iOS9: canOpenURL returning false for WhatApp's url scheme

Question

In my current project I need to share text on whatsapp from iOS app.

Here is my code to share text on whatsapp:

NSURL *whatsappURL = [NSURL URLWithString:@"whatsapp://send?text=Hello%2C%20World!"];
if ([[UIApplication sharedApplication] canOpenURL: whatsappURL]) {
    [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL: whatsappURL];
}

but canOpenURL always returning false in iOS9.

Is there any iOS9 privacy policy? Can anyone help me out?

Tintype

with iOS 9, Apple Transport Security was introduced. Maybe it has something to do with it. It basically says you can´t send any unsecure requests anymore. But I´m not sure if it is the problem in this case. – Chung

maybe this can help you #30988486 – Chung

ATS has nothing to do with this. Apple introduced a separate system which requires stating in info.plist which schemes an app will use, but it's completely orthogonal to ATS. – Superior

Answer 1

In iOS 9 you must whitelist any URL schemes your App wants to query in Info.plist under the LSApplicationQueriesSchemes key (an array of strings):

For example:

So in your case, instead of fb and twitter you will have to specify whatsapp.

Note that this mechanism only applies to canOpenURL and not openURL. You do not need to have a scheme listed in Info.plist to be able to open it with openURL.

Saez

@MayankModi Glad to help :) – Saez

For the lazy ones: here is the code for your plist (add it at the end of the main dict node): <key>LSApplicationQueriesSchemes</key> <array> <string>whatsapp</string> </array> – Hanson

<key>LSApplicationQueriesSchemes</key> <array> <string>whatsapp</string> <string>fb</string> <string>twitter</string> </array> will it be like that @JuanFranJimenez ? – Seattle

Answer 2

In addition to @z22's answer if you need to add it textually (e.g. with Xamarin) then it looks like this:

    <dict>
        ... 

        <key>LSApplicationQueriesSchemes</key>
        <array>
            <string>whatsapp</string>
        </array>
    </dict>

Swarth

Answer 3

Step:1 Add LSApplicationQueriesSchemes in Info.plist

Step:2 Add whatsapp in items

Rainer

Answer 4

For me the issue was because I was using URL types instead of LSApplicationQueriesSchemes

and it work only for LSApplicationQueriesSchemes

This will not work

This will work

Stentor

Answer 5

for someone who still finding this issue, its because canOpenURL is abuse to check all installed app. use Open instead and wait for async result.

UIApplication.shared.open(url, options: [:], completionHandler: {success in
            if !success { self.screen?.showToast(message: "App not installed")}
        })

Phoenician