iOS Deep Linking
Set up Universal Links to open your iOS app directly from LinkSense dynamic links.
Overview
iOS Universal Links allow your dynamic links to open directly in your iOS app instead of the browser. When a user with your app installed taps a LinkSense dynamic link, iOS checks the Apple App Site Association (AASA) file and, if configured correctly, opens the link in your app.
LinkSense automatically hosts the AASA file for your project subdomain, so you only need to register your app and configure your Xcode project.
Prerequisites
Before setting up iOS deep linking, make sure you have:
- An Apple Developer account with an active membership
- Your app's Bundle Identifier (e.g.,
com.example.myapp) - Your Apple Team ID (found in the Apple Developer portal)
- A LinkSense project with a subdomain
Registering Your iOS App
From your project settings in the LinkSense dashboard, navigate to the iOS Apps section and click "Add iOS App". Provide the following information:
- App Name — A friendly name for the app
- Bundle ID — Your app's Bundle Identifier
- Team ID — Your Apple Developer Team ID
- App Store ID — Your app's App Store ID, found in App Store Connect under App Information (for fallback redirects)
- Custom Scheme — Optional URI scheme for older iOS versions
Finding your Team ID
Your Team ID can be found in your Apple Developer Membership Details. It is a 10-character alphanumeric string (e.g., A1B2C3D4E5). For more on how Universal Links work, see Apple's guide on Supporting Universal Links in Your App.
Apple App Site Association (AASA)
LinkSense automatically generates and hosts the AASA file at the well-known path for your project subdomain. The file is served at:
https://your-subdomain.linksense.net/.well-known/apple-app-site-associationThe generated AASA file follows this structure:
{
"applinks": {
"apps": [],
"details": [
{
"appIDs": ["TEAM_ID.com.example.myapp"],
"paths": ["*"]
}
]
}
}Automatic updates
The AASA file is automatically updated when you add or remove iOS apps from your project. No manual file hosting is required.
Configuring Your Xcode Project
To enable Universal Links in your iOS app, you need to add the Associated Domains capability in Xcode:
- Open your project in Xcode
- Select your app target and go to Signing & Capabilities
- Click + Capability and add Associated Domains
- Add an entry with your LinkSense subdomain
Your entitlements file should include:
<key>com.apple.developer.associated-domains</key>
<array>
<string>applinks:your-subdomain.linksense.net</string>
</array>Testing Universal Links
To test that Universal Links are working correctly:
- Install your app on a physical device (Universal Links do not work in the simulator)
- Open the Notes app or Messages and paste your dynamic link URL
- Tap the link — it should open directly in your app
- If the link opens in Safari instead, long-press it and check for an "Open in [App]" option
Common issues
Universal Links will not work if you type the URL directly in Safari's address bar. They only trigger from taps on links in other apps, such as Notes, Mail, Messages, or third-party apps.