In-app browsers
Get visitors who tap your link inside TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook out of the app's built-in browser and into WhatsApp.
Social apps open links in their own built-in browser instead of the phone's browser. From there, WhatsApp often can't open, and a visitor who wanted to message you gives up. The Open in External Browser switch on a Premium Link sends those visitors out of the app's browser first, where WhatsApp opens as usual.
The problem
It happens with any WhatsApp link, wa.me links included, because the app's browser decides what a tap can open:
- TikTok and Snapchat often can't hand a WhatsApp link to the WhatsApp app at all. The visitor is stuck in the app's browser.
- Facebook, Messenger and Instagram on iPhone can stop on WhatsApp's web page instead of opening the app, so the visitor needs another tap to reach the chat.
A Premium Link can recognize these clicks and treat them differently, while every other visitor goes straight to WhatsApp as before.
Turn it on
- Open the link from Links, or start a new one.
- Turn on Open in External Browser.
- Under Apps, choose where it applies. TikTok and Snapchat are selected to start with.
- Select Save changes, or Create link on a new link.
| Option | Applies to clicks from |
|---|---|
| TikTok | TikTok |
| Snapchat | Snapchat |
| Facebook and Messenger | |
| Any in-app browser | Every app that opens links in a built-in browser: the four above and any other |
While Any in-app browser is on, every app is covered and the four choices above it are set aside. A published link needs at least one app, or Any in-app browser.
What the visitor sees
On Android
The page first tries, once and on its own, to hand the chat to WhatsApp. Facebook, Messenger and Instagram usually allow it, so those visitors go straight into WhatsApp. When an app blocks it, as TikTok does, the visitor sees the same page as on iPhone.
On iPhone
A short page titled "Open in your browser" with your wa.link address and two steps:
- Tap the ⋯ menu (or the share icon) and choose Open in browser.
- WhatsApp opens on its own.
Under the steps, Try opening WhatsApp tries to open the chat right from the app, and a note asks the visitor to come back to the steps if it doesn't work. Copy link copies your address to paste anywhere.
The page follows the phone's language: English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Why not cover every app
The bridge adds a screen and a tap for the visitors it applies to, so pick the apps your clicks actually come from. Visitors in a regular browser, or in an app you didn't pick, never see it.
Good to know
- It works on every link type: Chat, Catalog, Channel and Group.
- It works together with your landing page: visitors who leave the app's browser land on your page, then tap through to WhatsApp.
- Message variables still fill in, and the click is counted as usual.
- It's included with every Premium Link. Free links don't have it: a free link always goes straight to WhatsApp.
- Turning the switch off keeps your app choices, so you can turn it back on later as it was.