App Links

Overview

App Links enable your WeWeb application to intelligently redirect users from web URLs directly into your native mobile app. When users click a link to your website—whether from social media, messaging apps, or emails—they'll be automatically directed to the corresponding page in your native app if it's installed. This creates a unified experience across web and mobile platforms, improving user engagement and retention.

Key Benefits

• Automatic App Opening: Web links open directly in your native app when installed

• Smart App Banners: iOS displays banners prompting users to open content in your app

• Credential Sharing: Android shares saved passwords between web and mobile

• Deep Page Linking: Preserve specific pages, parameters, and dynamic routes

• Enhanced User Experience: Eliminate friction between web and mobile platforms

Prerequisites

Before implementing deep linking, ensure you have:

1. A WeWeb project deployed to production

2. A Despia project configured with your WeWeb URL

3. Web App Synchronization enabled in Despia:

   • Navigate to Add-ons → Hardcoded

   • Enable Web App Synchronization

   • Republish your app after enabling

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iOS Universal Links Configuration

Overview

iOS Universal Links allow your WeWeb application to seamlessly integrate with your native iOS app. When users click links to your web app, they'll automatically open in your native app if installed.

Step 1: Create Apple App Site Association File

Create a JSON file named apple-app-site-association (no file extension) with the following structure:

Copy{
  "applinks": {
    "details": [
      {
        "appIDs": [
          "TEAMID.BUNDLEID"
        ],
        "components": [
          {
            "/": "/*",
            "comment": "Matches any URL path"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Step 2: Locate Required Values

• Team ID:

  • Go to Despia Editor → Publish App

  • Find under Development Team

  • Ensure your Despia account is connected to your Apple Developer account

• Bundle ID:

  • Go to Despia Editor → Publish App

  • Find under App Bundle ID

Step 3: Upload to WeWeb

1. In WeWeb Editor, navigate to Assets → Files

2. Click Add New File and upload your JSON file

3. Click Set Path and enter: /.well-known/apple-app-site-association

4. Save the path configuration

Step 4: Deploy and Test

1. Deploy your WeWeb application to production

2. Wait up to 1 hour for Apple to scrape and register the file

3. If the banner doesn't appear after 1 hour:

   • Uninstall the app from your device

   • Reinstall via TestFlight

   • This forces Apple to fetch the file fresh

iOS Features

• Smart App Banner: Automatically appears when users visit your web app with the native app installed

• Deep Linking: Links shared via messages/email open directly in the native app

• Page Synchronization: Specific pages, query parameters, and dynamic paths are preserved

iOS Verification

• Verify your file is accessible at: https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/apple-app-site-association

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Android App Links Configuration

Overview

Android App Links enable your WeWeb application to open directly in your native Android app when users click web links. This creates a seamless experience across web and mobile platforms.

Step 1: Access Google Play Console

1. Open Google Play Console for your app

2. Navigate to Grow Users → Deep Links

3. You'll see "Domain not verified" - this is what we'll fix

Step 2: Enable Credential Sharing

1. Click on the domain error

2. Select Turn on Credential Sharing

3. Download the provided assetlinks.json file

Step 3: Upload to WeWeb

1. In WeWeb Editor, navigate to Assets → Files

2. Click Add New File and upload the assetlinks.json

3. Click Set Path and enter: /.well-known/assetlinks.json

4. Save and deploy your WeWeb application

Step 4: Verify Domain

1. Return to Google Play Console

2. Click Turn on Credential Sharing again

3. If it shows an error initially, don't worry:

   • Open the app on your Android device

   • Refresh the Google Play Console page

   • Try verification again (may take several attempts)

4. Once successful, the domain will show as verified

Step 5: Enable Features

After verification, enable Credential Sharing to allow:

• Password sharing between web and mobile apps

• Automatic credential filling

• Seamless authentication experience

Android Troubleshooting

• "JSON content type failed" error: This is often a false error - keep trying

• Verification failing:

  • Ensure the file is accessible at the correct URL

  • Refresh the Play Console page (it doesn't update in real-time)

  • Uninstall and reinstall the app via Play Store testing track

• Deep links not working: Wait for Google to propagate changes (can take up to 1 hour)

Android Verification

• Verify your file is accessible at: https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/assetlinks.json

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Testing Your Implementation

iOS Testing

1. Share a link to your web app via Messages

2. Click the link - it should open in the native app

3. Check Safari for the smart app banner

Android Testing

1. Close your native app completely

2. Click a web link in any app (WhatsApp, email, etc.)

3. The link should open directly in your native app

Important Notes

• File Hosting: Both files must be served over HTTPS with no redirects

• Content-Type: Must be application/json for both platforms

• File Names:

  • iOS: No file extension (apple-app-site-association not .json)

  • Android: Must include .json extension

• Propagation Time: Changes can take up to 1 hour to take effect

• Testing: Always test with production URLs before launch