Deep links are special links that open videos, collections, categories, or community posts inside your mobile app instead of the web browser. They help keep users in your app environment and improve their overall experience.
What Are Deep Links?
Deep links automatically connect your website content to your mobile apps, allowing users to seamlessly transition between platforms. They are automatically included and supported in your Uscreen iOS and Android mobile apps.
ℹ️ INFO: You don't need to do anything special to enable deep links, as they work automatically with your regular URLs.
Benefits of Deep Links
Links in Emails
When you send marketing emails about new videos, collections, or community posts, deep links ensure these links open directly in your mobile app for users who engage with your email on their smartphones.
Staying Inside the App
Deep links keep users within your app ecosystem when they click links in video descriptions, comments, or community posts.
For example, if a community post links to a video, selecting that link takes users directly to that video within the app.
Community Notifications
Deep links work with community notifications, allowing users who receive email notifications to open links directly in your app instead of the web browser.
Limitations of Deep Links
Web pages not supported by Mobile Apps (e.g., bundle checkout pages, landing pages, custom pages)
There is currently no deep link for the Calendar feature
Timestamped deep linking is only available through mobile apps and not supported on the web platform
📝 NOTE: Some users may experience issues with links opening in mobile browsers instead of the app. Not all of the links have this capability.
Disabling Deep Links at Device-Level
Android users can disable deep links at the device level if they prefer to open links in their browser.
Users can typically find this option in their device Settings under Apps or Applications section, or by tapping and holding the app icon to access the App Info.
📝 NOTE: iOS does not currently provide a native option to disable deep links (universal links) at the system level.
Technical Details: App Association Files
For the technically inclined, deep links work through app association files that live on your website domain.
These files connect your website and mobile apps, allowing website URLs to immediately open corresponding content in your apps.
Uscreen automatically creates and manages these files during your app setup process:
https://yourdomain.name/.well-known/assetlinks.json
https://yourdomain.name/apple-app-site-association
ℹ️ INFO: If you change your storefront domain, you will need to request an app update to ensure your deep links continue to function properly.
🔗 Learn more about Requesting an App Update
FAQs
Do deep links work for all types of content?
Do deep links work for all types of content?
Deep links work for videos, collections, categories, community posts, favorites, account notes, and community channels.
What happens if a user doesn't have the app installed?
What happens if a user doesn't have the app installed?
If a user doesn't have your app installed, the link will open in their mobile browser instead.
Can I choose which URLs use deep linking?
Can I choose which URLs use deep linking?
Currently, it's not possible to select specific deep links due to constraints by app marketplaces. Deep linking is applied to all supported content types.
Why might deep links not work for some users?
Why might deep links not work for some users?
Some users may experience issues if they're using an older device or app version, if they've disabled deep links on their device, or if they're trying to access content types not supported by deep linking.