iOS Deep Links: Handle Missing or Invalid Routes
A link opens the app but the requested item no longer exists. This guide gives you a small, testable way to approach the issue before changing a live system.
A practical workflow
- Parse and validate the incoming URL, then map it to a known route.
- Test a signed-out state, stale ID and app cold start.
What to check
A deep link should fail into a useful screen rather than a blank view or crash. Compare the result with the original problem and record what changed. If a measurement or test does not support the change, revisit the assumption rather than adding more complexity.
Keep the experiment small enough to reverse. Document the starting state, the change and the result so another person can repeat the process. Product menus and versions can change, so check the current documentation for your environment.
Official reference: Read the documentation.