1891559 - open link in apps is set to never but still in custom tabs and pwa getting prompt to open in app

Status: NEW

(Firefox for Android :: PWA, defect)

Description

[raj.azharuddin]

Attachment: Screenshot_2024-04-16-00-21-46-002_com.mi.android.globallauncher-edit.jpg

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 13; Mobile; rv:126.0) Gecko/126.0 Firefox/126.0

Steps to reproduce:

open link in apps is set to "never" but still in custom tabs and pwa getting prompt to open in app

Expected results:

If open link in apps is set to never, it should never prompt to open in app in custom tabs and pwa

Comment 1

[BugBot [:suhaib / :marco/ :calixte]]

The Bugbug bot thinks this bug should belong to the 'Fenix::PWA' component, and is moving the bug to that component. Please correct in case you think the bot is wrong.

Comment 2

[Lorand Janos]

Hi,
I wasn't able to reproduce the described issue.
I used the Flipkart application as the external app, and I didn't get the prompt with the open link in apps set to "never".
I've used a Unihertz device with Android 13 and a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Android 14) as well.
Tested build: Latest Nightly build (126.0a1 from 2024-04-16).
Please share some information about your device, and maybe try reproducing your issue after a clear data.
Thank you!

Comment 3

[raj.azharuddin]

Attachment: VID_20240416_234830.mp4

Comment 4

[raj.azharuddin]

I am attaching a video
Custom tabs and pwa not respecting app link setting..it works fine in main browser window

Device: poco f4, Android 13

Comment 5

[Lorand Janos]

Thank you, that helped a lot, I misunderstood something, I can reproduce the issue now.
So yes, the prompt is displayed in the custom tab while open link in apps is set to never.
Marking the issue as confirmed.

Comment 6

[egk10]

I am also getting this issue in an installed PWA on launch of the PWA. Please note that Firefox on Android is NOT my default browser, but I want to be able to use PWAs installed via Firefox due to its better speed and smoothness. I have switched "Open link in apps" to never, and I don't get this notification when clicking on links. I ONLY get it when I launch my PWA (every time I launch it). I can cancel out of it and continue as usual, but it's pretty annoying behaviour!

Comment 7

[MCrawford4]

Is there an update on this? This bug is causing me a lot of problems.

Comment 8

[rosss84]

Same.
Bug just started recently in Firefox on Android 13.
On opening links in Firefox get message:
Firefox android opening links
"open in another app
would you like to leave firefox to view this content?"
Have to click cancel to proceed.
I already have "Open links in apps" turned off in Settings, and I've already tried toggling it on and then off again and restarting, to no avail.

Comment 9

[rosss84]

Fix:
Firefox> Settings> Open Links in Apps> Never
Fixed it. Hope it doesn't cause me any problems later down the line.
Will monitor to see if it returns.
https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/118iux9/open_in_another_app_prompt/

Comment 10

[egk10]

Thanks, @rosss84. That setting didn't used to make a difference, but now it does suppress the behaviour, so it must have been updated recently. However, it makes no sense that these prompts should be given by default in an installed PWA on Android. If someone has installed a Web page as an app, then they should not be bugged about opening links "in the app" -- PWAs are apps by definition. Users should not be required to hunt out settings to turn off this annoying behaviour.

Comment 11

[rosss84]

Yes, it's annoying. If I clicked cancel, the prompt returned and If I licked ok, then Chrome took over as my default browser which I didn't want. Not sure what suddenly prompted the change in behaviour.

Comment 12

[Y]

This is an issue for me too after having to update Firefox because of the Expiring Root Certificate that made uBlock stop working.
Firefox> Settings> Open Links in Apps> Always = Works
Firefox> Settings> Open Links in Apps> Never = Does nothing when you run a "Add to Home screen" shortcut.
Only way i found was to uninstall the app in question to get the popup to not always appear (9gag in this case).

This issue is almost a year old. What's the status?

Comment 13

[seniordevel]

This still is an annoying issue in Firefox 142.0 for Android and persists at least for a year.

When woll it be fixed ?

Comment 14

[seniordevel]

(In reply to seniordevel from comment #13)

This still is an annoying issue in Firefox 142.0 for Android and persists at least for a year.

When will it be fixed ?