Launch app if installed, or open Google Play with install referrer

Question

We are trying to generate a link that, when clicked in a browser, opens our App if it's installed. This is usually done with something like this:

intent://some.domain/some=parameters#Intent;scheme=somescheme;package=my.package.name

If configured correctly, this uri can launch your App if it's installed, and redirect you to the play store otherwise. However, this is not what we want. We want to redirect to the play store with an install referrer. As far as we know, the intent:// syntax cannot do this.

Another solution we came up with was to make

market://details?id=my.package.name&referrer=somereferrer

openable with our App. The problem with this method is that it will not automatically launch the App, but rather ask the user whether they'd like to open the link with our App or the Play Store.

Any workaround for this? Even the slightest suggestion would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I'm not sure 100% to have understood your question. I try to reformulate: you want your link to redirect to your app if installed without having the "open with" choice.

One solution, if you are developing for new Android M is to use App Link: here. But again, I'm not sure that is what you want.

Answer 2

I think this is your answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/28792160/5034920 Basically you must implement the intent filter like this:

<data android:scheme="https"
      android:host="www.foo.com"
      android:pathPrefix="/bar" />

and at the server side, create a redirect rule to google play. For example, https://www.foo.com/bar/BlahBlah will redirect to https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bar.foo&referrer=BlahBlah.