QR Code Deep Linking
Definition: Deep linking is encoding a URL that opens a native app at a specific screen rather than the app home page or a browser.
Modern deep linking relies on universal links on iOS and app links on Android: standard https URLs that the operating system routes to an installed app, and to the web page when the app is missing. This is why encoding a normal https link is almost always better than a custom scheme such as myapp://, which shows an error when the app is not installed. For QR codes the practical rule is to encode the https link the platform already supports, keep the URL short so the code stays sparse, and always confirm the browser fallback is a usable page rather than a dead end.
Key points
- Prefer https universal and app links over custom URI schemes
- Custom schemes fail silently when the app is not installed
- Always design the web fallback page, not just the app path
- Short deep links keep code density low
- Test on both iOS and Android before printing
Frequently asked questions
Can a QR code open an app directly?
Yes. Encode a universal or app link and the operating system routes the scan into the installed app.
What happens if the user does not have the app?
A universal link opens the equivalent web page. A custom scheme link shows an error instead.
Should I use a custom URI scheme in a QR code?
Generally no — the fallback behaviour is poor and many scanners block unknown schemes.
Related terms
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