Quarterly release tracks

Starting in May 2022, TestRail introduced quarterly release bundles to deliver new features and enhancements on a predictable schedule. Ahead of each release, you’ll receive updates and resources designed to help your team prepare and integrate these improvements into your workflows.

For TestRail Cloud customers, we offer three release tracks to ensure you can choose the timing that best suits your needs:

• Early Access Track: Be among the first to explore new features as soon as they are ready, giving your team early access to innovations and fixes and the opportunity to provide feedback before broader rollout.

• Default Track: The standard option for most customers, your instance will automatically receive updates after additional testing and refinements during the final stages of the release cycle. No action is needed to remain on this track.

• Deferred Track: Prioritize stability by deferring updates for an additional interval after their release on the Default track. This option allows extra time for features to mature and ensures maximum reliability.

Choose when you get new features

Not all teams are ready to adopt new features at the same time. That’s why TestRail provides different release tracks, giving you the flexibility to decide when updates are applied to your instance. Each track is designed to suit different needs, balancing access to the most recent updates with stability and readiness.

Early Access track

The Early Access track is perfect for teams eager to explore new features and fixes as soon as they are available. This track ensures you’re among the first to experience and provide feedback on the latest updates, helping shape the future of TestRail. Early Access features are thoroughly tested but may receive adjustments based on broader feedback before they reach other tracks.

Default track

The Default track is the standard option for most TestRail Cloud customers. Updates in this track are released after the Early Access track, allowing time for additional refinements based on feedback and performance monitoring. This ensures the highest confidence and reliability in the new features you receive. If you haven’t opted for a different track, this is when you can expect updates.

To preview new features before they are released on the Default track, you can sign up for a trial instance and request an upgrade to the Early Access track.

Deferred track

The Deferred track is ideal for teams that prioritize stability and prefer to defer upgrades. Updates for this track are released after an additional interval, following the Default track. This approach ensures features have undergone extended real-world validation, offering the most stable version of TestRail updates. During this time, features introduced on the Default track also become available for TestRail Server customers.

How to change your release track

Frequently Asked Questions

1. As a user/administrator, how will I know which track my instance is on? If it will be listed somewhere on the instance site, will that be visible only on future upgrades? Will that be visible from my Customer Portal, or only within the instance itself?

TestRail users and administrators can quickly identify their release track and version number directly within their TestRail instance. This information is accessible in several convenient locations:

• Login Page: The release track and version number are displayed on the login page of your TestRail instance.
• Help & Feedback Menu: Navigate to Help & Feedback > About TestRail within your instance to view this information.
• Administration Area: Administrators can find the release track and version details in the Info section of the Administration area.

For clarity, the release track and version number are presented in a specific format. For example (using arbitrary numbers):

• Early Access Release – 8.0.1 Early Access (1030)
• Default Release – 8.0.6 Default (1029)
• Deferred Release – 8.0.6 Default (1019)

2. Who is authorized to choose the release track my instance is on?

Anyone can submit a request to select a preferred release track. However, if the request is not submitted by an authorized user, the TestRail team will reach out to an authorized user for approval before processing the request.
An authorized user is defined as someone who:

• Holds Administrator privileges in your TestRail instance.
• Has access to the TestRail Customer Portal for your account.

Ensuring that requests are approved by authorized users helps maintain the security and integrity of your TestRail instance.

3. How long will it take to change my instance to the Early Access release track?

Your instance can be transitioned to the Early Access release track in as little as five business days. Once the necessary authorization has been validated, a five-day “cooling period” begins.
During this cooling period, the TestRail team will notify all TestRail Customer Portal users associated with your account about the validated request. This notification provides an opportunity to cancel the request if needed, ensuring full transparency and alignment across your team before the upgrade proceeds.
This courtesy process is designed to prevent unintentional upgrades and maintain clear communication within your organization.

4. Can I change my release track from Early Access to Default or Deferred tracks?

Yes, you can switch your instance from the Early Access track to the Default or Deferred track. To do so, you’ll need to follow the same request process used when initially selecting the Early Access track.
Please note that this change will take effect during the next Quarterly Release shift. This ensures a seamless transition and aligns with our release schedule.

5. What about bug fixes or security patches?

Bug fixes will be released to both the Early Access and Default tracks. Critical security patches will be applied to all three tracks.

6. Can I have a trial instance on the Early Access track?

Yes. If you would like to test out features on the Early Access track, please feel free to sign up for a free trial at https://secure.testrail.com/customers/testrail/trial, and then submit the Choose Your Release Track form to request to move your trial to the Early Access release track.

7. Are there different release tracks for TestRail Server versions?

TestRail Server customers can download new release packages directly from the TestRail Customer Portal as soon as they become available.

Unlike TestRail Cloud, there are no separate release tracks for TestRail Server versions. All updates are provided as unified packages for all customers.