Deep Linking only working if app is running - ios

Question

I have an app that uses deep linking to navigate to a page when a user shares specific content in the app with another user. This is working when the second user has the app already running, but if the app is not running it simply opens the app and remains on the main screen. I know I must be missing something really simple here, but I just can't figure it out and can't find any answers regarding this on google.
My code in AppDelegate.swift:
func application(_ application: UIApplication, open url: URL, sourceApplication: String?, annotation: Any) -> Bool {
let urlPath : String = url.path as String!
let urlHost : String = url.host as String!
let mainStoryboard: UIStoryboard = UIStoryboard(name: "Main", bundle: nil)
if(urlHost != "example.com")
{
print("Call Not From Correct Host. Not Continuing...")
return false
}
if(urlPath == "/articles"){
let article: ArticleDetailsViewController = mainStoryboard.instantiateViewController(withIdentifier: "ArticleDetailsViewController") as! ArticleDetailsViewController
self.window?.rootViewController = article
}
self.window?.makeKeyAndVisible()
return true
}
func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplicationLaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
// Override point for customization after application launch.
return true
}

Answer 1

This is correct behavior.
You should handle it in appliction(_: didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:)
func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplicationLaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
// Override point for customization after application launch.
if let url = launchOptions[.url] as? URL, let annotation = launchOptions[.annotation] {
return self.application(application, open: url, sourceApplication: launchOptions[.sourceApplication] as? String, annotation: annotation)
}
return true
}

Answer 2

If you are using sceneDelegate scene(_ scene: UIScene, willConnectTo session: UISceneSession, options connectionOptions: UIScene.ConnectionOptions) function will work when app is launched after terminated state.
url for deeplinking will be available in connectionOptions.urlContexts
func scene(_ scene: UIScene, willConnectTo session: UISceneSession, options connectionOptions: UIScene.ConnectionOptions) {
navigateToDeepLinkScreen(urlContexts: connectionOptions.urlContexts)
}

Answer 3

For Swift4.2
if launchOptions != nil{
let launch = launchOptions![UIApplicationLaunchOptionsKey.userActivityDictionary]! as! Dictionary <String,Any>
if ((launch["UIApplicationLaunchOptionsUserActivityKey"]! as! NSUserActivity).webpageURL != nil){
if defaults.bool(forKey: DEFAULTS_IS_FIRST_START){
print((launch["UIApplicationLaunchOptionsUserActivityKey"]! as! NSUserActivity).webpageURL)
}
}
}

Answer 4

func application(_ application: UIApplication,
didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
if let url = launchOptions?[.url] as? URL {
return handleWidgetUrl(url)
}
return true
}
// Custom function to handle url and do some actions
private func handleWidgetUrl(_ url: URL) -> Bool {}

Answer 5

For SceneDelegate:
func scene(_ scene: UIScene, willConnectTo session: UISceneSession, options connectionOptions: UIScene.ConnectionOptions) {
/* some stuff */
for activity in connectionOptions.userActivities {
if let url = activity.webpageURL {
// handle
}
}
}