These days, most of us do a lot of our internet browsing on our smartphones. We use our phones to check email, scroll through social media, read the news, shop online, and more. Frequently, the links we encounter will automatically open in our mobile web browser. However, if available, you may prefer to have certain links open directly in the related app on your phone.
Fortunately, most smartphones allow you to choose whether you want links to open in the browser or the related app if you have that app installed. Here is an in-depth look at how to open link in app instead of browser.
How to Open Links in Apps on iPhone
The iPhone makes it easy to open web links directly in apps if you have them installed. Here are the steps:
Check If You Have the App Installed
The first step is to check if you already have the app installed for the link you want to open. For example, if you’re going to open a YouTube or Facebook link in the app instead of Safari, verify you have the official YouTube and Facebook apps from the App Store installed on your iPhone.
You can check your installed apps by going to the App Library or searching for the app name. If you don’t already have the desired app, you’ll need to download it from the App Store first.
Tap and Hold the Link
Once you confirm you have the app installed, tap and hold your finger down on the link when you come across it. This could be a link in an email, text message, social media app, web page, or anywhere else.
After holding your finger on the link briefly, a context menu will pop up, giving you different options for that link.
Tap “Open in [App Name]”
In the context menu that appears, you should see an option to “Open in [App Name]” for the appropriate app. For example, if it’s a YouTube link, you would see “Open in YouTube,” or for a Twitter link, you might see “Open in Twitter.”
Tap that option to open the link directly within the related app instead of Safari.
Enable Link Opening for All Links
A setting to enable this will cause all links of a particular type to open in the related app from now on.
Go to Settings > [App Name] and look for an option called “Open Links With [App Name].” Turn this setting on for any apps you want to open links with.
For example, a toggle in the YouTube app settings for “Open Links With YouTube.” Turning this on will automatically open all YouTube video links in the YouTube app.
Resetting Defaults
You can reset the default behavior in Settings if you change your mind later. Go to Settings > [App Name] > Reset Link Opening Defaults. This will revert to opening links in Safari instead of that particular app.
Using Reader View in Safari
One extra tip – if you open a link in Safari but want a simplified reading view, tap the “aA” icon in the URL bar and select “Reader View.” This strips away ads and clutter and makes the article text more readable.
Opening app links on your iPhone instead of Safari is quick and easy. Just tap and hold links to access opening options. Enable link opening in app settings for automatic behavior moving forward.
How to Open Links in Apps on Android
Android devices also make it straightforward to open web links directly in related apps instead of the Chrome browser. Follow these steps:
Check That You Have the App Installed
As on iPhone, the first step is to verify you have the associated app installed for the link you want to open.
For instance, if you want to open a link from Twitter in the Twitter app instead of Chrome, be sure you have the official Twitter app from the Google Play Store installed. Check your Apps menu if you’re unsure.
Tap and Hold the Link
When you encounter a link you want to open in an app, tap and hold your finger on the link for a couple of seconds. This could be a link in an email, messaging app, website, or anywhere else.
After holding it, a context menu will appear with options for handling the link.
Tap “Open in [App Name]”
In the context menu, look for the option “Open in [App Name]” for the app you want to use. Tap this to open the link directly in that app instead of in the Chrome browser.
For example, you’d see “Open in YouTube” for a YouTube link or “Open in Twitter” for a Twitter link. Tap it to open the link in the related app.
Change Default App for Links
To automatically open links in apps, you can change the default app behavior in Android settings.
Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Opening links.
Here, you can select which app you want as the default for various links – for example, choosing YouTube to open all YouTube links.
Reset App Associations
If you want to revert the settings to open links in Chrome later on, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Opening links > Reset app preferences.
This will reset link associations to default, opening links in Chrome. You can then set new app preferences again if desired.
Request Desktop Site in Chrome
Bonus tip: If a web page doesn’t display correctly in the mobile version of Chrome, tap the 3-dot menu in Chrome and select “Request desktop site” to view the desktop version for better formatting.
With just a tap and hold-on links, you can easily open them directly in related apps on Android. Change default app associations in Settings for automatic link-opening behavior moving forward.
How to Open Links in Apps on Windows Phone
Windows phones also allow you to open web links directly in apps instead of the Microsoft Edge browser. Here is how:
Verify You Have the App Installed
As with other platforms, first, make sure you have the app installed that you want to open the link in.
If you’re not sure whether you have the app yet, check your Apps list. You may need to download it from the Microsoft Store.
Press and Hold the Link
When you encounter a link you want to open in an app, press and hold your finger on the link for a moment. You can do this from an email, text, web page, or anywhere else you encounter a link.
After holding it for a second, a context menu will pop up with some actions.
Tap “Open in [App]”
In the context menu, look for the option that says “Open in [App]” for the desired app and tap it.
For example, you may see “Open in YouTube” for a YouTube link or “Open in Twitter” for a Twitter link. This will launch the link directly in the associated app instead of the Edge browser.
Set Default App for Links
To open links in apps by default moving forward, you can set default app associations in Windows settings.
Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. Scroll down to “Choose default apps by protocol.”
Here, you can select the app you want as the default option for various types of links. For instance, you can choose YouTube to open YouTube links.
Reset Default Apps
If you want to revert link associations to the Edge browser later on, go back to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Choose default apps by protocol and tap “Reset.”
This resets protocols back to opening links in Edge again as the default. You can then choose new app associations if desired.
Reading View in Edge
One extra tip: if you open a web page in Edge and it’s cluttered, tap the books icon to enter Reading View. This strips away ads, images, and formatting to simplify the page for reading.
With a press and hold on links on your Windows phone, you can easily open them directly in apps for a smoother experience. Set default apps in Settings for automatic link-opening behavior.
Conclusion
On most modern smartphones, opening links directly in open link in app instead of browser is easy. Just tap and hold a link to choose the app opening option and enable app preferences in your device settings for automatic link handling.
This allows you to streamline your browsing experience by going straight into apps from links, avoiding slow page loads. Apps open faster and provide smoother navigation for their specific content compared to generic mobile web pages.
Setting app associations as defaults enables seamless one-tap access to content in your favorite apps. If you change your mind later, you can always revert to opening links in your mobile browser.
Knowing how to open links in apps on iOS, Android, and Windows phones can optimize your mobile experience. Apps keep getting better at handling web content within their own interfaces.
By opening links directly in apps, you can benefit from faster load times, smoother navigation, and an uninterrupted browsing experience designed specifically for those apps. Just tap, hold, and go straight into the content.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have the app installed?
Check your smartphone’s Apps menu or library. If you’re unsure whether an app is installed, search for its name.
What if I don’t have the app installed?
Before opening links with the official app, download it from your device’s app store. Before opening a store, Google Play Store or Microsoft Store.
Why won’t my link open in the app?
If tapping a link doesn’t open the app, check that you have the latest version installed. Older versions may not support in-app browser capabilities. Also, make sure the app is up to date in your device settings.
Can I revert the links to opening in my browser?
Yes, you can revert app preferences to having links open in your mobile browser, like Safari or Chrome instead. In your device settings, look for the options to reset app defaults or associations for links.
Do all apps support in-app browsers?
Not necessarily. Some apps may not have built-in in-app browser capabilities. Check the app’s features or store listing to see if it supports opening web links directly within the app. If not, links will open in your mobile browser instead.
What are the benefits of opening links in apps?
Opening links directly in apps can provide a smoother, more optimized experience. Apps are designed specifically for their content versus web pages, which may not be formatted correctly on a mobile browser. Apps also save time by eliminating steps.
Can I choose where to open links on a case-by-case basis?
Yes, you can choose each time whether to open a given link in the associated app or mobile browser by tapping and holding the link. The context menu gives you the choice each time a link is tapped.
Is this feature available on all smartphones?
Most modern smartphones, including iPhones, Android devices, and Windows phones, support opening web links directly in apps. If you’re unsure, check your phone’s manufacturer instructions for details.
Those cover some of the most common questions about opening links directly in apps. If you have any other questions, contact your device or app provider’s customer support.
