Linking.canOpenURL returning false when targeting android 30 sdk on React Native

Question

Recently switched our build targets to android 30 to add support for Android 11, now directions and call for phone are not working.

The documentation mentions deep linking natively and or the use of an npm package. Would this be done natively? Or is the package an option?

https://reactnative.dev/docs/linking

Linking.canOpenURL is now returning false when checking if it is supported when running android 30.

Linking.canOpenURL(url)
.then((supported: boolean) => (supported ? Linking.openURL(url) : Alert.alert("Error", "There was an error attempting to opening the location.")))
.catch(() => Alert.alert("Error", "There was an error attempting to opening the location."));

Answer 1

The answer lies in a new Android security feature: Package Visibility. This works similar to iOS' LSApplicationQueriesSchemes.

Targeting Android 11 (SDK 30) requires you to update your AndroidManifest.xml and include a list of applications you're querying for. E.g. here's the code I'm using to check for Google Maps navigation in my own app. It also includes permissions for HTTP and HTTPS:

<manifest package="com.example.game">
  <queries>
    <intent>
      <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
      <data android:scheme="http"/>
    </intent>
    <intent>
      <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
      <data android:scheme="https"/>
    </intent>
    <intent>
      <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
      <data android:scheme="geo" />
    </intent>
    <intent>
      <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
      <data android:scheme="google.navigation" />
    </intent>
  </queries>
  ...
</manifest>

For applications matching certain criterias (such as Antivirus apps, file managers, or browser) you can use the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission to allow querying any random package similar to earlier Android versions:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES" />

However, be aware that your application will be rejected from Google Play if you don't qualify as any of the app types listed below or uses the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES in an unauthorized way:

Permitted use involves apps that must discover any and all installed apps on the device, for awareness or interoperability purposes may have eligibility for the permission. Permitted use includes device search, antivirus apps, file managers, and browsers. Apps granted access to this permission must comply with the User Data policies, including the Prominent Disclosure and Consent requirements, and may not extend its use to undisclosed or invalid purposes.

See Use of the broad package (App) visibility (QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES) permission

Answer 2

In my case I needed to add a android:host="*" to the data tag like this:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
          xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
          package="com.acme">
...
    <queries>
        <intent>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
            <data android:scheme="https" android:host="*" />
        </intent>
    </queries>
</manifest>

For Linking.canOpenURL(url) to return true for https://... URLs.