Launching app from sms link or email link

Question

I have the requirement to launch an app when an sms or email link is followed. I have already been reading about URL schemes and already test that and it works, but the problem is that if the app is not installed on the device nothing will happen. I need a way to open a web url if the app is not installed, but I couldn't find a way of doing this...

Any idea?

Thanks

Answer 1

It can be done. The way I would structure it is by having a redirect from a server you control.

1. You send the user a link that points to your server.
2. You try to launch your app using the custom URL scheme.
3. If it fails, you redirect the user to the app store so they can download your app.

Here is an interesting question with several ways to check if the launch attempted via your custom URL was successful.