Why do Universal Links in push notifications open in both the app and the browser (double opening) on iOS?

This behavior typically occurs when the Pushwoosh SDK determines that the application did not successfully handle the Universal Link, triggering a fallback mechanism that opens the URL in the browser (Safari) to ensure the content is delivered.

How it works (iOS SDK 7.0.15+)

To process Universal Links, the SDK follows this logic: 1. It attempts to call scene(_:continue:) (if using SceneDelegate on iOS 13+). 2. If not handled, it calls application(_:continue:restorationHandler:) in AppDelegate. 3. The SDK checks the boolean return value of these methods. 4. If the methods return false or are not implemented, the SDK assumes the link was not handled and opens it in Safari.

Double-opening happens if your app processes the link (opens the correct screen) but the SDK still receives a false signal (or fails to find the handler), causing it to execute the browser fallback.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Disable the Safari fallback (recommended, iOS SDK 7.0.22+) If your app reliably handles Universal Links itself, switch the fallback off explicitly by adding this flag to your Info.plist:

<key>Pushwoosh_DISABLE_URL_FALLBACK</key>
<true/>

This option was added specifically for cases where the app handles the link but third-party SDK swizzling prevents the SDK from receiving the confirmation.

2. Check Info.plist Configuration If your app uses AppDelegate but your Info.plist file contains the UIApplicationSceneManifest key, the system (and SDK) might prioritize SceneDelegate logic. If SceneDelegate is not actually used, the SDK may fail to receive the confirmation from AppDelegate. Solution: If you do not use Scenes, remove the UIApplicationSceneManifest entry from your Info.plist.

3. Verify Return Values Ensure that your implementation of application(_:continue:restorationHandler:) explicitly returns true when the Universal Link is successfully handled.

4. Check for Method Swizzling Conflicts Other SDKs (such as Firebase, Facebook, or Adjust) often "swizzle" (intercept) application delegate methods. This can sometimes interfere with the return value passed back to the Pushwoosh SDK. Diagnosis: Temporarily disable other SDKs to verify if the double-opening persists. If it stops, there is a conflict in how the delegate methods are intercepted.

5. Update SDK Universal Link handling requires Pushwoosh iOS SDK 7.0.15 or later, and the Pushwoosh_DISABLE_URL_FALLBACK flag requires 7.0.22 or later. The current 7.x line is recommended (7.2.0 as of July 2026). Note that since 7.0.21 Universal Links also work from Rich Media and In-App messages, not only from push notifications.