What is a deep link?
A deep link opens a specific place inside an app, like a profile, a video or a product, instead of a web page in a browser. A regular link takes you to a website. A deep link takes you into the app.
A deep link and a plain short link behave differently
A link shortener makes an address shorter. It does not change where the tap ends up: a web page, in whatever browser is open. A deep link shortener changes the destination. It works out which app the link belongs to and opens it.
| Situation | Plain short link | ZRO deep link |
|---|---|---|
| Tap on a phone | Opens a web page in the browser | Opens the app, on iPhone and Android |
| Tap inside Instagram or TikTok | Opens in the app’s built-in browser, signed out | Steps out of the built-in browser and opens the app |
| App not installed | Opens the web page | Opens the web page |
| Tap on a computer | Opens the web page | Opens the web page |
| What you can measure | Clicks | Taps, where they came from, and whether the app opened |
How deep links work on iPhone and Android
Every app can be opened by an address of its own. On an iPhone that is a custom link such as instagram://. On Android it is an intent that names the app’s package. A deep link is a normal web address plus the knowledge of which of those to use.
There is a third kind, called Universal Links on iPhone and App Links on Android. They only work when the app’s owner publishes a file on their own domain, so a link shortener cannot create them for someone else’s app. That is why a deep link shortener opens other people’s apps with the app’s own address instead.
For the same Instagram profile, ZRO builds these:
Web address you paste
https://www.instagram.com/example_creator/iPhone
instagram://user?username=example_creatorAndroid
intent://www.instagram.com/example_creator/#Intent;scheme=https;package=com.instagram.android;action=android.intent.action.VIEW;S.browser_fallback_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fexample_creator%2F;endWhy links get stuck in Instagram and TikTok
Social apps open every link in a built-in browser. That browser is signed out of everything, cannot use saved passwords or cards, and often blocks the hop to another app. A deep link that ignores this ends up on a web page anyway.
ZRO recognises 11 in-app browsers and steps out of them. On an iPhone it tries the app’s own address first, then hands the page to Safari. On Android it uses the app’s intent. Read how in-app browsers work.
How to make a deep link with ZRO
- 1
Paste a link
Any web address: a YouTube video, a Spotify playlist, an Instagram profile, your store.
- 2
Share the short link
Put it in your bio, a story, a post or a message. One link works for every phone.
- 3
Watch it open the app
The dashboard shows where each tap came from and whether the app opened.
Deep link guides by app
ZRO opens 12 apps directly. Pick one to see what opens, and the exact deep link ZRO builds for it.
- YouTube deep linksVideos, Channels, Playlists
- Instagram deep linksProfiles, Posts, Reels
- TikTok deep linksProfiles, Videos
- Spotify deep linksTracks, Albums, Playlists
- Amazon deep linksProduct pages and other pages on 19 Amazon country sites, a.co and amzn.to short links on Android
- X deep linksPosts, Profiles, Links on both x.com and twitter.com
- Facebook deep linksPages, Profiles, Posts
- LinkedIn deep linksProfiles, Links on linkedin.com and lnkd.in on Android
- WhatsApp deep linksChats with a phone number and a ready-made message, Group invites, Share links
- Telegram deep linksChannels, Public usernames, Single posts
- Snapchat deep linksAdd-friend links, Links on snapchat.com on Android
- Twitch deep linksChannels and live streams, Links on twitch.tv on Android
Deep link questions
What is a deep link?
A deep link is a link that opens a specific place inside a mobile app, such as a profile, a video or a product, instead of a web page in a browser. A regular link takes you to a website. A deep link takes you into the app.
What is the difference between a deep link and a short link?
A short link is only shorter. It still sends the tap to a web page. A deep link decides what the tap opens, and can send it to the app. A deep link shortener, like ZRO, does both: one short link that opens the app when there is one, and the website when there is not.
Do deep links work in an Instagram or TikTok bio?
They can, but only if the link recognises the in-app browser. Instagram and TikTok open every link in their own browser, which usually blocks the hand-off to another app. ZRO detects those browsers and steps out of them.
Do I need to build an app to use deep links?
No. You link to someone else’s app, such as YouTube, Spotify or Instagram. ZRO already knows how to open those apps. There is no SDK to install and no code to write.
Do deep links work on a computer?
A computer has no app to open, so a deep link opens the website instead. The tap is still counted.
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