How to Make a Link Open an App: A Comprehensive Guide?

If you’ve ever clicked on a link and found yourself redirected to a webpage instead of an app, you know how frustrating it can be. Whether you’re a developer trying to create a seamless user experience or a user looking to save time, knowing how to make a link open an app can be invaluable.

TAKEAWAY:

Making a link open an app can be a useful and efficient way to enhance the user experience. By using deep links and custom URL schemes, app developers can provide a seamless transition between their app and other online content. There are also various tools and techniques available for users to open links in their preferred app or browser. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your links are opening in the desired app or browser and that your users are getting the best possible experience.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to make a link open an app.

What is a deep link?

Before we dive into the specifics of how to make a link open an app, it’s important to understand what a deep link is. A deep link is a hyperlink that takes you directly to a specific page or screen within an app. It’s called a “deep” link because it takes you deeper into the app than the home screen.

Deep links are essential for creating a seamless user experience between a website and an app. For example, let’s say you’re browsing an online store’s website on your phone and you find a product you’re interested in. With a deep link, you can click on a button that says “View in App” and be taken directly to the product page within the store’s app. This saves you time and creates a more seamless experience.

How to make a link open an app on iOS

Making a link open an app on iOS is a relatively straightforward process. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Create a custom URL scheme for your app. A URL scheme is a unique identifier that tells iOS which app to open when a link is clicked. You can create a custom URL scheme in Xcode by adding a new URL scheme to your app’s Info.plist file.
2. Add the custom URL scheme to your app’s code. Once you’ve created a custom URL scheme, you need to add it to your app’s code so that iOS knows which app to open when a link is clicked.
3. Create a deep link. To create a deep link, you need to append your custom URL scheme to the end of your app’s domain. For example, if your app’s custom URL scheme is “myapp”, you would create a deep link like this: “myapp://product_page”.
4. Add the deep link to your website. Once you’ve created a deep link, you need to add it to your website so that users can click on it and be taken directly to the app. You can do this by adding an anchor tag with the href attribute set to your deep link.

How to make a link open an app on Android

Making a link open an app on Android is a bit more complicated than on iOS. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Create a custom URL scheme for your app. Just like on iOS, you need to create a custom URL scheme for your app on Android. You can do this by adding an intent filter to your app’s manifest file.
2. Add the custom URL scheme to your app’s code. Once you’ve created a custom URL scheme, you need to add it to your app’s code so that Android knows which app to open when a link is clicked.
3. Create a deep link. To create a deep link on Android, you need to use the “intent://” syntax. For example, if your app’s custom URL scheme is “myapp”, you would create a deep link like this: “intent://product_page#Intent;scheme=myapp;package=com.myapp;end”.
4. Add the deep link to your website. Just like on iOS, you need to add the deep link to your website so that users can click on it and be taken directly to the app.

Best practices for deep linking

Now that you know how to how to make a link open an app on both iOS and Android, let’s go over some best practices for deep linking:

1. Test your deep links thoroughly. Make sure that your deep links work properly on both iOS and Android and that they take users directly to the intended page or screen within your app.
2. Use descriptive URLs. Your deep links should be descriptive and easy to remember. Avoid using generic URLs like “myapp://home” and instead use URLs like “myapp://product_page” or “myapp://checkout”.
3. Implement fallbacks. If a user doesn’t have your app installed, they should be directed to a relevant page on your website instead of a generic “Page Not Found” error. Implementing fallbacks can help improve the user experience and prevent frustration.
4. Use app indexing. App indexing is a technique that allows your app’s content to be indexed by search engines. By implementing app indexing, you can ensure that your app’s content is easily discoverable by users.
5. Consider using a deep linking service. If you’re not familiar with deep linking, consider using a deep linking service like Branch or Firebase Dynamic Links. These services make it easy to create and manage deep links, and they often come with additional features like analytics and A/B testing.

FAQ: How to make a link open an app?

1. How do I force a URL to open in a specific browser?

If you want to force a URL to open in a specific browser, there are a few different approaches you can take. One way is to use browser-specific URL schemes. For example, if you want to force a URL to open in Google Chrome, you can use the “googlechrome://” URL scheme. To do this, simply append “googlechrome://” to the beginning of the URL you want to open in Chrome.

Another option is to use JavaScript to detect the user’s browser and redirect them to the appropriate URL. For example, if you want to redirect users to a specific URL when they are using Safari, you can use the following JavaScript code:

if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf(‘Safari’) != -1 && navigator.userAgent.indexOf(‘Chrome’) == -1) {
window.location.href = ‘https://example.com/safari-url’;
}

This code checks if the user is using Safari and if they are not using Chrome. If both conditions are true, it redirects the user to the specified URL.

2. How do I open an iOS app from URL?

To open an iOS app from a URL, you need to create a custom URL scheme for your app and then use that scheme in your URLs. Here are the basic steps:

1. Create a custom URL scheme for your app by adding a new URL scheme to your app’s Info.plist file.
2. Add the custom URL scheme to your app’s code so that iOS knows which app to open when a link with that scheme is clicked.
3. Create a deep link by appending your custom URL scheme to the end of your app’s domain. For example, if your app’s custom URL scheme is “myapp”, you would create a deep link like this: “myapp://product_page”.
4. Add the deep link to your website or other app so that users can click on it and be taken directly to your app.

Once you’ve done this, when a user clicks on a link with your custom URL scheme, iOS will automatically open your app.

3. What is an app link?

An app link is a type of deep link that allows users to jump directly from a website to a specific screen within an app. App links are created using the App Links protocol, which is an open-source standard developed by Facebook.

App links work by associating a URL on a website with a specific screen or piece of content within an app. When a user clicks on the link, they are taken directly to that screen within the app. This allows for a seamless user experience between the website and the app, and can help improve engagement with the app.

4. What is an application URL?

An application URL is a type of URL that is used to launch or interact with an application. Application URLs are similar to regular URLs, but they are specifically designed to work with applications.

Application URLs are often used in conjunction with custom URL schemes or deep links. For example, if you have a custom URL scheme for your app called “myapp”, you could create an application URL like this: “myapp://product_page”. When a user clicks on this URL, it will launch your app and take them directly to the product page.

5. How do you create a dynamic link or one link or redirect to the app store?

To create a dynamic link or one link that redirects to the app store, you can use a service like Branch or Firebase Dynamic Links. These services allow you to create deep links that can be used across multiple platforms and devices.

To create a dynamic link, you first need to create a deep link using your app’s custom URL scheme. You can then use the deep link

in a dynamic link or one link, which will automatically detect the user’s platform and device and redirect them to the appropriate app store.

Here’s how to create a dynamic link using Firebase Dynamic Links:

1. Set up Firebase Dynamic Links for your app.
2. Create a deep link using your app’s custom URL scheme.
3. Use the Firebase Dynamic Links API to create a dynamic link that includes your deep link and any additional parameters you want to pass along.
4. Use the dynamic link in your marketing materials or on your website to redirect users to the appropriate app store.

Once a user clicks on the dynamic link, they will be redirected to the appropriate app store based on their platform and device. If they already have your app installed, the link will take them directly to the relevant screen within the app. If they do not have the app installed, they will be taken to the app store to download it.

6. How do I redirect a URL to an Android app?

To redirect a URL to an Android app, you can use a custom URL scheme or deep link. Here are the basic steps:

1. Create a custom URL scheme for your app by adding an intent filter to your app’s manifest file.
2. Add the custom URL scheme to your app’s code so that Android knows which app to open when a link with that scheme is clicked.
3. Create a deep link using the “intent://” syntax. For example, if your app’s custom URL scheme is “myapp”, you would create a deep link like this: “intent://product_page#Intent;scheme=myapp;package=com.myapp;end”.
4. Add the deep link to your website or other app so that users can click on it and be taken directly to your app.

Once you’ve done this, when a user clicks on a link with your custom URL scheme, Android will automatically open your app.

7. How do I change where a link opens Android?

To change where a link opens on Android, you can use the “Open With” option. Here’s how:

1. Long press on the link you want to open in a different app.
2. Select “Open With” from the menu that appears.
3. Select the app you want to use to open the link.

You can also change the default app for a specific type of link by going to your device’s settings and selecting “Apps”. From there, select the app you want to use as the default and then select “Open by default”. Finally, select “Clear defaults” to remove the default app or “Set as default” to set the app as the default for that type of link.

8. How do I open an app in my browser?

To open an app in your browser, you can use a deep link that is associated with the app. Here are the basic steps:

1. Create a deep link using the app’s custom URL scheme.
2. Add the deep link to your website or other app so that users can click on it.
3. When the user clicks on the link, their browser will prompt them to open the link in the associated app.

For example, if you have a deep link for your app that is “myapp://product_page”, you can add a link to your website or other app that uses this deep link. When the user clicks on the link, their browser will prompt them to open the link in your app.

9. How do I open links in the Google app?

To open links in the Google app, you need to have the Google app installed on your device. Here’s how to do it:

1. Long press on the link you want to open in the Google app.
2. Select “Share” from the menu that appears.
3. Select the Google app from the list of available sharing options.

Alternatively, you can also set the Google app as your default browser by going to your device’s settings and selecting “Apps”. From there, select the Google app and then select “Set as default”. This will ensure that all links are opened in the Google app by default.

10. Why does my Google say no app to open URL?

If you receive a “No app to open URL” error message when trying to open a link in the Google app, it means that there is no app on your device that is associated with the link’s URL scheme. This can happen if the link is using a custom URL scheme that is not supported by any of the apps on your device.

To fix this issue, you can try opening the link in a different app that is associated with the URL scheme. If that doesn’t work, you may need to install the app that is associated with the URL scheme in order to open the link.

11. How do I make Google open links in a new tab?

To make Google open links in a new tab, you can use a keyboard shortcut or a mouse gesture. Here’s how to do it:

1. Keyboard shortcut: Hold down the Ctrl key on Windows or the Command key on Mac while clicking on the link.
2. Mouse gesture: Right click on the link and select “Open link in new tab” from the context menu that appears.

You can also change the default behavior of Google to always open links in a new tab. To do this, go to your Google settings and select “Search settings”. From there, select “Where results open” and choose “Open each selected result in a new browser window” or “Open each selected result in a new tab”.

12. How do I make Facebook open links in Chrome?

To make Facebook open links in Chrome, you can change your default browser settings. Here’s how:

1. Go to your device’s settings and select “Apps”.
2. Select the browser you want to use as your default.
3. Select “Set as default” to make the browser your default for all links.

Alternatively, you can also manually open links in Chrome by long pressing on the link and selecting “Open in Chrome” from the context menu that appears.

13. How do I open links in an external browser instead of in the app?

To open links in an external browser instead of in the app, you can use a keyboard shortcut or a mouse gesture. Here’s how to do it:

1. Keyboard shortcut: Hold down the Ctrl key on Windows or the Command key on Mac while clicking on the link.
2. Mouse gesture: Right click on the link and select “Open link in new tab” or “Open link in new window” from the context menu that appears.

You can also change the default behavior of the app to always open links in an external browser. To do this, go to the app’s settings and look for an option that allows you to choose your default browser. Select your preferred browser and all links will be opened in that browser by default.

14. How do I make a URL shortcut open in Chrome?

To make a URL shortcut open in Chrome, you can create a bookmark and then add it to your home screen. Here’s how:

1. Open Chrome and navigate to the page you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select “Add to Home screen”.
3. Enter a name for the shortcut and tap “Add”.
4. The shortcut will now appear on your home screen and will open in Chrome when clicked.

Alternatively, you can also use a third-party app like Shortcut Creator to create custom

URL shortcuts that can be opened in any browser. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Download and install Shortcut Creator from the Google Play Store.
2. Open Shortcut Creator and tap the “+” button to create a new shortcut.
3. Enter the URL you want to create a shortcut for and select the browser you want to use to open the URL.
4. Tap “Create” to create the shortcut.
5. The shortcut will now appear on your home screen and will open in the selected browser when clicked.

15. How do I make a link open in Edge instead of Internet Explorer?

To make a link open in Edge instead of Internet Explorer, you can change your default browser settings. Here’s how:

1. Go to your device’s settings and select “Apps”.
2. Select the browser you want to use as your default.
3. Select “Set as default” to make the browser your default for all links.

Alternatively, you can also manually open links in Edge by long pressing on the link and selecting “Open in Edge” from the context menu that appears.

16. How do I create an iOS app link?

To create an iOS app link, you need to create a custom URL scheme for your app and then use that scheme in your URLs. Here are the basic steps:

1. Create a custom URL scheme for your app by adding a new URL scheme to your app’s Info.plist file.
2. Add the custom URL scheme to your app’s code so that iOS knows which app to open when a link with that scheme is clicked.
3. Create a deep link by appending your custom URL scheme to the end of your app’s domain. For example, if your app’s custom URL scheme is “myapp”, you would create a deep link like this: “myapp://product_page”.
4. Add the deep link to your website or other app so that users can click on it and be taken directly to your app.

Once you’ve done this, when a user clicks on a link with your custom URL scheme, iOS will automatically open your app.

17. How do I open an iOS app?

To open an iOS app, you can use a deep link that is associated with the app. Here are the basic steps:

1. Create a deep link using the app’s custom URL scheme.
2. Add the deep link to your website or other app so that users can click on it.
3. When the user clicks on the link, their device will prompt them to open the link in the associated app.

For example, if you have a deep link for your app that is “myapp://product_page”, you can add a link to your website or other app that uses this deep link. When the user clicks on the link, their device will prompt them to open the link in your app.

18. How do I create a download APK link?

To create a download APK link, you need to host the APK file on a server and then create a link to that file. Here’s how:

1. Host the APK file on a server. You can use a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive to do this.
2. Create a link to the APK file using the direct download URL. For example, if your APK file is hosted on Dropbox, the direct download URL might be “https://www.dropbox.com/s/abcd1234/myapp.apk?dl=1”.
3. Add the link to your website or other app so that users can click on it and download the APK file.

When the user clicks on the link, their device will prompt them to download the APK file. Once the file is downloaded, the user can install it on their device.

19. How does the OPener app work?

The Opener app is a third-party app that allows you to open links in different apps on your device. Here’s how it works:

1. Install the Opener app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. When you come across a link you want to open in a different app, copy the link to your device’s clipboard.
3. Open the Opener app and it will automatically detect the link on your clipboard.
4. Select the app you want to use to open the link.

For example, if you come across a YouTube link and you want to open it in the YouTube app instead of in your browser, you would copy the link and then open the Opener app. The app would automatically detect the link and then give you the option to open it in the YouTube app.

The Opener app is especially useful if you frequently switch between different apps on your device and want to open links in a specific app.

20. Where can I find app links?

App links are typically provided by the app developer and can be found on the app’s website or in the app’s documentation. You can also search for app links using a search engine like Google or by using a third-party app discovery tool like AppBrain.

When looking for app links, be sure to check that the link is associated with a trusted app and that it is using a secure URL. This will help ensure that you are downloading and using a safe and reliable app.

Conclusion:

In today’s digital age, mobile apps have become an integral part of our lives. As such, it’s essential for app developers to ensure that their apps are easily accessible and can be seamlessly integrated with other online content. By using deep links and custom URL schemes, developers can provide a streamlined experience for their users, allowing them to seamlessly move between their app and other online content.

For users, there are various tools and techniques available to ensure that links are opened in their preferred app or browser. By following the steps outlined in this article, users can ensure that their links are opening in the desired app or browser and that they are getting the best possible experience.

In conclusion, making a link open an app is a valuable tool for app developers and users alike. By leveraging the power of deep links and custom URL schemes, developers can provide a seamless experience for their users, while users can ensure that they are accessing their preferred app or browser. By working together, we can continue to enhance the user experience and make the most of the mobile app revolution.