opening an Instant App by a Firebase Dynamic Link with custom parameters (App Links)

Question

I'm searching for a way to open an Android Instant app in a mobile browser. The app supports app links (deep linking in http/https).

My Android app is working as an instant app and can be opened by an app link in different apps that are not browsers (Gmail, Whatsapp, etc.).

I have concluded that the only way to be able to have an instant experience in browser apps is by using Firebase Dynamic Links.

The only way it works is by using short Firebase Dynamic Links (without app parameters in the link). I need to be able to build the link manually with parameters, so the app will know it's desired actions.

In order to use Firebase Dynamic Links, I've:

1. set up all basic requirements in my app for Firebase Dynamic Links.

2. set up a sub-domain and enabled it in the Firebase console (the Hosting section).

3. created a long dynamic link manually (described as the only way to send parameters by link).

example: https://sub.example.com/?link=https://example.com/some-path/file?param1=value1&param2=value2&apn=package.name.com

This long link works (in mobile browsers) only if the app is installed / is in cache. If the app is not installed, the app's play store page opens and offers to install / try it (as instant app).

Answer 1

I've contacted Firebase support, and got a solution: Adding the "afl" parameter in the link with the value of the app link.

Example:

https://sub.example.com/?link=https://example.com/some-path/file?param1=value1&param2=value2&apn=package.name.com**&afl=https://example.com/some-path/file?param1=value1&param2=value2**