Android AppLinks work without assetlinks.json - android

While working on a feature for my app with AppLinks for Android. I have realized that it actually works without using the assetlinks.json file.
At first, I thought that this was because my app was an app for debug purpose, which wasn't signed and published through the store and that for testing purposed, Google decided to give us some space to work.
The day I released my app arrived, I put my app through Beta, installed my app from the store and tapped on a https://example.com and I was very surprised to see that I got asked which app I wanted to open this URL even though I had not make the assetlinks.json available from https://example.com/.well-known/assetlink.json.
Is there an explanation to that ?
Maybe the check is totally asynchronous and if at some point Google makes the check and find out you don't have this file, they shut it down until you fix it and ou have to wait until the next time they check you out ?
By the way, i have implemented the same functionality with iOS and in a very Apple-ish way, you really can't get around putting you apple-app-site-association file to the right spot and make it available from the right endpoint.
Thanks for the explanation :)
Guillaume.

Is there an explanation to that ?
What you describe has been the behavior since API Level 1 in 2008.
I was very surprised to see that I got asked which app I wanted to open this URL
This is called a "chooser". The point behind assetlinks.json is to avoid the chooser and drive straight to your app.

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Allow App Instalation via QR code without opening Google Play

I've scoured the internet for the past 4 hours, but can't find any reliable information. I want to allow the user to download and install an APK via QR Code only - WITHOUT opening Google Play Store. Reasons behind it are 100% legit, as the devices will only be a showcase devices, without any additional features or any use by private or corporate entities.
I hoped to solve this problem by putting a download APK link, but some sources say it will not work that way. Thank you for all your help and I am sorry if my searches didn't turn a result that's already out there, I hope you'll forgive me lol
Best,
Luke

Google Console Internal App Sharing no longer works

I was regularly uploading apk files to google console's internal app sharing page. However today when I open the the same link i.e. https://play.google.com/console/u/0/internal-app-sharing it has gone blank. I have tried opening it from different browsers etc, nothing works. Is this a new bug or perhaps a downtime?
Same here. Browser dev console shows the app sharing tries to load some data, but can not find it. So someone just broke the code or google server are down. Hopefully not for long, but its already over 20 hours.
It works now, seems there was a temporary blip at their end.

Has anyone submitted an Android app to the Tencent App Store in China successfully from the US?

Specifically, using the following URL:
https://open.qq.com/eng/reg
It took my hours to get a combination of browser and operating system versions that actually let me upload anything without getting a 301 error. However, even with that success, I cannot, for all my google searching, find out what a "Company License" or "Declaration of Authorization" are nor can I get an APK to upload without getting a 501 error once it's 100% uploaded.
If there's another method to submit Android apps to the Tencent App Store in China, I'd love to know about it.
In a similar predicament trying to get my company's mobile app on Tencent. After some very varied research this afternoon (including ending up on this page), I was able to discern what I think are the requirements for Company License and Declaration of Authorization:
Company License is the logo or brand image to accompany your app
Declaration of Authorization is a QR code that directs to the iOS version of your app on the Apple App Store
I can't make any promises that these are actually correct, but I'm reasonably confident based on context (Company License asks for .jpg or .png and another user initially attempting upload on the Chinese site provided a file with "logo" in the file name when being directed to try the /eng/reg upload site). I believe a QR code is what they are asking for by "Declaration of Authorization" because Tencent's approach appears to be uploading the Android APK directly to their store, while making the QR code to the Apple App Store through WeChat for iPhone users. Again, piecing that part together from multiple articles.
In return, if you're able to figure out the right combination of buttons to push to actually get your APK uploaded, sharing that process here would be greatly appreciated. I likewise am unable to get anything but a 501 Network Error, and without that, my effort seems pretty much dead in the water since it seems Tencent is generally unresponsive.
Good luck!

Android app does not show up in App store > 24 hours

I released my first android app yesterday, and got the direct link to the app working after 6 hours. But Its been > 24 hours now, and it still doesnt show up in the search on playstore.
I have been searching in the playstore both from my android device, as well as from desktop browser. The app simply isnt there.
Is this common? Is there something I can do to check the status/find out whats happening?
Thanks a lot
EDIT: the direct link is: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.droidinput
EDIT: The issue was indeed that the name "Droid Input" was too general. Changed it to Moused . Hopefully it makes it a tad better once the update is pushed to prod. Thanks for all your help!
Sometimes newly published apps take time until they appear in search results. The app needs to be indexed in the Play Store before it starts appearing in search results. Also, make sure the app name has enough unique keywords so that it's easier to spot while searching.
All my apps were searchable minutes after the direct link started working. Can you post the name of your app.
Check those in Developer console
published area
minimal Android os
make sure it's published in developer console
If it's all right, don't worry, just wait to published
If your app have any problem google will send email to you
First of all,
you must check if you have no other updates,
second check if the website is not under going several changes if so than you might have to wait a couple of days
check your device for any out of the normal activity
if this is not resolved make sure to contact the company and explain them your issue,
regularly it shouldn't be happening to only you so there might be others with the same issue as you, it is unlikely that it could be your device but there is always that possibility that it might.

Android app - publish but not make it accessible through android market search

Here's the scenario i am trying to achieve:
Publish/have an app in the Android app store
However - i do not want it to be searchable through the android market search, etc.
The only way people can access the app is if i give them an explicit link to download
Is above possible? If so - how? All FAQs/instrucitons i have seen publish & make it searchable for the whole world - but i want it only accessible through #3 above.
Thanks.
Try this site https://www.push-link.com/, you can upload apk on your private account and only can be accessible thorough automatic generated link and QR code. This service contains user notification on new versions and bug reports.
Two things that are problematic with the link to an APK approach:
Some of the devices out there (I m only aware of the Motorola Atrix) don't have the "Unkown Sources" option, meaning that this won't work on them.
You loose the ability to auto update the app if you want.
I would recommend adding a login process where only your users will have access to the actual application. This way, you still have the Market advantages and only those people can activate the application.
The main disadvantage is that the application will be open to search in the Market, but as far as I know, this won't be a problem since people will immediately uninstall it since they won't be able to activate it.
In your case, what I do is, I dont upload the application to the Market and distribute it from my server.
I mean this is simple, sweet and it also saves my $25 for the market account...
Don't do this. Just publish the APK to your own website, then give the users the URL to the APK, they can download and install it directly. The only thing they'll need to do is ensure that Menu-Settings-Applications-Unknown sources is ticked.

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