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What are App Links?

App Links are Android’s mechanism for opening your app when a user taps an HTTPS link that belongs to your domain. They provide a direct app-opening experience without the disambiguation dialog that standard intent filters show.

Section titled “How App Links work”
  1. You host a Digital Asset Links file on your web server at /.well-known/assetlinks.json.
  2. You add an intent filter with android:autoVerify="true" to your app’s manifest.
  3. When a user installs your app, Android downloads the assetlinks.json file from your domain and verifies that your app is authorized to handle links.
  4. When a user taps a link to your domain, Android opens your app directly if verification succeeded. If not, the browser opens (or a disambiguation dialog appears).
Section titled “The Digital Asset Links file”

The assetlinks.json file is a JSON array that declares which apps are authorized to handle links for your domain:

[
  {
    "relation": ["delegate_permission/common.handle_all_urls"],
    "target": {
      "namespace": "android_app",
      "package_name": "com.example.myapp",
      "sha256_cert_fingerprints": [
        "AA:BB:CC:DD:..."
      ]
    }
  }
]
  • package_name is your app’s package name.
  • sha256_cert_fingerprints contains the SHA-256 fingerprint(s) of your app’s signing certificate.
  • Multiple fingerprints can be listed (e.g. for debug and release certificates).

The file must be served at https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/assetlinks.json with Content-Type: application/json and no redirects.

Section titled “App Links vs intent filters”
FeatureApp Links (verified)Standard intent filters
Domain verificationYes (via assetlinks.json)No
Disambiguation dialogNo (opens app directly)Yes (user chooses)
autoVerify attributeRequiredNot needed
Fallback if app not installedOpens in browserOpens in browser

Key behaviors

Section titled “Key behaviors”
  • All paths. Unlike iOS Universal Links, Android App Links apply to the entire domain. The assetlinks.json file does not specify individual paths. Your intent filter controls which paths your app handles.
  • Verification timing. Android verifies App Links when the app is installed or updated. If verification fails at install time, links will show the disambiguation dialog until the next app update.
  • Multiple certificates. If you use Google Play App Signing, you must include the app signing certificate fingerprint (not your upload key). You can include both for development convenience.
  • User override. Users can change the default app for a domain in Settings > Apps > Default apps > Opening links.
Section titled “How Tolinku handles App Links”

Tolinku automatically generates and serves the assetlinks.json file for your Appspace’s domain. You configure your package name and SHA-256 fingerprint(s) in Appspace Settings, and Tolinku builds the correct file.

See App Links (Android) for the setup guide.