🐛 [firebase_dynamic_link] New iOS install doesn't open with dynamic link after install

[badrobot15]

Bug report

Dynamic Link returns null
On latest version of 4.0.2, for fresh app installs from a dynamic link in iOS via AppStore, the link isn't received in Flutter App. On clicking the link, the app store page opens as required, but after the user downloads the app, the dynamic link within the app seems to be null. Now if having the app already installed on the phone, on clicking the link, the app successfully gets the link. While this behavior is fine for users who already have the app, it totally ruins the experience for new users.

Additional context

Found a similar problem at issue #1861 but that seems to have been closed with the only solution being restart the phone and then install. Since the only way we are able to reproduce the bug is after deploying it to production on app store, it is quite difficult to debug and find the problem.

         final _appLinks = AppLinks(
         onAppLink: (Uri deepLink, String dataStr) async {
           
           if (deepLink == null) return false;

           pendingDynamicLinkData = await FirebaseDynamicLinks.instance.getDynamicLink(deepLink);
           actualDeepLink = pendingDynamicLinkData.link ?? null; 

           if (actualDeepLink == null) return false;
           .
           .
           .
           .
           return true;

         },
       );

As per #6913 I had to use AppLinks to get the link for iOS only.

[darshankawar]

@badrobot15
Does getInitialLink() get back with data or is null throughout the case ?
Also, is there a way for you to check if ibi parameter matches with your app's bundle Id ?

[badrobot15]

@darshankawar getInitialLink() comes null throughout the case even when app is intalled on phone hence the need to use app_links package. ibi parameter matches with apps's bundle id.

As per the flowchart here, getInitialLink() doesn't work for when the app is installed nor for when the user is sent to the app store to install the app. However, the dynamic link is copied to clipboard when user is redirected to app store.

After switching to app_links package we found that if the app is installed, the link is delivered successfully by the code snippet I posted above

Following is the initial code we tried

final PendingDynamicLinkData data = await FirebaseDynamicLinks.instance.getInitialLink();

final Uri deepLink = data?.link;

FirebaseDynamicLinks.instance.onLink.listen((event)  {

        pendingDynamicLinkData = event;

        actualDeepLink = pendingDynamicLinkData.link ?? null;

        if (actualDeepLink == null) return false;
        ...
        ...
        return true;
      },

     onError: (error){
          
     },

     onDone: (){

     },

);

[darshankawar]

Thanks for the update. Labeling it based on the report and the fact that this is replicable only after deploying prod app on appstore and then trying to install the app.

/cc @Salakar