iOS 14.2: Opening Universal Links from app behaviour changed?

Question

Created Nov ’20

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Previously if an iOS app used open(_:options:completionHandler:) to open a universal link, the link would open in Safari and not bounce the user back to the app.

As per documentation here: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/General/Conceptual/AppSearch/UniversalLinks.html

"In this scenario, iOS recognizes that the call originates from your app and therefore should not be handled as a universal link by your app."

As of iOS 14.2 these same universal links opened from the app in Safari now immediately bounce the user back to the app.

Is this a bug or intentional change in behaviour (there is no update to any docs stating this that I can find)?

How can we restore the previous behaviour?
Is there a new OpenExternalURLOptionsKey option (as yet undocumented perhaps), or a workaround, or different method we can use?

Thanks.

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Answer 1

ryan144 OP

Jan ’21

It seems like the redirect rules in Safari and Universal links has changed in some recent version of iOS.

I'm also having issues where email tracking links are clicked with a path that is not supported by the app association file. It used to simply open the link in safari and then redirect to the necessary page.

It is now opening safari and redirecting, but the redirect opens the app since the redirected url IS supported by universal linking. My guess is that this is a "feature" and not a bug since the majority of people would likely prefer this behavior, but in our case there are times when we explicitly want to not launch the app while still tracking clicks etc.

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