iOS deferred deep linking with iOS Private Relay

With the launch of 1OS 15, Apple provides iCloud+ users with a feature called Private Relay, which gives them the option to encrypt their web-browsing traffic and hide their exact location, IP address, and the contents of their browsing traffic. If users opt-in to Private Relay, this could interfere with attribution and deferred deep linking. Meaning, once a new user without the app goes to the App Store, and installs and launches the app, Private Relay could prevent them from being sent to a specific page in the app.

To ensure that deferred deep linking (DDL) continues to work as expected, you need to implement one of the following AppsFlyer solutions:

• [Recommended] App Clip-based solution: Create an App Clip that gives you user attribution data, and directs users to a customized App Clip experience similar to the one you want DDL to achieve. The app clip can also include a flow to direct users from your App Clip to your full app.
• Clipboard-based solution: Create a web landing page that copies the deferred deep linking data from the URL and correctly redirects the user to the app. Note: This solution does not help with attribution.
  
  Prerequisites: AppsFlyer SDK V6.4.0+

  App Clip-based solution

To set up the App Clip-based DDL solution:

1. Follow the Apple instructions and develop an App Clip that provides the desired user journey.
2. Integrate the AppsFlyer SDK for App Clips, including App Clip-to-full app attribution.
3. In the App Clip sceneDelegate:
   • Replace scene continue userActivity with the following function:
     
     ⇲ Github links: Swift
     Swift

     func scene(_ scene: UIScene, continue userActivity: NSUserActivity) {
       // Must for AppsFlyer attrib
       AppsFlyerLib.shared().continue(userActivity, restorationHandler: nil)
     
       //Get the invocation URL from the userActivity in order to add it to the shared user default
       guard userActivity.activityType == NSUserActivityTypeBrowsingWeb,
       let invocationURL = userActivity.webpageURL else {
         return
       }
       addDlUrlToSharedUserDefaults(invocationURL)        
     }

• Add the following method:
  
  ⇲ Github links: Swift
  Swift

  func addDlUrlToSharedUserDefaults(_ url: URL){
    guard let sharedUserDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: "group.<your_app>.appClipToFullApp") else {
      return
    }
    //Add invocation URL to the app group
    sharedUserDefaults.set(url, forKey: "dl_url")
    //Enable sending events
    sharedUserDefaults.set(true, forKey: "AppsFlyerReadyToSendEvents")
  }

4. In the full app:
   • In appDelegate, add the following method:
     
     Swift

     func deepLinkFromAppClip() {
       guard let sharedUserDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: "group.<your_app>.appClipToFullApp"),
       let dlUrl = sharedUserDefaults.url(forKey: "dl_url")
       else {
         NSLog("Could not find the App Group or the deep link URL from the app clip")
         return
       }
       AppsFlyerLib.shared().performOnAppAttribution(with: dlUrl)
       sharedUserDefaults.removeObject(forKey: "dl_url")
     }

⇲ Github links: Swift

• At the end of the application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions method, call deepLinkFromAppClip:
  
  ⇲ Github links: Swift
  Swift

  func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
  
    // ...
  
    deepLinkFromAppClip()
  
    return true
  }

Clipboard-based solution

To set up the clipboard-based solution:

1. Enter the following code in appDelegate.
   
   Objective-CSwift

   NSString *pasteboardUrl = [[UIPasteboard generalPasteboard] string];
   NSString *checkParameter = @"cp_url=true";
   
   if ([pasteboardUrl containsString:checkParameter]) {
     [[AppsFlyerLib shared] performOnAppAttributionWithURL:[NSURL URLWithString:pasteboardUrl]];
   }

   var pasteboardUrl = UIPasteboard.general.string ?? ""
   let checkParameter = "cp_url=true"
   
   if pasteboardUrl.contains(checkParameter) {
       AppsFlyerLib.shared().performOnAppAttribution(with: URL(string: pasteboardUrl))
   }

2. Implement code that pastes the deferred deep link data in the URL from the clipboard. This is not part of the AppsFlyer SDK.