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Deep linking platform

Deep links that open your app, not a browser tab.

Deep linking opens a specific screen inside your iOS or Android app from a normal web link, and falls back to the store or your website when the app is not installed. SwiftURL generates and serves the AASA and assetlinks.json files on your domain, so Universal Links and App Links work with no SDK.

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Free tool: validate your AASA and assetlinks.json

In SwiftURL Domains, the menu on a branded domain opens Deep linking setup, and the form is scrolled through: Deep View and deferred deep linking, iOS Universal Links, Android App Links and the app URI fallback.

Deep linking behaviour switches and the iOS Universal Links settings

How does deep linking work in SwiftURL?

A deep link opens a specific screen inside your app when it is installed. If it is not, SwiftURL falls back to the app store or your web page, so nobody hits a dead end. It works through per-domain association files for iOS Universal Links and Android App Links, with a lightweight interstitial as a safety net on mobile. When the app is not installed at all, deferred deep linking can carry the original target through the store install.

Association files for iOS and Android

Add your Apple Team ID and bundle ID, or your Android package name and signing fingerprints. SwiftURL generates and serves the association files for each domain.

iOS Universal Links settings with Team ID and Bundle ID, and Android App Links settings with package name and SHA-256 fingerprints

A clean fallback when the app is missing

Opens installed apps to a specific path, and falls back to the store or web otherwise. An app URI scheme covers the cases where links cannot open the app.

The fallback setting: an app URI scheme such as brandapp://, plus where the association files are served

Deferred deep linking, without fingerprinting

Optional deferred deep linking carries the target through a store install, with no fingerprinting. Deep View shows a branded preview page with an Open in app button.

The Deep View and deferred deep linking switches, with a description of each

How do you set up deep links for iOS and Android?

  1. Create a deep link

    Mark a link as a deep link and set its in-app path.

  2. We route by device

    On mobile, the link tries to open your app at that path.

  3. Fallback if needed

    If the app is not installed, it redirects to the store or your web page.

  4. See the outcome

    Each tap is recorded in analytics, including whether it went to the store or fell back to the web.

Why open the app instead of the browser?

  • No dead ends

    Every user lands somewhere useful: app, store or web.

  • Higher intent

    Opening the app beats a mobile browser for conversion.

  • Privacy-friendly

    No cross-app fingerprinting, on any path.

Frequently asked questions

What is deep linking?

A deep link is a normal web link that opens a specific screen inside your mobile app, such as a product page, instead of a browser tab. On iOS this uses Universal Links and on Android it uses App Links.

What happens if the app is not installed?

The link falls back to the App Store, Google Play or your web page, so no one hits a dead end. To keep the exact destination through the install, turn on deferred deep linking.

Do I need an SDK?

No. Standard deep linking works through the association files SwiftURL generates and serves on your domain: AASA for iOS and assetlinks.json for Android. Deferred deep linking needs a few lines in your app, still with no SDK.

Which plans include deep linking?

Deep linking and deferred deep linking are included from the Pro plan. They are set up per custom domain, and Pro includes 3 custom domains.

How do I check my AASA and assetlinks.json files?

Use the free deep link checker. It fetches both files for any domain and flags redirects, wrong content types, invalid JSON, malformed app IDs and fingerprint errors.

Can SwiftURL replace Firebase Dynamic Links?

Yes, for the core of it: deep links, deferred deep linking and short links on a domain you own, with analytics included. See the Firebase Dynamic Links alternative for what carries over.

Related features

Deferred Deep Linking

Preserve the exact link target across an app install, with no IP or device fingerprinting.

Learn more

Analytics with AI Insights

Geography, device, referrer and UTM, bot-filtered, with growth insights that surface what changed.

Learn more

Custom Domains

Serve short links from a domain you control, with SSL provisioned automatically.

Learn more

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