Pgyer real name verification for foreign developers, explained
· 5 min read
Developers outside China who try Pgyer (pgyer.com) for the first time often hit the same wall: the upload works, the link and QR code appear, and testers still cannot download the build. The reason is Pgyer's real name verification. This article explains what the rule is, what Pgyer asks for, how the passport route works for foreign developers, and what your options are. It is based on Pgyer's own verification page (in Chinese) and its distribution page, read on November 3, 2026. The wording below is our own summary of the Chinese page; read the original before you act on it. AppForShare is a different build sharing tool, the one we make.
What the rule is and why it exists
Pgyer's page says developer accounts must pass real name checks under Chinese rules on app distribution. It points to rules from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on preinstalled and distributed apps, and from the Cyberspace Administration of China on mobile app information services. In short, a service in China that hands out apps has to know who published each one.
Pgyer is run by Xi'an Diance Network Technology Co., Ltd., under the law of the People's Republic of China, per its terms. So the rule is not Pgyer being difficult. It is the law the service runs under.
What happens before you pass
A dialog on Pgyer's distribution page sets the limit plainly: until the account passes real name checks, each version allows 0 downloads a day. After it passes, the limit is 500 downloads a day per version. Testers who install need no account and no check of their own; the check is only for the developer who uploads.
That explains the common surprise. The upload and the link work, so it looks like a broken link. It is a cap of zero until the account is verified.
What Pgyer asks for
Per the verification page:
| Account type | What you provide |
|---|---|
| Personal | Phone number, email, real name, ID card number, a photo of the ID card and a photo of you holding the ID card |
| Company | The personal items for the person applying, plus the company name, business license, legal representative and registered address |
| Foreign developer | A passport, uploaded for manual review |
The page also gives storage amounts for verified accounts: 20 GiB for a personal account and 30 GiB for a company account when there is no valid paid package.
The passport route
For developers without a Chinese ID card, the page says to upload a passport, which Pgyer staff review by hand. We did not go through the review ourselves, so we cannot say how long it takes or what else may be asked. Plan for some days, not minutes, before the first tester can download, and keep the build you need today on another host.
Before you send a passport scan to any service, ask the usual questions: who receives it, where it is stored, how long it is kept, and under which law. Pgyer's terms name its company and Chinese law. For many developers that is fine. For some, especially those handling client work under contract, it is a reason to choose a host that does not need ID at all.
Does Loadly ask for the same?
Loadly (loadly.io, run by Pgyer) is the same company's English site, with the same upload API. Its privacy policy says individual users submit the front and back of their ID card and a photo holding it, and companies a copy of the business license. As read on November 3, 2026, we did not see Loadly ask for these during upload, and its help pages state no download cap for unverified accounts. Whether Loadly enforces the rule is not known to us. If you use Loadly, read its privacy policy and decide whether you are comfortable with what it says it may ask for.
Your options
1. Pass the check
If your testers are in China, or you need HarmonyOS builds or Pgyer's China CDN, passing the check is the sensible path. Pgyer's distribution tools are strong: a CLI with an MCP server, a fastlane plugin, Jenkins and Gradle plugins and a GitHub Action. Once verified, 500 downloads a day per version is plenty for most test rounds.
2. Use a host outside China for testers outside China
If your testers are in Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Brazil or elsewhere, a host that needs no ID check gets a build to them today. Options include TestFlight (iOS, with beta review for external testers), Firebase App Distribution (testers use Google accounts), Diawi and AppForShare.
On AppForShare, a guest upload needs no account at all (50 MB, 3 day link). A Free account signs up with email or Google, with no ID documents, and gives 150 MB files, 7 day links and a password per build. Pro ($12 a month) takes files up to 2 GB with links live while you subscribe. Lower regional prices apply in South Asia, Southeast Asia, much of Africa and parts of Latin America. AppForShare is run by ZenTalk LLC in Houston, Texas, under US law.
3. Split by audience
Some teams keep Pgyer for testers in China and use another host for everyone else. That works, at the cost of two places to upload. A CLI on each side makes it one CI step per host.
A checklist before your first Pgyer upload
- Decide whether your testers are inside or outside China.
- If you will verify, have your passport (or Chinese ID and phone number) ready, and allow time for manual review.
- Read Pgyer's terms and privacy policy, and check them against any client contract.
- Keep a second way to share the build while the review runs.
For a wider comparison, read Pgyer alternative for teams outside China. For the English site, see AppForShare vs Loadly.
Common questions
Why can my testers not download from Pgyer?
If your account has not passed real name checks, Pgyer allows 0 downloads a day per version, per its distribution page. Verify the account, or share the build another way.
Can a foreigner pass Pgyer real name verification?
Pgyer's page says foreign developers upload a passport for manual review. We have not tested how long it takes.
Do testers need to verify too?
No. The check is for the developer account. Testers install without an account.
Does AppForShare need ID documents?
No. Sign up with email or Google, or upload as a guest with no account.
