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I have successfully published a (very simple) Instant App linked to my personal website.

When I click on my website's link, I was expecting the app to start directly, but instead, I first see a screen with 2 buttons: "Open app" and "Open in browser":

Screen

Why?

Other instant apps that I tried do not show this screen and open the app directly (the desired behavior).

BoD
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  • I also can see the same behavior on a Nexus 5X API 24 emulator, but when I use other setups (Pixel API 24 and Nexus 5X API 26) instant app starts directly, no "Open in browser” option is present. Try? – TWL Jul 21 '17 at 01:28
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    The thing is, on the same device, I have both behaviors, depending on the app. – BoD Jul 21 '17 at 05:50
  • Can you check your app with these tests? https://developer.android.com/training/app-links/index.html#testing App Linking must first work before Instant Apps can. – Julia K Jul 22 '17 at 01:10
  • @JuliaK It *does* work though - my only problem is that it first shows the above screen. But other than that it works. – BoD Jul 22 '17 at 14:42
  • Please try this: 1. Google > Instant Apps > turn "off" (top-right) | 2. Uninstall ⸢Google Play services for Instant Apps⸥ (and if the installed-app is installed, also uninstall) | 3. re-run your instant-app – TWL Jul 25 '17 at 23:37
  • Not sure why I would want to do that @TWL, the question has been answered. – BoD Jul 26 '17 at 06:01
  • @BoD did you get this fixed? – Viswanath Kumar Sandu Jun 29 '20 at 22:14

2 Answers2

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We call this screen the "speed bump". It's a security feature. You're right in noticing that it doesn't always trigger. But there's nothing you, as a developer, can do to control whether it shows. The intention is for it to be a black box from your perspective.

philo
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    Thanks for answering. Well I wouldn't say it is problematic but since it is not documented and not happening with other apps I tried I thought there was a problem with my code. Therefore I *strongly* suggest you document this behavior in the guides/reference documentation - that will save people from being confused. Thanks a lot. – BoD Jul 25 '17 at 20:32
  • @philo I have never seen the speed bump on wish and BuzzFeed. Is there any way you (Google) could remove it from my app? If so could you please post the details. – sam33r Jan 01 '18 at 18:39
  • my instant app download size is 1.2 MB and I'm still seeing this speed bump. There are no extra permissions. Is there a way to bypass it? Otherwise my purpose on going from mobile web to instant app is useless – Viswanath Kumar Sandu May 23 '20 at 16:20
  • @philo I've reached out to google play support. But they are not even understanding the problem. This is very critical for us. Is there any way we can get over this? – Viswanath Kumar Sandu Jun 29 '20 at 22:11
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    This happened to my new instant app as well. I noticed https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasty (my go-to reference instant app) always opens up directly, while my instant app presents the choice. Good to know there's nothing I can do about it! Maybe after some period of time and because of early concerns with "instant app viruses," Google trusts the instant app enough to open immediately? – ScottyB Aug 23 '20 at 14:04
  • @ScottyB, thanks for sharing about buzzfeed.com/tasty. I am surprised to know how they're able to bypass speed bump screen if this is not possible to bypass as developer. – Birender Singh Mar 05 '21 at 00:53
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This is designed in my opinion to happen at least once to give the user an opportunity to decide what to use: either browser or the instant apps feature.

X-HuMan
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  • Alas, you didn't read the part where I say that it doesn't happen with other apps... – BoD Jul 06 '17 at 20:59
  • @BoD could you tell me another instant app, I am curious by myself. Wish for example was exactly like that. – X-HuMan Jul 07 '17 at 08:31
  • Well for instance the StackOverflow app You can click on this to trigger it: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/44858798/instant-app-wont-start-directly-shows-a-screen-first/44953956# – BoD Jul 07 '17 at 20:19
  • @Bod sorry, but it opens for me just in a normal browser. How you get this triggered with an instance app? – X-HuMan Jul 10 '17 at 09:44
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    You need to have this link somewhere else, not in the browser. Copy/paste it in a messaging app for instance. – BoD Jul 10 '17 at 12:01
  • @BoD still opens a browser from the Gmail application for example. – X-HuMan Jul 10 '17 at 13:53
  • It looks like you don't have Instant Apps enabled – BoD Jul 10 '17 at 15:36