openURL returns false but app is opening successfully

Question

Can anyone think of an explanation for a case where openURL returns false but the app is opened successfully?

NSString *appUrlPathStr = @"";
NSURL *appUrlPath = [NSURL URLWithString:appUrlPathStr];

if([[UIApplication sharedApplication] canOpenURL:appUrlPath]) {
    if ([[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:appUrlPath]) {
        NSLog(@"app opened");
    } else {
        NSLog(@"app not opened");
    }
}

Note: did not include the url string itself in the code here.

It would help if you updated your question with your exact code including the actual URL. — rmaddy, Aug 23 '15 at 16:16
The real URL is probably the most important part of the question. — rmaddy, Aug 24 '15 at 13:28
@rmaddy, please allow me to not agree with you on that. The URL is valid and works fine. I tested it using simulator & real device. — Roy K, Aug 24 '15 at 15:03

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered May 12 '16 at 01:41

2

I was not only having the same issue but to make things worse the other app would only open when it wasn't suspended or inactive (i.e. fresh start)

For me the problem was that I didn't add the custom scheme I wanted to query to my Info.plist file.

As soon as I added it to the LSApplicationQueriesSchemes entry the problems went away.

For more info, see: http://useyourloaf.com/blog/querying-url-schemes-with-canopenurl/

Hope this helps!

answered May 12 '16 at 01:41

LuisCien

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Very interesting article. Thanks for the link, I did not know this particularity. – Martin Oct 10 '17 at 09:45

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 24 '15 at 15:09

A logic explanation for what I have experienced:

I checked the device logs and I notices that the app I am trying to open, shoots logs and get stuck way before it reaches the foreground. (moreover, it happens while the original app is in foreground).

Therefore, openURL hangs and reaches its timeout, then it returns false and the app I am trying to open eventually opens.

Conclusion, I need to check the app I am opening and see why it hangs before it becomes active.

Thanks everyone, and I hope it will help others.

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:11

I have seen the same issue in iOS 7. My solution is:

1)

dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
   [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];
});

or

2)

[self performSelector:@selector(methodToRedirectToURL:) withObject:url afterDelay:0.1];

openURL returns false but app is opening successfully

3 Answers3