Test out the beta version of the Showmax app for Android

The beta version of the Showmax app for Android is an official testing channel in the Google Play store, where about-to-be-released versions of the app are available for eager subscribers shortly before they are generally available as a regular update.

Don’t worry – the beta version only offers stable updates that are ready to be released as regular updates later on. Those who download the beta version of the app shouldn’t experience instability, because there is only one final step to be completed before the updates roll out to all users – for the updates to be verified on a larger scale of devices. That’s where the subscribers with the beta version come in.

Plus, subscribers can sign off from the testing channel at any point, and will get the updates in the regular version of the app in a few days’ time, when the updates are rolled out to all subscribers.

How to join the beta channel

• For users on web browser: click here
• For users on Android: click here

What is the picture-in-picture feature?

This allows you to freely use other apps, for example, to browse the internet, chat on WhatsApp or take notes while streaming in the Showmax app in a smaller window.

In the beta version of the app, you will see a new icon in the upper-right corner. It looks like two rectangles, one inside the other.

Press on that icon, or press the “home” Android button, to activate the picture-in-picture feature. You will see that the show or movie you are streaming continues playing in the small, floating window, and you are then able to use other apps in the main window.

This feature will be introduced with the Showmax app version 69, and will be available on the beta version for a limited time. It will later be gradually rolled out to all users.

The picture-in-picture feature is available for Android OS version 8 and above, and can be disabled in settings.