Skip to main content

UniLink opens Play Store, not app

This guide helps you fix the issue where UniLink redirect to Play Store instead of opening your app directly.

Prerequisites
  • Your app is published on Google Play Store
  • You have access to Apptrove Panel
  • You have access to Google Play Console
  • Your app has proper intent filters configured in AndroidManifest.xml

Step 1: Check Apptrove Panel Template​

  1. Go to Apptrove Panel → Your App → UniLink → Edit Template
  2. Navigate to Android Configuration section
  3. Check SHA256 Fingerprint configuration

Add SHA256 Fingerprints​

Important

Add SHA256 fingerprints for both debug and release builds to ensure compatibility across all app versions.

  • Debug SHA256: Only works on debug builds
  • Release SHA256: Works on production builds
  • Multiple SHA256: You can add multiple fingerprints for different build types

Get SHA256 from Play Console​

  1. Go to Google Play Console → Your App
  2. Navigate to Release → Setup → App integrity
  3. Copy the SHA-256 certificate fingerprint

Add to Apptrove Panel​

In the App Link section, add your SHA256 fingerprints:

Example: 91:AC:3E:2F:CB:EF:50:07:2B:E0:D9:8D:8B:C2:42:87:6A:85:02:86:EB:44:84:10:34:02:ED:35:CE:C6:38:47

SHA256 Configuration

Step 2: Verify assetlinks.json File​

After adding SHA256 fingerprints in the panel, check if they appear in your domain's assetlinks.json file.

Check Your Domain​

Visit: https://yourdomain.u9ilnk.me/.well-known/assetlinks.json

Example: https://yourdomain.me/.well-known/assetlinks.json

AssetLink.Json Configuration

You should see your SHA256 fingerprints listed:

[
  {
    "relation": [
      "delegate_permission/common.handle_all_urls"
    ],
    "target": {
      "namespace": "android_app",
      "package_name": "yourpackage.name",
      "sha256_cert_fingerprints": [
        "74:BC:E2:B0:79:8F:78:65:33:C5:FB:D8:08:DC:8B:A8:7B:58:68:C8:2A:2B:20:C9:DB:3D:A6:C3:B6:FF:E5:9E",
        "AC:B2:2A:88:CD:E2:16:B4:3D:3F:9D:45:1A:41:A7:90:32:ED:2F:F4:3A:95:66:DE:0B:AD:60:D3:28:C9:27:90",
        "A6:C2:05:03:24:13:F9:3D:24:21:0C:39:52:EC:01:BE:FC:3E:83:2D:2E:12:C5:56:BA:F8:47:81:AA:9A:37:90",
        "05:BC:67:31:80:9F:9D:75:39:62:87:EA:30:F8:6A:F2:56:1A:3D:D5:1A:45:45:35:29:E0:F2:AD:5B:E5:07:EA"
      ]
    }
  }
]
Update Time

It may take a few minutes to hours for the assetlinks.json file to update after adding SHA256 in the panel. Be patient and check periodically.

Step 3: Test Your App​

  1. Install your app from Play Store
  2. Test the UniLink - it should now open the app instead of redirecting to Play Store

If UniLink still redirect to Play Store, verify the app links in Android settings:

  1. Go to Android Settings → Apps → Your App
  2. Click "Open by default"
  3. Look for "Verified links" button
  4. Click "Verified links" to see if your domain is listed

[Before Links Configuration]

Verified Links
Domain Not Listed

If your domain is not listed in the verified links, this indicates a Play Store verification issue. You need to follow Step 5 to add your domain in Google Play Console.

Step 5: Google Play Console Domain Verification​

If your domain is not verified, follow these steps in Google Play Console:

  1. Go to Google Play Console → Your App
  2. Navigate to Grow → Deep links
  3. Check if your domain is listed

Play Store Deep Links

Add Domain (if not listed)​

  1. Click "Add domain"
  2. Follow the setup steps:

Step 1: Add Domain Details​

Domain: yourdomain.u9ilnk.me

Step 2: Copy Generated JSON​

Enable credential sharing and copy the generated JSON:

[
  {
    "relation": [
      "delegate_permission/common.handle_all_urls",
      "delegate_permission/common.get_login_creds"
    ],
    "target": {
      "namespace": "android_app",
      "package_name": "com.yourapp.vistmarket",
      "sha256_cert_fingerprints": [
        "E5:E5:84:65:7B:29:4D:53:5E:36:B8:6B:05:CB:07:02:A7:6C:56:74:B0:84:9C:B5:C4:DE:50:29:8B:8F:A0:B5"
      ]
    }
  }
]

Step 3: Publish JSON File​

Upload the JSON file to: https://yourdomain.u9ilnk.me/.well-known/assetlinks.json

Step 4: Create Website Association​

  1. Return to Google Play Console
  2. Click "Create website association"
  3. Add the SHA256 fingerprint to your Apptrove UniLink template:
E5:E5:84:65:7B:29:4D:53:5E:36:B8:6B:05:CB:07:02:A7:6C:56:74:B0:84:9C:B5:C4:DE:50:29:8B:8F:A0:B5

Step 6: Verify Domain Association​

After completing the setup:

  1. Check your assetlinks.json file again
  2. Wait 1 hour for verification
  3. Test your UniLink - it should now open the app
Verification Time

Google Play Console verification can take up to 1 hour. During this time, your deeplinks may still redirect to Play Store. Wait for the verification to complete before testing again.

For Developers

This step is optional and only needed if you want to verify the technical details of your app links configuration.

To debug app links on your device:

  1. Connect your phone to Android Studio (wireless debugging recommended)
  2. Install the app from Play Store
  3. Run the ADB command (see terminal command example below in "Before and After Verification" section)

Status meanings:

  • verified: Domain is properly verified
  • 1024: Domain verification failed
  • none: No verification attempted

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

SHA256 Not Updated

Issue: SHA256 not updated in assetlinks.json

  • Solution: Wait a few hours after adding to panel
  • Check: Verify you added the correct SHA256 fingerprint
Domain Not Verified

Issue: Domain not verified in Play Console

  • Solution: Follow Step 5 to add domain in Play Console
  • Check: Ensure JSON file is accessible at the correct URL
App Links Still Not Working

Issue: App links not working after verification

  • Solution: Check Android manifest configuration
  • Check: Verify intent filters are correct and match your domain

Before and After Verification​

Terminal Command to Check Verification

To verify the domain verification status, run this ADB command:

adb shell pm get-app-links level.game

Complete terminal output:

adb shell pm get-app-links level.game

level.game: ID: b1220acd-62d1-4d79-89cc-cf8334605f26 
Signatures: [05:BC:67:31:80:9F:9D:75:39:62:87:EA:30:F8:6A:F2:56:1A:3D:D5:1A:45:45:35:29:E0:F2:AD:5B:E5:07:EA] 
Domain verification state: 
  click.lvl.fit: verified 
  ldemo.onelink.me: verified 
  mind.homelevel.game: verified 
  home.u9ilnk.me: 1024

What to look for:

  • Package ID: Shows your app's unique identifier
  • Signatures: Displays your app's SHA256 certificate fingerprint
  • Domain verification state: Shows verification status for each domain

Before Verification

After Verification

Once everything is completed and working properly, when you check your app's verified links in Android settings, you should see your domain listed:

Verified Links

Summary​

Complete Checklist
  1. Add SHA256 fingerprints to Apptrove Panel
  2. Verify assetlinks.json file is updated
  3. Test UniLink functionality
  4. Check Android settings for verified links
  5. Add domain in Google Play Console if needed
  6. Wait for verification (up to 1 hour)
  7. Test final UniLink behavior
Success

After completing these steps, your UniLink should open the app directly instead of redirecting to Play Store.

Need Help?​

If you're still experiencing issues after following this guide: