Branch.io links Facebook issue - ios

Question

I implemented branch.io links and it is working fine for WhatsApp and from Notes, but not Facebook Messenger or any other place with in-app browser.
As per documentation:
To work around this limitation, your links must have deepviews or something similar enabled, with a call-to-action link/button that has a Universal Link behind it. This way, clicking a link from the app feed will open a webview containing your deepview page, and the user can then click the link/button to launch your app.
For example Facebook Messenger should open in-app browser with deepview of my link, and if user tap button - my app should be opened, it is fine for me, but doesn't work like this.
In my case facebook is opening in-app browser with my deepview and automatically (I didn't tap button) redirects me to... AppStore :(. But if I open my app manually, I'm getting callback and app is redirecting me to proper place.

Answer 1

It is recommended to use forced redirections for links shared on Facebook since Universal Links work conditionally. You can force Facebook to open your app by appending $uri_redirect_mode=2 as a query parameter to your Branch link.
eg: https://example.app.link/83jlowd0?$uri_redirect_mode=2
You can learn more about forced redirections here- https://docs.branch.io/pages/links/integrate/#forced-redirections
If you still face issues, please write to support#branch.io and someone from the Branch team will be able to assist you with this.

Answer 2

I had the same problem. the branch object returned from Branch.io SDK was returning an object without all parameters.
All I did was follow the great document provided by Branch.io
document provided by Branch.io
So as I was using the Scene in my app. Calling these methods in my sceneDelegate solved the issue.
import UIKit
import Branch
class SceneDelegate: UIResponder, UIWindowSceneDelegate {
var window: UIWindow?
func scene(_ scene: UIScene, willConnectTo session: UISceneSession, options connectionOptions: UIScene.ConnectionOptions) {
// Use this method to optionally configure and attach the UIWindow `window` to the provided UIWindowScene `scene`.
// If using a storyboard, the `window` property will automatically be initialized and attached to the scene.
// This delegate does not imply the connecting scene or session are new (see `application:configurationForConnectingSceneSession` instead).
guard let _ = (scene as? UIWindowScene) else { return }
// workaround for SceneDelegate continueUserActivity not getting called on cold start
if let userActivity = connectionOptions.userActivities.first {
BranchScene.shared().scene(scene, continue: userActivity)
}
}
func sceneDidDisconnect(_ scene: UIScene) {
// Called as the scene is being released by the system.
// This occurs shortly after the scene enters the background, or when its session is discarded.
// Release any resources associated with this scene that can be re-created the next time the scene connects.
// The scene may re-connect later, as its session was not neccessarily discarded (see `application:didDiscardSceneSessions` instead).
}
func sceneDidBecomeActive(_ scene: UIScene) {
// Called when the scene has moved from an inactive state to an active state.
// Use this method to restart any tasks that were paused (or not yet started) when the scene was inactive.
}
func sceneWillResignActive(_ scene: UIScene) {
// Called when the scene will move from an active state to an inactive state.
// This may occur due to temporary interruptions (ex. an incoming phone call).
}
func sceneWillEnterForeground(_ scene: UIScene) {
// Called as the scene transitions from the background to the foreground.
// Use this method to undo the changes made on entering the background.
}
func sceneDidEnterBackground(_ scene: UIScene) {
// Called as the scene transitions from the foreground to the background.
// Use this method to save data, release shared resources, and store enough scene-specific state information
// to restore the scene back to its current state.
}
func scene(_ scene: UIScene, continue userActivity: NSUserActivity) {
BranchScene.shared().scene(scene, continue: userActivity)
}
func scene(_ scene: UIScene, openURLContexts URLContexts: Set<UIOpenURLContext>) {
BranchScene.shared().scene(scene, openURLContexts: URLContexts)
}
}