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🧩 Troubleshooting & Testing Deeplinks

Common Issue — App Opens Store Instead of Launching​

A frequent issue developers encounter is when tapping a deeplink opens the Play Store or App Store instead of launching the app.

This usually happens because Google and Apple take a few minutes to several hours to verify and associate your deeplink domain with your app.

🔹 Android​

Steps to Verify​

  1. Check Package Name
    Ensure the Package name in your ChottuLink Dashboard exactly matches your app’s package name.
    Each deeplink domain is verified against a single package name - that’s how Android’s app-link association works.

  2. Verify SHA256 Fingerprints
    Add all your local (debug keystore) and production keystore SHA256 fingerprints in the ChottuLink Dashboard.
    If multiple developers work on the project, make sure to include the SHA256 fingerprints from each developer’s debug keystore as well.

  3. Enable App Links
    Confirm that the “Enable App Links” checkbox is turned ON.

  4. Manifest Declaration
    Verify that your AndroidManifest.xml correctly declares your deeplink domain.
    👉 Refer: Android Setup Guide

  5. SDK Integration
    Complete all SDK setup steps.
    👉 Refer: Android Setup Guide

  6. Reinstall and Open the App
    After completing SDK integration, reinstall and open the app once.
    This triggers a domain verification request to Google.

  7. Check Verification Status / Force Re-Verification
    While keeping the app installed, run the following commands:

    Check Status

    adb shell pm get-app-links <packageName>

    If it returns verified for chottu.link, everything is configured correctly.

    Force Re-Verification

    adb shell pm verify-app-links --re-verify <packageName>

    Repeat the first command to confirm if the status has changed.

note

If the app still doesn’t open via the deeplink, please wait — it typically takes a few hours for Google to fully verify and associate your domain.
Always test by clicking the deeplink from a messaging app (e.g., WhatsApp or Telegram) rather than typing the URL manually in a browser, as browsers may not launch the app and will instead try to open the webpage.

🍎 iOS​

Steps to Verify​

  1. Apple Team ID
    Ensure the Apple Team ID in your ChottuLink Dashboard matches your Apple Developer account.

  2. Bundle ID
    Verify the Bundle ID in your ChottuLink Dashboard matches your app’s bundle identifier.

  3. App Store ID (if published)
    If your app is live, confirm the App Store ID in your ChottuLink Dashboard matches your app.

  4. Enable Universal Links
    Make sure the “Enable Universal Links” checkbox is ON. in your ChottuLink Dashboard

  5. Associated Domains
    Add your deeplink domain under the Associated Domains section in Xcode.
    👉 Refer: iOS Setup Guide

  6. SDK Integration
    Complete all SDK setup steps.
    👉 Refer: iOS Setup Guide

  7. Reinstall and Open the App
    Once integration is complete, reinstall and open your app to trigger Apple’s domain verification process.

note

If the app still doesn’t open via the deeplink, please wait — it typically takes a few hours for Apple to fully verify and associate your domain.
Always test by clicking the deeplink from a messaging app (e.g., WhatsApp or Telegram) rather than typing the URL manually in a browser, as browsers may not launch the app and will instead try to open the webpage.

🧭 How to test Deferred Deeplinks ?​

🔹 Android​

Steps​

  1. Uninstall the app from your device.

  2. Tap a ChottuLink deeplink (e.g., from WhatsApp or another messaging app).
    → It should redirect you to your Play Store listing.

  3. Do not click “Install” in Play Store. Instead, install the app via your IDE (Android Studio, etc).

  4. Once the app opens, you should receive the callback in:

    ChottuLink.getAppLinkData(getIntent())
        .addOnSuccessListener()

Things to Keep in Mind​

  • The Play Store app on your test device should be logged in with a personal Google account, not a corporate/work account.
  • The app must be fully published and live on the Play Store (with or without our SDK).
  • Use a physical device — emulators will not correctly handle deferred deeplinks.
  • The app package name you mentioned on your ChottuLink Dashboard must match exactly with the playstore one.

🍎 iOS​

Steps​

  1. Uninstall the app from your device.

  2. Tap a ChottuLink deeplink (from a messaging app).
    → It should redirect you to your App Store listing.

  3. Do not click “Install” in the App Store. Instead, install the app via your IDE (Xcode, etc).

  4. Once the app opens, you should receive the callback in:

    chottuLink(didResolveDeepLink link: URL, metadata: ?)

Things to Keep in Mind​

  • Your app does not need to be live on the App Store to test this.
    However, deferred deeplinking does not work on TestFlight builds.
    Use either a local build or a live App Store build.
  • Use a physical device — emulators will not correctly handle deferred deeplinks.