Create Dynamic Links on Android

You can create short or long Dynamic Links with the Firebase Dynamic Links Builder API. This API accepts either a long Dynamic Link or an object containing Dynamic Link parameters, and returns URLs like the following examples:

https://example.com/link/WXYZ
https://example.page.link/WXYZ

Before you can create Dynamic Links in your Android app, you must include the Firebase SDK. If your app is set up to receive Dynamic Links, you have already completed these steps and you can skip this section.

  1. If you haven't already, add Firebase to your Android project.

    When you register your app, specify your SHA-1 signing key. If you use App Links, also specify your SHA-256 key.

  2. In your module (app-level) Gradle file (usually <project>/<app-module>/build.gradle.kts or <project>/<app-module>/build.gradle), add the dependency for the Dynamic Links library for Android. We recommend using the Firebase Android BoM to control library versioning.

    For an optimal experience with Dynamic Links, we recommend enabling Google Analytics in your Firebase project and adding the Firebase SDK for Google Analytics to your app.

    dependencies {
        // Import the BoM for the Firebase platform
        implementation(platform("com.google.firebase:firebase-bom:33.4.0"))
    
        // Add the dependencies for the Dynamic Links and Analytics libraries
        // When using the BoM, you don't specify versions in Firebase library dependencies
        implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-dynamic-links'
        implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-analytics'
    }
    

    By using the Firebase Android BoM, your app will always use compatible versions of Firebase Android libraries.

    (Alternative)  Add Firebase library dependencies without using the BoM

    If you choose not to use the Firebase BoM, you must specify each Firebase library version in its dependency line.

    Note that if you use multiple Firebase libraries in your app, we strongly recommend using the BoM to manage library versions, which ensures that all versions are compatible.

    dependencies {
        // Add the dependencies for the Dynamic Links and Analytics libraries
        // When NOT using the BoM, you must specify versions in Firebase library dependencies
        implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-dynamic-links:22.1.0'
        implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-analytics:22.1.2'
    }
    
    Looking for a Kotlin-specific library module? Starting in October 2023 (Firebase BoM 32.5.0), both Kotlin and Java developers can depend on the main library module (for details, see the FAQ about this initiative).
  3. In the Firebase console, open the Dynamic Links section.
  4. If you have not already accepted the terms of service and set a domain for your Dynamic Links, do so when prompted.

    If you already have a Dynamic Links domain, take note of it. You need to provide a Dynamic Links domain when you programmatically create Dynamic Links.

  5. Recommended: Specify the URL patterns allowed in your deep links and fallback links. By doing so, you prevent unauthorized parties from creating Dynamic Links that redirect from your domain to sites you don't control. See Allow specific URL patterns.

Use the Firebase console

If you want to generate a single Dynamic Link, either for testing purposes, or for your marketing team to easily create a link that can be used in something like a social media post, the simplest way would be to visit the Firebase console and create one manually following the step-by-step form.

To create a Dynamic Link, create a new DynamicLink object with its Builder, specifying the Dynamic Link parameters with the Builder methods. Then, call buildDynamicLink or buildShortDynamicLink.

The following minimal example creates a long Dynamic Link to https://www.example.com/ that opens with your Android app on Android and the app com.example.ios on iOS:

Kotlin+KTX

val dynamicLink = Firebase.dynamicLinks.dynamicLink {
    link = Uri.parse("https://www.example.com/")
    domainUriPrefix = "https://example.page.link"
    // Open links with this app on Android
    androidParameters { }
    // Open links with com.example.ios on iOS
    iosParameters("com.example.ios") { }
}

val dynamicLinkUri = dynamicLink.uri

Java

DynamicLink dynamicLink = FirebaseDynamicLinks.getInstance().createDynamicLink()
        .setLink(Uri.parse("https://www.example.com/"))
        .setDomainUriPrefix("https://example.page.link")
        // Open links with this app on Android
        .setAndroidParameters(new DynamicLink.AndroidParameters.Builder().build())
        // Open links with com.example.ios on iOS
        .setIosParameters(new DynamicLink.IosParameters.Builder("com.example.ios").build())
        .buildDynamicLink();

Uri dynamicLinkUri = dynamicLink.getUri();

To create a short Dynamic Link, build a DynamicLink the same way, and then call buildShortDynamicLink. Building a short link requires a network call, so instead of directly returning the link, buildShortDynamicLink returns a Task, which makes the short link available when the request completes. For example:

Kotlin+KTX

val shortLinkTask = Firebase.dynamicLinks.shortLinkAsync {
    link = Uri.parse("https://www.example.com/")
    domainUriPrefix = "https://example.page.link"
    // Set parameters
    // ...
}.addOnSuccessListener { (shortLink, flowchartLink) ->
    // You'll need to import com.google.firebase.dynamiclinks.component1 and
    // com.google.firebase.dynamiclinks.component2

    // Short link created
    processShortLink(shortLink, flowchartLink)
}.addOnFailureListener {
    // Error
    // ...
}

Java

Task<ShortDynamicLink> shortLinkTask = FirebaseDynamicLinks.getInstance().createDynamicLink()
        .setLink(Uri.parse("https://www.example.com/"))
        .setDomainUriPrefix("https://example.page.link")
        // Set parameters
        // ...
        .buildShortDynamicLink()
        .addOnCompleteListener(this, new OnCompleteListener<ShortDynamicLink>() {
            @Override
            public void onComplete(@NonNull Task<ShortDynamicLink> task) {
                if (task.isSuccessful()) {
                    // Short link created
                    Uri shortLink = task.getResult().getShortLink();
                    Uri flowchartLink = task.getResult().getPreviewLink();
                } else {
                    // Error
                    // ...
                }
            }
        });

By default, short Dynamic Links are generated with 17-character link suffixes that make it extremely unlikely that someone can guess a valid Dynamic Link. If, for your use case, there's no harm in someone successfully guessing a short link, you might prefer to generate suffixes that are only as long as necessary to be unique, which you can do by passing ShortDynamicLink.Suffix.SHORT to the buildShortDynamicLink method:

Kotlin+KTX

val shortLinkTask = Firebase.dynamicLinks.shortLinkAsync(ShortDynamicLink.Suffix.SHORT) {
    // Set parameters
    // ...
}

Java

Task<ShortDynamicLink> shortLinkTask = FirebaseDynamicLinks.getInstance().createDynamicLink()
        // ...
        .buildShortDynamicLink(ShortDynamicLink.Suffix.SHORT);
        // ...

You can use the Dynamic Link Builder API to create Dynamic Links with any of the supported parameters. See the API reference for details.

The following example creates a Dynamic Link with several common parameters set:

Kotlin+KTX

val dynamicLink = Firebase.dynamicLinks.dynamicLink { // or Firebase.dynamicLinks.shortLinkAsync
    link = Uri.parse("https://www.example.com/")
    domainUriPrefix = "https://example.page.link"
    androidParameters("com.example.android") {
        minimumVersion = 125
    }
    iosParameters("com.example.ios") {
        appStoreId = "123456789"
        minimumVersion = "1.0.1"
    }
    googleAnalyticsParameters {
        source = "orkut"
        medium = "social"
        campaign = "example-promo"
    }
    itunesConnectAnalyticsParameters {
        providerToken = "123456"
        campaignToken = "example-promo"
    }
    socialMetaTagParameters {
        title = "Example of a Dynamic Link"
        description = "This link works whether the app is installed or not!"
    }
}

Java

DynamicLink dynamicLink = FirebaseDynamicLinks.getInstance().createDynamicLink()
        .setLink(Uri.parse("https://www.example.com/"))
        .setDomainUriPrefix("https://example.page.link")
        .setAndroidParameters(
                new DynamicLink.AndroidParameters.Builder("com.example.android")
                        .setMinimumVersion(125)
                        .build())
        .setIosParameters(
                new DynamicLink.IosParameters.Builder("com.example.ios")
                        .setAppStoreId("123456789")
                        .setMinimumVersion("1.0.1")
                        .build())
        .setGoogleAnalyticsParameters(
                new DynamicLink.GoogleAnalyticsParameters.Builder()
                        .setSource("orkut")
                        .setMedium("social")
                        .setCampaign("example-promo")
                        .build())
        .setItunesConnectAnalyticsParameters(
                new DynamicLink.ItunesConnectAnalyticsParameters.Builder()
                        .setProviderToken("123456")
                        .setCampaignToken("example-promo")
                        .build())
        .setSocialMetaTagParameters(
                new DynamicLink.SocialMetaTagParameters.Builder()
                        .setTitle("Example of a Dynamic Link")
                        .setDescription("This link works whether the app is installed or not!")
                        .build())
        .buildDynamicLink();  // Or buildShortDynamicLink()

You can set Dynamic Link parameters with the following methods:

DynamicLink parameters
setLink

The link your app will open. Specify a URL that your app can handle, typically the app's content or payload, which initiates app-specific logic (such as crediting the user with a coupon or displaying a welcome screen). This link must be a well-formatted URL, be properly URL-encoded, use either HTTP or HTTPS, and cannot be another Dynamic Link.

setDomainUriPrefix Your Dynamic Link URL prefix, which you can find in the Firebase console. A Dynamic Link domain looks like the following examples:
https://example.com/link
https://example.page.link
AndroidParameters
setFallbackUrl The link to open when the app isn't installed. Specify this to do something other than install your app from the Play Store when the app isn't installed, such as open the mobile web version of the content, or display a promotional page for your app.
setMinimumVersion The versionCode of the minimum version of your app that can open the link. If the installed app is an older version, the user is taken to the Play Store to upgrade the app.
IosParameters
setAppStoreId Your app's App Store ID, used to send users to the App Store when the app isn't installed
setFallbackUrl The link to open when the app isn't installed. Specify this to do something other than install your app from the App Store when the app isn't installed, such as open the mobile web version of the content, or display a promotional page for your app.
setCustomScheme Your app's custom URL scheme, if defined to be something other than your app's bundle ID
setIpadFallbackUrl The link to open on iPads when the app isn't installed. Specify this to do something other than install your app from the App Store when the app isn't installed, such as open the web version of the content, or display a promotional page for your app.
setIpadBundleId The bundle ID of the iOS app to use on iPads to open the link. The app must be connected to your project from the Overview page of the Firebase console.
setMinimumVersion The version number of the minimum version of your app that can open the link. This flag is passed to your app when it is opened, and your app must decide what to do with it.
NavigationInfoParameters
setForcedRedirectEnabled If set to '1', skip the app preview page when the Dynamic Link is opened, and instead redirect to the app or store. The app preview page (enabled by default) can more reliably send users to the most appropriate destination when they open Dynamic Links in apps; however, if you expect a Dynamic Link to be opened only in apps that can open Dynamic Links reliably without this page, you can disable it with this parameter. This parameter will affect the behavior of the Dynamic Link only on iOS.
SocialMetaTagParameters
setTitle The title to use when the Dynamic Link is shared in a social post.
setDescription The description to use when the Dynamic Link is shared in a social post.
setImageUrl The URL to an image related to this link. The image should be at least 300x200 px, and less than 300 KB.
GoogleAnalyticsParameters
setSource
setMedium
setCampaign
setTerm
setContent
Google Play analytics parameters. These parameters (utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_term, utm_content) are passed on to the Play Store as well as appended to the link payload.
ItunesConnectAnalyticsParameters
setProviderToken
setAffiliateToken
setCampaignToken
iTunes Connect analytics parameters. These parameters (pt, at, ct) are passed to the App Store.

To shorten a long Dynamic Link, specify the URL of the Dynamic Link using setLongLink instead of setting parameters with the other builder methods:

Kotlin+KTX

val shortLinkTask = Firebase.dynamicLinks.shortLinkAsync {
    longLink = Uri.parse(
        "https://example.page.link/?link=" +
            "https://www.example.com/&apn=com.example.android&ibn=com.example.ios",
    )
}.addOnSuccessListener { (shortLink, flowChartLink) ->
    // You'll need to import com.google.firebase.dynamiclinks.component1 and
    // com.google.firebase.dynamiclinks.component2

    // Short link created
    processShortLink(shortLink, flowChartLink)
}.addOnFailureListener {
    // Error
    // ...
}

Java

Task<ShortDynamicLink> shortLinkTask = FirebaseDynamicLinks.getInstance().createDynamicLink()
        .setLongLink(Uri.parse("https://example.page.link/?link=https://www.example.com/&apn=com.example.android&ibn=com.example.ios"))
        .buildShortDynamicLink()
        .addOnCompleteListener(this, new OnCompleteListener<ShortDynamicLink>() {
            @Override
            public void onComplete(@NonNull Task<ShortDynamicLink> task) {
                if (task.isSuccessful()) {
                    // Short link created
                    Uri shortLink = task.getResult().getShortLink();
                    Uri flowchartLink = task.getResult().getPreviewLink();
                } else {
                    // Error
                    // ...
                }
            }
        });