How app-first deep links and fallbacks work

Preview your first link

1. 1Open the Deep Links feature page and paste a direct video, product, playlist, or other destination URL.
2. 2Choose Preview my link. Review the detected app and web fallback; an unsupported destination shows that it will open on the web.
3. 3Choose Save my free link, then sign up or log in. Your destination is saved in this browser so you do not need to paste it again. If storage is blocked, allow site storage and retry first.
4. 4Finish signup in the same browser within 24 hours. LinkStack creates your link on the Links page and shows Copy link when it is ready.
5. 5For an optional link ending, open Customize in the preview and continue to your account. Custom endings follow your plan’s access. Affiliate setup appears only for Amazon links.

The app-first flow

• LinkStack starts with the final routed destination after country, affiliate, campaign, path, query, and fragment handling.
• For a recognized provider and supported mobile device, LinkStack builds the managed app handoff from that destination.
• A custom app destination can override automatic detection when you use a verified deep-link format.
• Desktop visitors continue to the normal web destination.

When the app does not open

The visitor continues to the web destination when the app is unavailable, the URL shape is not supported, app routing is off, the device is disabled, or the operating system or social browser blocks the handoff.

Fallback choices

• External browser fallback helps traffic leave a social in-app browser and continue in Safari or Chrome when Mobile behavior is on.
• In-app browser fallback keeps the visitor inside Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok when Mobile behavior is off.
• The Redirect behavior switch controls the choice screen before an app handoff. With Mobile behavior off, the choice screen and its app timer are skipped.
• Save changes before testing the public Link. Turning Mobile behavior off keeps country destinations, affiliate tags, campaign parameters, and eligible tracking pixels working.

Configure app routing

1. 1Open the Link and find Redirect behavior.
2. 2Confirm the final web destination works first.
3. 3Turn Redirect behavior on to show its options.
4. 4Leave Mobile behavior on to try a supported app and external-browser fallback, or turn it off to keep the destination in the current browser.
5. 5While Mobile behavior is on, leave Skip confirmation off to wait for a button tap, or turn it on and choose an app-opening delay.
6. 6Save changes, then test the public Link on real devices.