How do I access Apple's AASA validator (App Search API Validation Tool)?

Question

When building an Apple App Site Association file (AASA or apple-app-site-association file), it's very easy to get it wrong. That's why Apple built a "App Search API Validation Tool" (ref1, ref2).

This seemed to be available as recently as June 2022 at https://search.developer.apple.com/appsearch-validation-tool/. However, that site now redirects to a generic page about universal links.

I would like to use Apple's tool to validate my AASA file because when I chose my build in App Store Connect, it shows that there are problems with my AASA file:

DOMAIN STATUS: 1 invalid domain

CACHE STATUS: Cannot Reach AASA File

DEBUG STATUS: Invalid Entitlement: Unknown ID

How do I access Apple's App Search API Validation Tool?

---

I know there are 3rd party AASA validators:

• https://branch.io/resources/aasa-validator/
• https://yurl.chayev.com/

... however, these are not built by Apple, so may not be as thorough as Apple's tool. Case in point, my AASA file succeeds on both of these sites, even though it fails on App Store Connect.

Tommy

One of the most useful tools is sysdiagnose This lets you see what the device sees when it attempts to load the file. – Essive

Answer 1

I can’t recall since when or why, but as of July 2024 I have been using the following successfully:

https://app-site-association.cdn-apple.com/a/v1/<domain>

e.g.

https://app-site-association.cdn-apple.com/a/v1/spotify.com

Lantern

what does it mean, if I get "Not Found" response, even though accessing the direct url from my domain shows the json file? – Swinney

It means that Apple’s CDN has not been updated yet. It can take up to 24 hours I believe. – Lantern

Answer 2

Here is the troubleshooting steps we went through:

Check the Apple CDN by loading:

https://app-site-association.cdn-apple.com/a/v1/<domain>

If the CDN cache has not updated yet (shows outdated file), then try to invalidate the cache by loading:

https://app-site-association.cdn-apple.com/a/v1/<domain>?timestamp=<current epoch time>

(get the epoch time from here https://www.epochconverter.com) This may take a while to updated (> 8 hours for us)

Rumen

Answer 3

Coping from apple documentation

1. On iOS, you can additionally test your universal links with the associated domains diagnostic tests in Developer settings through these steps:

2. Turn on Developer Mode in Settings. Read Enabling Developer Mode on a device for more help.

3. In Settings > Developer, scroll to the section labeled Universal Links and turn on Associated Domains Development.

4. Open Diagnostics and type in your full URL. You will receive feedback on whether this link is valid for an installed app.

If your universal links are invalid, your applinks may be configured incorrectly.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/technotes/tn3155-debugging-universal-links

Helbonia

what if they are valid but still wont open? it only works if I have ?mode=developer at the end – Porphyroid

@GeorgK. did you manage to solve this? I have the same scenario – Marketa