I have some universals links to open my app, something like /{id}, it opens the user profile on my app and works great.
At the moment I am working with firebase dynamics links, and it works, but the service will stop soon so I need to find an alternative.
My main issue are the links shared on social networks, for example Instagram, the page is opened in an in-app browser and my app is not opened
First I tried the following solution
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Redirecting...</title>
<script>
function openApp() {
var universalLink = ";; // Your actual Universal Link
// Force the browser to open the Universal Link outside in-app browsers
window.location.replace(universalLink);
// Fallback: If Universal Link fails, show a button
setTimeout(function() {
document.getElementById("fallback").style.display = "block";
}, 2000);
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="openApp()">
<h1>Redirecting...</h1>
<p>If the app doesn't open, click the button below.</p>
<a id="fallback" href="; style="display: none;">
<button>Open in Browser</button>
</a>
</body>
</html>
But none of the two alternatives works, the fallback is never called as the window.location.replace is always called, but the redirect is made into the same in-app browser same if I comment the window.location.replace, clicking on the button, the redirect is made in the same in-app browser.
Then I tried some target attributes in a tags, for example _blank or _system but the link is still opening in the same in-app browser.
Then I tried with browsers deep links as x-safari-, or Google Chrome but the links opens in the browser and not opening my app.
I do not know if I have to use a paying service as branch.io for something who could be that simple.
- if app installed, open app
- Open store if on android or iOS
- Open my website