How to disable Safari auto-launching apps?

Example: when I go to booking.com, then click “flights” (for example), Safari will automatically jump away from Safari and launch the Booking.com App. Why is this a bad thing? Well for one, I want control, and for two, the App has higher prices than when searching on Safari. I have been deleting and reinstalling the app because I don’t want it to auto-open, but I do want the app/widget to track my travel data (in this example). I too have been searching for a working solution and hear the same old 4-5 answers that ramp up to “Clear History and Website Data”, and who really wants to lose all of that hard work? (Which I have done a time or two)

So I found the solution and the root problem. The root problem is as another member had suggested, the original choice selected when searching in Safari and it asks whether it should “open in app” OR “cancel. You must select CANCEL. If you error and open the app, it has been told to do just that.

Super simple fix, at least for me.

As follows on iPad iOS 18:

• Settings > Apps > Safari > (skip past Clear on History and Website Date) to “ADVANCED” at the very bottom > Website Data > Remove All Website Data (in red letters)
• DONE
• Wait, there’s one more key piece. Now (in my example) repeat the path that creates the app to open, in my case it would be to reopen Booking.com, then select flights. Safari will then ask if it should open the app BUT YOU SHOULD SELECT THE “CANCEL” OPTION AT THIS POINT.
• Now you are done.
• Cheers!