Confused between custom URL schemes and Universal linking and redirecting to the app store

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Created Aug ’24

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I have a requirement to launch an app from another app (there is no requirement to launch the app from a website), and if its not installed then for the user to be redirected to the app store to download the app.

The app already has a custom url scheme implemented, however the documentation and tutorials in this area are confusing and unclear.

In order to launch the app, the custom url scheme will provide that, however, in order to get the redirection to the app store then firstly does the custom url scheme have to be replaced with universal links? Secondly, is it necessary to have a webpage that links to the app store? Is it possible to get this behaviour without having a website?

Is it the case that Apple doesn't provide this functionality and developers have to have the hassle of hosting a website purely just for the sake of redirecting to the App Store?

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endecotp OP

Aug ’24

One problem with custom URL schemes is that anyone can provide an app that implements them. So if your banking app relies on bankofme: URLs opening its app, it's in trouble because some free cookiedumpster game with billions of installs could have a handler for bankofme: and scam the users. Universal links don't suffer from this problem.

I don't know about redirecting to the app store based on a custom URL scheme; I don't think that's possible but I may have missed something.

Redirecting to the app store when a Universal Link is not opened by an app is certainly possible though.

As you note, this does require a website. It can be a rather trivial one though, easily implemented in an S3 bucket for pennies a month, or similar.

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