ios 10.0.2 links open in safari not apps

Question

Level 1

26 points

ios 10.0.2 links open in safari not apps

I have an iPhone 6 and just upgrade to ios 10.0.2. Links connecting to apps like youtube and Instagram are opening in Safari instead of in their respective apps (like they have since at least ios 8). However, they are taking the extra step to go through the app like they are going to open there as normal, but then open in Safari. For example, if I click on an Instagram link within the description box of a youtube video Instagram opens, but then suddenly shifts to Safari once the app loads. In Safari the top left will say back to Instagram, but if I go back it is just my home feed and not the link I clicked. The link to the account I clicked on is open in safari, but that is inconvenient because I am not logged in to various accounts all the time on safari so from there I can't like, follow, share etc. The same goes for the reverse, if I click a youtube link from an Instagram profile it opens the youtube app then stutters and opens safari and if I click back to youtube in the top left it goes to my usual youtube feed and if I click open in app from safari the same thing happens (just my feed, not the video from the link). I can't find any information on this problem except for one Beta tester asking the question back in July and one other person experiencing the same thing a week ago when clicking on links in whatsapp. This really slows things down as it goes through a two step process to open the app then the link in Safari where I am not logged in. Anyone know how to fix this or how to report it?

iPhone 6, iOS 10.0.2

Posted on Oct 2, 2016 7:39 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Oct 7, 2016 1:59 PM in response to mel.b

Hey mel.b,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. It sounds like there are some issues with the way Safari responds to links within apps causing them to inappropriately reroute them. We want for your apps and features to work as intended and can help to resolve this with you. You'll find a link below with steps to reset Safari web data which should help resolve this.

Safari web settings on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Clear information from your device

To clear your history and cookies from Safari in iOS 8 or later, tap Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. In iOS 7 or earlier, tap Clear History and tap Clear Cookies and Data.

To clear other stored information from Safari, tap Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data > Remove All Website Data.

Clearing your history, cookies, and browsing data from Safari won't change your AutoFill information.

To visit sites without leaving a history, learn how to turn private browsing on or off.

Hope this helps.
Cheers.

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 25, 2017 12:00 AM in response to mel.b

This is also happening to me. I use to be able to click on a song link for Spotify from a text message and it would open the app. Now it opens in safari and from there it asks it'll have me click on the button to open the app. This is very annoying. I tried deleting history and cookies. I even tried uninstall/install the app, nothing works.

Reply

Answer 3

JeffRVT

Level 1

4 points

Oct 7, 2016 9:56 AM in response to chris_g1

i'm having the same issue, tried this solution and it didn't fix the problem.

I still get the same issue:

- receive an Instagram URL and click on it from an email, message, etc..

- Instagram app briefly opens but then shifts and opens the link in Safari instead

super annoying.

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 27, 2017 11:00 PM in response to mel.b

This just started happening when I updated my phone. Seriously frustrated. I can’t stand that everything is being opened in safari. The reason we download apps is to have a smoother experience/all functions. I can’t open a link without it going to safari. It doesn’t even give me the option to open it in Instagram for example, gives me the login page. I hope Apple fixes this ASAP!! Clearing your browser history is useless. It seems it is in the update itself.

Reply

Answer 5

Jun 19, 2017 7:15 AM in response to chris_g1

As usual, clearing that web browsing data does nothing. Problem is the same. How do you delete Safari and reinstall it?

Reply

Answer 6

mel.b Author

Level 1

26 points

Oct 7, 2016 2:03 PM in response to chris_g1

Hello,

Thanks for your reply, but this didn't solve the problem. The only change was in instagram where I get the pop up asking to open in Safari and it skips the app briefly opening part, but obviously opens in Safari. All other links opened from messages, emails, YouTube etc. still briefly open the app only to switch over to Safari.

Reply

Answer 7

mel.b Author

Level 1

26 points

Oct 7, 2016 2:05 PM in response to JeffRVT

Yeah, this didn't solve the problem for me either and it is really annoying. It's such a key function I use all the time.

Reply

Answer 8

DrTanGo

Level 1

4 points

Apr 11, 2017 2:21 AM in response to mel.b

I have the same annoying problem on my iPhone and my iPad both with iOS 10.2.1

Reply