URL Scheme for App which is not installed

Question

Simple question, I'm developing an application that will register its own URL Scheme. I plan to launch the application using a QRCode via a person's favourite QRCode reader.

My question: if my application is not yet installed on their iPhone/iPad, what will happen? Will they be directed to the App Store to download my app? Or will it just fail?

I'm not at my Mac right now, otherwise I'd build a test app to launch a URL for an app I know is not installed. If I get back to my Mac before someone answers, I'll update the question with my results.

Answer 1

You can simply read the return value of the method -(BOOL)openURL:(NSURL*)url. If it's NO, it means that the target application isn't installed. The following code gives an example using the navigon url scheme:

NSString *stringURL = @"navigon://coordinate/NaviCard/19.084443/47.573305";
NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:stringURL];
if([[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url]) {
    NSLog(@"Well done!");
} else {
    stringURL = @"https://itunes.apple.com/it/app/navigon-europe/id320279293?mt=8";
    url = [NSURL URLWithString:stringURL];
    [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];
}

Update Swift 3

var stringURL = "navigon://coordinate/NaviCard/19.084443/47.573305"
var url = URL.init(string: stringURL)
if !UIApplication.shared.canOpenURL(url!) {
    stringURL = "https://itunes.apple.com/it/app/navigon-europe/id320279293?mt=8"
    url = URL.init(string: stringURL) 
}
if #available(iOS 10.0, *) {
    UIApplication.shared.open(url!, options: [:], completionHandler: nil)
} else {
    UIApplication.shared.openURL(url!)
}

Answer 2

If you link directly to your app scheme, it will fail. However, if you link to a page on a website with the code available on this StackOverFlow question, it will attempt to open your app, then the app store if it fails.