Manual testing and test automation have their own advantages and disadvantages. The wise strategy would be to mix both in correct proportion and test effectively.

The manual testing process has to be effective to get the most out of the testing process. We truly hope the suggestions that we have given in this blog can help you in doing so.

We have testers who have years of experience in carrying out manual testing or test automation. If you wish for assistance, we can help you in carrying out the testing process and ensure that you end up with a robust product that’s fully equipped for competition.