How to link to apps on the app store

How to Link to Apps on the App Store 📲

So, you've created a cool iPhone game and you want to make it easy for users to find and download the paid version of your app from the App Store. 🎮💵

But you've noticed that when you use a standard link to the App Store, it opens Safari first and then redirects to the app store. 😕 You've seen other apps that directly open the app store, so you know it's possible. 🤔

In this blog post, we will address this common issue and provide you with an easy solution to directly link to your app on the App Store. Let's dive right in! 💪

Understanding the Issue

The reason why the standard link opens Safari first is because it is the default behavior for handling app store URLs. 🌐 The App Store link you've been using is a web URL, and when clicked, it opens Safari and then redirects to the app store. 🔄 Although it works, it's not the seamless experience you desire for your users. 😓

Introducing URL Schemes 🌟

URL schemes are a way for apps to communicate with each other directly, allowing you to perform specific actions within an app. Luckily, the App Store also has its own URL scheme that we can use to directly open the app store from within your app. 🚀

The Magic URL Scheme: itms-apps 🔮

To directly open the app store, you can use the URL scheme itms-apps. This URL scheme tells iOS to open the App Store app directly, bypassing Safari. ✨ Here's an example link using the itms-apps scheme:

<pre><code><a href="itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/idYOUR_APP_ID_HERE">itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/idYOUR_APP_ID_HERE</a></code></pre>

Replace YOUR_APP_ID_HERE with the actual ID of your app in the App Store. The App ID is a unique identifier for every app on the App Store and can be found in your app's URL on the App Store website. 🆔

Finding Your App ID 🕵️‍

To find your app's ID, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and go to https://appstore.com.

2. In the search bar, enter the name of your app.

3. Click on your app's icon in the search results.

4. In the URL of the app's page, you will find the ID. It will be something like id123456789.

Putting It All Together 🔗

Once you have your App ID, you can create a link to your app using the itms-apps URL scheme. Here's an example:

<pre><code><a href="itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id123456789">Download the Paid Version of My Awesome Game</a></code></pre>

When this link is clicked, iOS will open the App Store app directly, taking users to the page of your paid app. This provides a seamless experience for your users and increases the likelihood of them downloading the paid version. 💯💰

Let's Sum It Up! 📝

To summarize, by using the itms-apps URL scheme, you can link directly to your app on the App Store, providing a better user experience and increasing the chances of conversions. Simply replace YOUR_APP_ID_HERE in the URL with your app's ID, and you're good to go! 🙌

Now that you know how to link to your app on the App Store, go ahead and implement it in your free version of the game. Get ready to see those paid app downloads skyrocket! 🚀

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below. Share this post with fellow app developers and help them improve their user experience too! 👍✉️

Happy linking and happy app promoting! 📱🌟