Getting Started on iPhone
Apple runs every beta through their TestFlight app, and on iPhone getting in comes in two quick parts: set TestFlight up now, then watch for an invite that arrives straight from Apple. It’s a few minutes of tapping, it’s totally normal, and it’s a one-time thing. Here’s the whole path — plus fixes for anything that trips you up.
Tap this on your iPhone, not a computer. This gets you Apple’s free TestFlight app — your Bedwork invite comes separately, by email from Apple.
The #1 thing to know: if TestFlight ever says it’s “currently unavailable — try again,” that’s not you and not us — it’s just Apple catching up. Wait a few minutes, try again, and it’ll go through. This is the most common hiccup, and a retry fixes it almost every time.
Part 1 — set up TestFlight now
- Get TestFlight (free). Tap the green button above on your iPhone. If you don’t have TestFlight yet, it’ll send you to the App Store to grab it first — it’s Apple’s official free app for testing.
- Power through Apple’s setup. The first time you open TestFlight, you’ll hit a stack of “Welcome,” terms, and “allow” screens. Don’t overthink them — Continue, Accept, Agree, on through. Getting this done now, before your invite lands, makes everything after go smoothly.
Part 2 — when your invite arrives
- Open the invitation from Apple. Once Rick adds you to the tester list, Apple emails you an official invitation — subject line like “You’ve been invited to test Bedwork,” sent by TestFlight. Open it on your iPhone and tap View in TestFlight. It’s a real email from Apple, so don’t let it slip past — and check your spam folder if you don’t see it.
- Install and start gardening. Tap Accept, then Install, open Bedwork, and lay out your first bed.
A note on timing: your invite may land a little after Rick’s heads-up email — sometimes the same day, sometimes a day or two later, because testers are added in small batches by hand. If it hasn’t shown up yet, it’s on the way.
If something goes sideways
“TestFlight is currently unavailable. Try again.”
The common one. It’s a temporary Apple hiccup, not a problem with your phone or with Bedwork. Wait a few minutes and try again. If it’s stubborn, give it an hour and retry — it clears on its own.
I haven’t gotten my invite from Apple yet.
Invites are added in small batches by hand, so yours may arrive a bit after Rick’s heads-up email — the same day, or a day or two later. Check your spam/junk folder for a message from TestFlight, and make sure you’re watching the same email address you signed up with. If it’s been more than a few days, just reply to Rick’s email and he’ll confirm you’re on the list.
“This beta isn’t accepting new testers right now.”
Rare, and usually temporary. Wait a bit and open your invitation again. If it’s still saying it after a few hours, reply to Rick’s invite email and he’ll sort it out.
It threw an error on the very first “Welcome to TestFlight” screen.
That usually means the app tried to load before TestFlight finished its own setup. Tap OK, then tap Continue and finish all of TestFlight’s welcome/terms screens first (sign in with your Apple ID if it asks). Then open Apple’s invitation again.
Nothing happens when I tap the invitation.
Make sure you’re tapping it on your iPhone (not a laptop), and that the TestFlight app is installed from the App Store first. Strong Wi-Fi helps too.
It says unavailable “in your country or region.”
This beta is offered in the US. If your Apple ID’s App Store country is set elsewhere, TestFlight can block it. Otherwise, if there are any Terms & Conditions waiting to be accepted, open the App Store app and accept them, then try again.
Still stuck after all that?
You won’t be the only one, and it’s no trouble at all — just reply to Rick’s invite email, or email bedwork-support@howdogardener.com, and we’ll walk you through it screen by screen.
Thanks for putting up with Apple’s front door to get to my garden gate. Once you’re in, it’s smooth sailing — and your honest feedback is the whole reason Bedwork gets better.
Glad you’re testing it,
Rick — The How Do Gardener
Bedwork is a product of SFG Planner, LLC.