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Every link you click on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for Android is automatically opened in the app’s browser. In this case, you may not have access to the platform since you may not be logged in to your browser.
Say, for example, that one of your favorite YouTubers posts a link to one of his videos on Facebook. When you click on the link, the in-app browser opens. You won’t be able to comment or like anything unless you sign in to YouTube first. As a result, clicking the link would have been ideal if it opened the YouTube app on your mobile device, right?
In this article, we’ll show you how to open links in other apps directly from within the app, rather than through an in-app or external browser.
Method 1 – Allow App to Open Supported Links Directly
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Click Apps > View All Apps.
- Choose the app for which you want the links to open in-app rather than in a browser.
- Scroll down and click Open by default on the App Info screen.
- Enable the Open supported links toggle.
From now on, anytime you access a URL, it will open in the compatible app rather than the browser. If it still opens in the in-app browser, you must disable the internal browser in apps—more on this below.
Method 2 – Make Links Open in App Using OpenInApp
OpenInApp is a useful solution for creators who want the links they share on social media to open directly inside their apps rather than in the in-app browser. For example, if you share an Instagram post link on Facebook, it will open the Instagram app straight.
- In your browser, go to https://openinapp.com/.
- Copy and paste the URL that you want to share with others.
- Click the Generate Link button. Login if desired, or click Generate without logging in.
- After you’ve made the link, copy it and distribute it everywhere you wish.
Method 3 – Disabling In-App Browsers
There is one more setting to consider when determining the default link behavior. Several well-known applications, such as Gmail and Telegram, as well as Twitter and Slack, feature their own in-app browsers. Websites you launch from within these apps will load into their own browser window, rather than the appropriate app or your normal browser, as a result of this.
Using an in-app browser to open a page when you aren’t logged in to any websites is usually a nuisance, therefore we recommend turning these off for the best results. You’ll find it in a variety of places depending on the app you’re using, but it’s usually under a setting labeled something like Use in-app browser or Open external links.
For example, in the Twitter app, the option to use the in-app browser may be found under Settings and privacy > Display and sound > Use in-app browser.
Method 4 – Use Better Open With
This software allows you to create a list of preferred applications that you can change at any moment. When you first open it, you’ll notice a range of categories, such as Audio Files, Browser, Dialer, and Emails, among others.
After selecting a category, pick your chosen application by tapping the star next to it. Hide any apps that you don’t wish to utilize by clicking on the eye symbol. For specific settings for websites such as YouTube and Twitter, you can select them from a selection box at the top of the Browser section.
Now, navigate to a link that is suitable. When prompted to select an app, choose Better Open With and Always from the drop-down menu. Better Open With will display a panel at the bottom of the screen with a countdown timer and a list of compatible applications. It is your favorite app that will be launched if you do not select one before the timeframe expires.
Better Open With has some shortcomings, despite its convenience. It hasn’t had an update since June 2018, according to the time of writing. You’ll receive a warning when the app is first started on Android 10 indicating it wasn’t developed for the most recent version of the operating system. As a result of this, there is an unsightly black box at the bottom of the application.
Apart from not being compatible with all versions, it is also incapable of handling all forms of actions—SMS is a notable omission. Even so, the app is completely free, so it’s worth giving it a shot if you like the concept.
Conclusion
These were several effective methods for opening links to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and others directly in their respective applications rather than the browser on Android devices. We hope this information will assist you in getting rid of the irritating in-app browser on your phone. Keep an eye out for more tips, techniques, and how-tos about the technologies you use in the future.