Windows TestBed deferred deep linking doesn't work

[tadas-subonis]

I am trying to test a case when a user clicks a deep link, installs the app, and we can retrieve the link's metadata from Branch.

However, this doesn't work on our app and that also doesn't work on the provided TestBed app.

Step to reproduce:

1. Go to link https://win32.app.link/ZIZc1yp3F9
2. Install Branch SDK (not via link - install separately)
3. Launch the testbed ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Branch SDK\TestBed.exe") manually
4. There is no session data from the link I've recently clicked

However, the metadata retrieval works fine, if I click on the link, once the app is already installed.

Unfortunately, this doesn't cover one of the most important use cases for us, where we need to capture session details at the install time.

This flow works fine on iOS (Mac & iPhone) and Android. Just the Windows SDK fails to capture a recent link click.

[NidhiDixit09]

Can you provide some more details -

• What version you are using ?
• How are you creating shortURL in your own app ? What "$desktop_url" and "$canonical_url" are you passing ? Are you using the same example redirection link used in TestBed app ?
• What browser you are using for opening link ?

[tadas-subonis]

@NidhiDixit09
Hey,

I've installed branch SDK using this link: https://github.com/BranchMetrics/cpp-branch-deep-linking-attribution/releases/latest so I guess it's 1.2.4 .

I am testing the TestBed app that's provided with the SDK.

I've used the link that was provided here file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Branch%20SDK/Welcome.html (btw, here it says that version is 1.2.2)

What browser you are using for opening link ?
Chrome

[tadas-subonis]

It looks like 1.2.2 was the last version to include TestBed - there isn't one when I install 1.2.4. It probably means that I had the old version of the SDK.

Let me check with the team which version we used internally.

[tadas-subonis]

@NidhiDixit09 Internally, we've used version 1.2.4 and got the same behavior.

[NidhiDixit09]

@tadas-subonis Hey ! I was asking about parameter values $desktop_url" and "$canonical_url" you are passing in your code.
In TestBed app its set to web page https://jdee.github.io/example-win32.html . This web page is a Branch Metrics Web SDK Example. It consumes all the deep link data. And that's why when the TestBed is installed later on, nothing is shown there. Please check attached screenshot, it shows session info which you were expecting in TestBed app.

In your code, update $desktop_url" and "$canonical_url" to some other web page. Then you will see session info.

Let me know if you need more info.

[adrianmdumitru]

@NidhiDixit09 We found that disabling ipv6 in the browser (for firefox set network.dns.disableIPv6 in about:config) makes deferred deep linking work.

Another thing to consider, in the win32 sdk local_ip parameter will contain an ipv6 address in my case, however for android the sdk sends ipv4.

android
vs
win32

Any idea what we could change in the sdk to make it work with ipv6 as well?

[NidhiDixit09]

@adrianmdumitru Android doesn't support ipv6. For windows I will check and get back to you.

[adrianmdumitru]

@NidhiDixit09 any news on this?

[NidhiDixit09]

@adrianmdumitru Windows supports ipv6. I have tested deffered deep linking with browsers - chrome, edge and Firefox. It works with all of them.

[chanhphamgamedev]

Hi @NidhiDixit09, any update on this issue? Our team has this problem as well. Our Win32 app cannot retrieve the link's metadata from deferred deep links on some PCs.
I tested on 3 PCs (2 Windows 11, and 1 Windows 10), and deferred deep link only works fine on Windows 10.

Steps:

1. Uninstall the app, clear AppData, and delete the Branch registry.
2. Click on the deferred deep link.
3. Install and launch the app.

SDK Version
2.0.1

OS Version
Windows 11

OS Build
22631.2338

[NidhiDixit09]

@chanhphamgamedev The version 2.0.1 has not been tested on Windows 11. We will provide support for Windows 11 in upcoming releases.