Link Handling
This feature is not (yet) supported on your device
Link handling enables a PWA to open links instead of the user's default browser. A PWA can only open links within its scope, meaning URLs within its domain.
To configure how a link will be opened, a PWA can specify the handle_links property in its
manifest.json, although this is optional since Chrome 140. This property can take three values:
- “preferred”: the link will be opened by the PWA
- “not-preferred”: the link will not be opened by the PWA
- “auto”: default value if handle_links is not found in the manifest. The user agent may choose between “preferred” and “not-preferred”.
Demo
Install this PWA with Chrome on Android or add it to the Dock on macOS with Safari and send the link
https://whatpwacando.today/link-handling (or any other link in this web app) to yourself in an email
or text message. Then open that email or message in an app that is not a web browser (for example Whatsapp or your
email app) and then click that link. It should now open in the PWA instead of your default browser.
If you install the PWA with a Chromium-based browser on Android or desktop, the PWA will open the link if it's
clicked in that same browser and has target="_blank". On desktop, you need to make sure there is no
existing browser tab with a URL within the installed PWA's scope, otherwise that tab will be opened instead.
If you click the link in another PWA installed through a Chromium-based browser on Android or desktop, it will be opened in the PWA as well.
You may need to interact a few times with the installed PWA first before the link will be opened in it.
Documentation
Link handling explainer.Browser support
Link handling is supported in PWAs installed with Chrome on Android, Chromium-based browsers on desktop, and
PWAs added to the Dock with Safari on macOS. Safari on macOS does not support handle_links.