Fetch timing of apple-app-site-association files

Question

dinghing OP

Created Jan ’16

Replies 4

Boosts 1

Views 13k

Participants 8

We are developing the iOS application which supports Universal Links and testing now.

In the future, we will gradually update apple-app-site-association file to add paths.

Does iOS fetch the apple-app-site-association files when the app is updated (not first install)?

[Our investigation using Testflight]

Version:

iOS 9+

Procedure:

1. Upload the apple-app-site-association file to our server, and upload our iOS application (v1) to Testflight server(not AppStore).

2. Download the iOS application(v1) from the Testflight server.

->iOS fetched apple-app-site-association file and Universal Links worked successfully.

3. Upload the “new” apple-app-site-association file added paths to our server. and upload the our iOS application(v2) to TestFlight server.

4. Update the iOS application(v2) from the Testflight server.

-> iOS did not fetch apple-app-site-association file and Universal Links did not work for new added paths.

Boost

Answer 1

MSchoemaker OP

Feb ’16

I've exact the same question.

Our app can handle multiple paths of our website, but we first want to test things with a very specific path. So this paht will be added to the association file.

Over time we'll add more paths to the file. But when will the file be fetched again?

Edit:

I found this thread where is said that de file is fetched on every install/update: https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/6972

0

Answer 2

hairforceone OP

Mar ’16

Based on our testing, the file does not seem to be updated on every app install, at least from TestFlight. I know this because I made changes to the association file, installed a testflight update, and the changes were not working. I then completely deleted the app, reinstalled from testflight, and it worked as intended.

Not sure yet whether or not the same is true for a real update from the app store. Does anyone know for sure?

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Answer 3

JoakimLiu OP

Sep ’16

I run app in debug environment, the file don't downloaded. After my test, it delayed two hours to download.***????

1

Answer 4

skizzinger OP

May ’21

Any more news about this topic? In-App-Linking doesn't work with our app at all, the file is just never being updated and the "Open in App" bar therefore not shown, wrote Apple support twice and all they do is send generic documentation links. Great thing to have to tell our clients that Apple developer support basically doesn't exist, but hey, who would expect support for something that's free. Oh wait..

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