DeeplinkX

Type-safe deeplinks into external apps — with automatic store & web fallback, on every Flutter platform.

🌐 Live Demo  ·  📖 API Reference  ·  ➕ Request an App

DeeplinkX is a Flutter plugin for launching typed external deeplinks — it launches deeplinks into other apps from your Flutter app. Open a chat in WhatsApp, a profile in Telegram or Instagram, a video on YouTube, or a location in Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Sygic, Moovit, or Neshan with turn-by-turn directions — with one strongly-typed call. When the target app isn't installed, it automatically falls back to the right app store, then to a web URL. No URL strings to maintain, no Platform.isAndroid branches to write.

What does the X stand for? External. DeeplinkX is built for launching links out to other apps — not for handling incoming links into your own. For inbound links, use app_links or go_router.

Why DeeplinkX

• Typed API — every supported app and action is a Dart call; the package owns the URL schemes, not you.
• Smart fallback — installed → open the app; not installed → open its store; no store → open the web URL.
• Installation check — ask isAppInstalled() before you launch.
• Cross-platform store redirect — point users at a store listing (your app, a promoted app, an ad CTA) and DeeplinkX picks the right store for the device.
• Maps & navigation — open a location, search a place, or launch turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Sygic, Moovit, or Neshan; list your preferred apps and DeeplinkX opens the first installed one, falling back to the web map otherwise.
• One package, every platform — iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and Web.

Out of the box: 20 apps (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Zoom, Slack, Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, Sygic, Moovit, Neshan) and 7 stores (iOS App Store, Mac App Store, Microsoft Store, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, Cafe Bazaar, Myket).

Install

flutter pub add deeplink_x

import 'package:deeplink_x/deeplink_x.dart';

Requires Dart >=3.1.0 and Flutter >=3.13.0.

Quick Start

Open a Telegram profile, and fall back to the App Store / Play Store if Telegram isn't installed:

final deeplinkX = DeeplinkX();

await deeplinkX.launchAction(
  Telegram.openProfile(username: 'username', fallbackToStore: true),
);

On iOS, declare the schemes you query in ios/Runner/Info.plist (each app's doc page lists its exact values):

<key>LSApplicationQueriesSchemes</key>
<array>
    <string>tg</string>
    <string>itms-apps</string>
</array>

That's the whole flow — DeeplinkX resolves the platform, checks installation, and handles the fallback.

Demo

Try the live web demo, or run the example on a real device for the full experience — installation checks need a native platform.

Instagram Profile	Telegram Profile	Facebook App
YouTube Video	Facebook Web Fallback	iOS App Store Page

How it works

Every launch follows the same three-tier strategy, in order:

1. Native deeplink — opens the app directly via a custom URL scheme, App Link, or Android Intent when it's installed.
2. Store fallback — if fallbackToStore: true and the app is absent, redirects to the correct store for the current platform.
3. Web fallback — otherwise opens the action's web URL, when one exists.

Pass disableFallback: true to any launch method to attempt only the native path (skip ② and ③). Every launch method returns Future<bool> — see Return values.

Note: with fallbackToStore: true, if a vendor changes or removes a custom scheme, DeeplinkX redirects to the store rather than the web URL. Set fallbackToStore: false when you always want the web page as the fallback.

Why custom schemes instead of universal links? Under the hood, DeeplinkX opens apps with iOS custom URL schemes, Android Intents, and Android/iOS App Links — the same launch mechanics you'd otherwise hand-roll with url_launcher — rather than plain HTTPS universal links, because they:

• Launch directly, no browser flash — no redirect flicker before the app opens.
• Skip the "Open with…" dialog on Android — Intents target the exact package.
• Allow a real installation check — universal links return true even when the app is missing (the browser would handle them), which breaks fallback logic; a scheme/package check does not.
• Stay resilient — every scheme is paired with a web fallback, so a deprecated scheme still lands the user somewhere useful.

Use cases

Open a screen inside an app

Deep-link to a specific screen; fall back to the store if the app is missing:

final deeplinkX = DeeplinkX();

await deeplinkX.launchAction(
  Telegram.openProfile(username: 'flutter', fallbackToStore: true),
);

await deeplinkX.launchAction(
  YouTube.openVideo(videoId: 'dQw4w9WgXcQ', fallbackToStore: true),
);

await deeplinkX.launchAction(
  WhatsApp.chat(phoneNumber: '1234567890', fallbackToStore: true),
);

Open another app from Flutter

Launch a supported app without targeting a screen — no raw URLs, no Platform.isAndroid checks:

await deeplinkX.launchApp(
  Instagram.open(fallbackToStore: true),
);

The same call shape works to open WhatsApp, Telegram, or any other supported app from your Flutter app.

Check whether an app is installed

Check whether WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Maps, LinkedIn, or another supported app is installed before you launch it:

final isInstalled = await deeplinkX.isAppInstalled(LinkedIn());

if (isInstalled) {
  await deeplinkX.launchAction(
    LinkedIn.openProfile(profileId: 'johndoe'),
  );
}

Send users to a store listing

Send users to the right store page for any app you configure — your own app's install/update flow, a promoted app, or an ad CTA. Declare each platform's listing once; DeeplinkX opens the one matching the device. No Platform.isAndroid checks.

await deeplinkX.redirectToStore(
  storeActions: [
    IOSAppStore.openAppPage(appId: 'TARGET_APP_ID', appName: 'target-app'),
    MacAppStore.openAppPage(appId: 'TARGET_APP_ID', appName: 'target-app'),
    PlayStore.openAppPage(packageName: 'com.target.app'),
    MicrosoftStore.openAppPage(productId: 'YOUR_PRODUCT_ID'),
    HuaweiAppGalleryStore.openAppPage(
      packageName: 'com.target.app',
      appId: 'YOUR_HUAWEI_APP_ID',
    ),
    CafeBazaarStore.openAppPage(packageName: 'com.target.app'),
    MyketStore.openAppPage(packageName: 'com.target.app'),
  ],
);

For promoted apps or ad CTAs, pass tracking parameters on stores that support them:

await deeplinkX.redirectToStore(
  storeActions: [
    IOSAppStore.openAppPage(
      appId: 'TARGET_APP_ID',
      appName: 'target-app',
      campaignToken: 'spring_sale',
      providerToken: 'partner_network',
      affiliateToken: 'affiliate_123',
      uniqueOrigin: 'home_banner',
    ),
    PlayStore.openAppPage(
      packageName: 'com.target.app',
      referrer: 'utm_source=deeplink_x&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=spring_sale',
    ),
    HuaweiAppGalleryStore.openAppPage(
      packageName: 'com.target.app',
      appId: 'YOUR_HUAWEI_APP_ID',
      referrer: 'utm_source=deeplink_x&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=spring_sale',
    ),
  ],
);

Open a map, search a place, or get directions

Launch Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Sygic, Moovit, or Neshan for supported map actions — view a location, search a place, get directions (by address), or get directions with coordinates — on every platform, including web and desktop. For each, list the maps apps you prefer in priority order; DeeplinkX opens the first installed one and falls back to the web map if none are present. Need another provider? Request it — map support is actively expanding.

const origin = Coordinate(latitude: 35.6892, longitude: 51.3890);
const destination = Coordinate(latitude: 35.7000, longitude: 51.4000);

// View a location
await deeplinkX.launchMapViewAction(
  actions: [
    GoogleMaps.view(coordinate: origin),
    Amap.view(coordinate: origin),
    BaiduMaps.view(coordinate: origin),
    AppleMaps.view(coordinate: origin),
    Waze.view(coordinate: origin),
    Sygic.view(coordinate: origin),
    Moovit.view(coordinate: origin),
    Neshan.view(coordinate: origin),
  ],
);

// Search for a place
await deeplinkX.launchMapSearchAction(
  actions: [
    GoogleMaps.search(query: 'Central Park'),
    Amap.search(query: 'Central Park'),
    BaiduMaps.search(query: 'Central Park'),
    AppleMaps.search(query: 'Central Park'),
    Waze.search(query: 'Central Park'),
  ],
);

// Directions by address
await deeplinkX.launchMapDirectionsAction(
  actions: [
    GoogleMaps.directions(destination: 'Eiffel Tower, Paris'),
    Amap.directions(destination: 'Eiffel Tower, Paris'),
    BaiduMaps.directions(destination: 'Eiffel Tower, Paris'),
    AppleMaps.directions(destination: 'Eiffel Tower, Paris'),
    Waze.directions(destination: 'Eiffel Tower, Paris'),
  ],
);

// Directions by coordinates
await deeplinkX.launchMapDirectionsWithCoordsAction(
  actions: [
    GoogleMaps.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
    Amap.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
    BaiduMaps.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
    AppleMaps.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
    Waze.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
    Sygic.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
    Moovit.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
    Neshan.directionsWithCoords(destination: destination),
  ],
);

Method	Supported apps
launchMapViewAction	Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Sygic, Moovit, Neshan
launchMapSearchAction	Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Apple Maps, Waze
launchMapDirectionsAction	Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Apple Maps, Waze
launchMapDirectionsWithCoordsAction	Google Maps, Amap, Baidu Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Sygic, Moovit, Neshan

Supported apps and actions

Category	App	Actions
Stores	iOS App Store	Open app page, rate app
	Mac App Store	Open app page, rate app
	Microsoft Store	Open app page, rate app
	Google Play Store	Open app page
	Huawei AppGallery	Open app page
	Cafe Bazaar	Open app page
	Myket	Open app page, rate app
Social	Telegram	Open profile by username, open profile by phone number, send message
	Instagram	Open profile by username
	WhatsApp	Chat with phone number, share text content
	Facebook	Open profile by ID, open profile by username, open page, open group, open event
	YouTube	Open video, open channel, open playlist, search
	Twitter	Open profile by username, open tweet by ID, search
	Threads	Open profile by username, open post, open comments, create post
	Pinterest	Open profile by username, open pin, open board by ID, search
	TikTok	Open profile by username, open video, open tag
	Zoom	Join meeting by ID
	Slack	Open team, open channel, open user
	LinkedIn	Open profile page, open company page
Navigation	Google Maps	View map, search location, directions, directions with coordinates
	Amap	Open current location, view map, search, directions, directions with coordinates
	Baidu Maps	View map, search, nearby search, line, directions, coordinates, navigation
	Apple Maps	View map, search location, directions, directions with coordinates
	Waze	View map, search, directions, directions with coordinates
	Sygic	View map, directions with coordinates
	Moovit	View map, directions with coordinates
	Neshan	View map, directions with coordinates

Platform configuration

Some platforms require you to declare URL schemes or package visibility before the OS will allow installation checks.

Platform	File	Required?
iOS	ios/Runner/Info.plist	Yes
Android	android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml	Yes
macOS	macos/Runner/Info.plist	Yes
Windows / Linux / Web	—	No config

Each app's doc page lists the exact schemes and package names. For example, Telegram + App Store on iOS:

<!-- ios/Runner/Info.plist -->
<key>LSApplicationQueriesSchemes</key>
<array>
    <string>tg</string>
    <string>itms-apps</string>
</array>

…and Instagram on Android:

<!-- android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml -->
<queries>
    <package android:name="com.instagram.android" />
</queries>

DeeplinkX vs url_launcher

url_launcher is a general-purpose URL opener. DeeplinkX is purpose-built for external app deeplinks:

	DeeplinkX	url_launcher
Typed API for popular apps	✅ 20 apps, no URL maintenance	❌ Raw URLs only
Automatic store / web fallback	✅ Built in	❌ Manual implementation required
Installation check	✅ isAppInstalled()	⚠️ canLaunchUrl() — unreliable for HTTPS schemes
Android Intent support	✅ Advanced intent options	⚠️ Basic intent launching only
macOS custom scheme check	✅ Supported	❌ Not supported
Map actions across apps	✅ View / search / directions, first installed	❌ Not available
Store listing redirect	✅ One call, all platforms	❌ Not available

Redirecting to a store page with url_launcher means detecting the platform, looking up each store's URL format, and handling Huawei edge cases — everywhere you need it. DeeplinkX does it in one redirectToStore call.

Compared to single-purpose alternatives: map_launcher opens a chosen maps app but doesn't cover social apps or store fallback; external_app_launcher opens an app or its store listing but has no typed map or social-app actions. DeeplinkX covers apps, maps, and stores from one typed API.

Return values

Every launch method returns a Future<bool>:

• launchAction, launchApp — true if the app launched or a fallback (store/web) succeeded; false otherwise.
• isAppInstalled — true if the app is installed.
• redirectToStore — true if any matching store opened; false if no store matched the platform or none launched.
• launchMap*Action — true if any listed provider (or its fallback) launched.

DeeplinkX swallows platform errors internally and reports them through this boolean, so a launch never throws — branch on the result.

Missing an app?

If DeeplinkX doesn't support the app, store, or navigation provider you need, open a new app request with the app name, target platforms, known schemes/App Link patterns, store links, and the actions you want.

Documentation

Per-app pages (schemes, required config, fallback behavior) live in doc/apps. Full API reference: pub.dev.

Stores: iOS App Store · Mac App Store · Microsoft Store · Google Play · Huawei AppGallery · Cafe Bazaar · Myket

Apps: Facebook · Instagram · Telegram · WhatsApp · LinkedIn · YouTube · Twitter · Threads · Pinterest · TikTok · Zoom · Slack · Google Maps · Amap · Baidu Maps · Waze · Apple Maps · Sygic · Moovit · Neshan

Contributing

Contributions are welcome — fork, branch, and open a PR. Please check existing issues first. Found a rough edge or a gap? The feedback form directly shapes the API and docs.

License

MIT — see LICENSE.