Businesses often prefer to direct customers to mobile apps, rather than websites to:
- Give a more direct, faster and better customer experience
- Not be constrained by browser technology
- Capture first party app data (like where users come from, without cookies).
App deep links are URLs which redirect users to specific content within a mobile app. Depending on the user's device, these links can:
- Open the app if it's already installed on the user's device
- Open the app on a specific app screen (content) within the app, streamlining the user experience
- Redirect to the app store if the app isn't installed, guiding the user to download it
- Open a fallback URL in a browser, if the user isn't on an Android/iOS device
We support deep linking through App Links for Android and Universal Links for iOS. Setting this up for the first time often requires a developer. Reach out to support@uplifter.ai for additional support.
How to setup app deep linking (developer recommended)
App deep linking requires Uplifter admin access and help from your developers.
- Set up an App group in Uplifter
- Set up App links for your Android app
- Set up Universal links for iOS app
How to set up an app group in Uplifter (admin only)
We need to know what app(s) you want to open. You can put the details of your Android/iOS into an 'App group' which Uplifter users select as an app destination on the Track>Create links page.
- Login to Uplifter and go open Track > Edit App Destinations
- Click 'Add app' button
- Name your 'App group'
- Enter your Android / iOS app details and click 'Add apps' button to save as an app destination dropdown in Track>Create links. App details for each store below:
- Android app details:
-
Package name: Extracted from the app’s Play Store URL. For example, in the play store link for Google Maps,
http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps
, the package name iscom.google.android.apps.maps
. - Play store link: Found by visiting the Play Store and searching for your app.
- Asset Links file: See "How to set up App links for your Android" to generate this.
-
Package name: Extracted from the app’s Play Store URL. For example, in the play store link for Google Maps,
- iOS app details:
- App Store ID: In the “Distribution” section of your Apple Developer account.
- Bundle ID: In the “Distribution” section of your Apple Developer account.
- Team ID: In the "Membership Details" on the homepage of your Apple Developer account. Link to Membership Details
How to set up App links for your Android App
Android App Links allow your app to open directly when a user clicks a deep link.
-
- Open Android Studio and go to Tools > App Links Assistant.
- Use the URL Mapping Editor to configure your domain (e.g.,
https://app.upl.inc
). If you have a custom domain, enter that here instead. - Configure the Path Pattern to be
.*
and associate it with your app’s main activity. - Generate the Digital Asset Links file and upload it to Uplifter under the "Asset links" in the App Group.
How to set up Universal links for your iOS App
Universal Links allow iOS apps to be opened via specific URLs.
-
- In Xcode, open your project and select the app target.
- Navigate to the Signing & Capabilities tab and add Associated Domains.
- Enter your associated domain (e.g.,
applinks:app.upl.inc
). If you have a custom domain, enter that here instead.
Handling Deep Links in Your Apps
Once deep links are configured, your app needs to handle them correctly by implementing routing logic based on the server response.
- Detect the Link: Your app should recognize when it's opened via a deep link.
-
POST Request to Uplifter: Send a POST request to Uplifter’s service to retrieve routing information (
redirect_context
) and analytics data (analytics_context
). -
Route the User: Based on the
redirect_context
, navigate the user to the appropriate screen or content. -
Track Analytics: Parse and send the
analytics_context
to your analytics platform.
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