canOpenURL returning true for custom URL scheme even if app is not installed

Question

 NSString *customURL = @"mycustomurl://"; 

 if ([[UIApplication sharedApplication] canOpenURL:[NSURL URLWithString:customURL]]) {
    [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString:customURL]];
 } else {
    ...
 }

The app returns true for 'canOpenURL', even if the target app that exposes the custom URL is not installed. This behaviour occurs on both phone & simulator. openURL then silently fails. Any ideas why this is happening/how to catch this condition?

Answer 1

If using an app with SDK 9.0 and up, then you will have to make sure to add the app schemes you want to open in your main app's info.plist:

Without adding the above to the main app's info.plist (change schemes accordingly) canOpenURL will always return NO. Unless using an app with iOS SDK lower then 9.0 then it won't happen.

Also, use the following logic as it is safer:

NSString * urlStr = @"mycustomurl://"; 
NSURL * url = [NSURL URLWithString:urlStr];

if ([[UIApplication sharedApplication] canOpenURL:url]) {
    if([[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url]) {
       // App opened
    } else {
       // App not opened
    }
} else {
    // Can not open URL
}

Last check I suggest is to open Safari app in the device, enter the app scheme url string in the url field, press enter. Conclude from the result how to proceed.