[Bug]: MetaMask deep links do not open in app browser via Chrome on Android

[MatasBudriunas]

Describe the bug

There seem to be multiple issues here:

1st. Permission Settings: Upon a fresh install, the MetaMask app does not automatically gain the necessary permissions to handle opening specific links, which affects its ability to initiate deep links directly.

2nd. Deep Link Handling in Chrome: When attempting to use a deep link such as https://metamask.app.link/dapp/www.google.com from the Chrome browser, the MetaMask app opens but does not navigate to the intended URL within its in-app browser.

Expected behavior

When using Google Chrome to access a MetaMask deep link, such as https://metamask.app.link/dapp/www.google.com, the expected behavior is for the MetaMask app to open and immediately navigate to the specified URL within its in-app browser. The user should be redirected seamlessly from Chrome to the MetaMask app, where the intended web page (www.google.com in this example) is displayed correctly without requiring additional input or settings adjustments.

Screenshots/Recordings

Video Link: This video demonstrates the issue where Chrome fails to navigate to the specified URL when using MetaMask deep links. Initially, MetaMask opens but remains on the home page without accessing the provided URL. At the end of the video, I show that by modifying Android settings to enable link handling for MetaMask (which is not enabled by default), the app functions correctly, directly opening and displaying the desired web page in the MetaMask browser.

Video Link: Shows that using Firefox on an Android device does not exhibit this issue, suggesting browser-specific behavior.

Steps to reproduce

1. Perform a fresh install of the latest version of the MetaMask wallet app on an Android 13 device.
2. Using Google Chrome, attempt to open the MetaMask app via the deep link: https://metamask.app.link/dapp/www.google.com.
3. Observe that the MetaMask app opens, but it does not navigate to the specified URL in its in-app browser.

Error messages or log output

Detection stage

In production (default)

Version

7.40

Build type

None

Device

Redmi 5G

Operating system

Android

Additional context

Seem to be related to #4760 and #3855.

Severity

No response

[DanielTech21]

Hi @MatasBudriunas

Thanks for flagging this!

Our team will investigate.

[airidasbeno]

Same issues for me, it seems quite a severe issue on newer Android devices. Working fine on iOS.