App Clip Advanced Card with URL Redirects - Custom Branding Per Location

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Created 4d

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Hello Apple Developer Community,

I'm working on implementing App Clips for a restaurant platform and need guidance on configuring custom App Clip experiences using URL redirects.

Context:

We have multiple restaurant locations, each needing branded App Clip cards (custom image, title, subtitle). With hundreds of tables across many venues, creating individual App Clip experiences for each table in App Store Connect isn't scalable.

Currently:

Using a single, generic App Clip experience for all locations => https://example.com

Desired Flow:

Customer scans QR code at restaurant table
         ↓
https://example.com/123
         ↓
iOS fetches URL
         ↓
Server responds with 302 redirect
         ↓
https://example.com/brands/le-pain-quotidien?venue=abc123
         ↓
iOS displays App Clip card with "Le Pain Quotidien" branding
         ↓
User taps "Open" → App Clip launches with correct context

What I've Tried:

Configured multiple App Clip experiences in App Store Connect
Implemented 302 redirects from short URLs to branded URLs
Tested various redirect configurations without success

Questions:

Does iOS fetch and follow redirects before displaying the App Clip card, or does it only use the originally scanned URL?
What App Clip experience URLs should be configured in App Store Connect for this redirect scenario?
Are there specific HTTP headers or redirect requirements for iOS to properly recognize the final destination?
Should the App Clip experience be registered for example.com/123 or example.com/brands/le-pain-quotidien?

Reference:

Apple's documentation suggests this is possible: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppClip/configuring-the-launch-experience-of-your-app-clip#Use-short-URLs-or-redirects

Has anyone successfully implemented custom App Clip cards using URL redirects? Any guidance on the correct configuration approach would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Answered by DTS Engineer in 874111022

@KillianS

For more information, see Create App Clips for other businesses and Configure and link your App Clips starting at 08:41.

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Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

4d

Accepted Answer

@KillianS

For more information, see Create App Clips for other businesses and Configure and link your App Clips starting at 08:41.

1

Answer 2

KillianS OP

3d

Thank you for the references.

I have already reviewed both the "Create App Clips for other businesses" documentation and the "Configure and link your App Clips" video (including the section starting at 08:41).

However, I need explicit confirmation from Apple regarding URL redirection behavior before the App Clip card is presented.

My specific question:

Does iOS follow HTTP redirects (302/301) before fetching and displaying the App Clip card metadata, or does it only use the originally scanned URL?

Why this matters:

We have thousands of QR codes already printed and deployed across restaurant tables. These QR codes point to short URLs like https://example.com/123.

Scenario A - Redirects are followed (desired):

User scans: https://example.com/123
         ↓
iOS fetches and follows 302 redirect
         ↓
Final URL: https://example.com/brands/le-pain-quotidien?venue=abc123
         ↓
iOS fetches App Clip card metadata from final URL
         ↓
Displays branded App Clip card for "Le Pain Quotidien"

Scenario B - Redirects are not followed:

User scans: https://example.com/123
         ↓
iOS only uses scanned URL for App Clip card lookup
         ↓
Generic App Clip card (or no match found)

If Scenario B is the actual behavior, I need to confirm this definitively so we can adjust our implementation strategy (likely reprinting QR codes with direct brand URLs).

Apple's documentation at https://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppClip/configuring-the-launch-experience-of-your-app-clip#Use-short-URLs-or-redirects mentions "Use short URLs or redirects" but doesn't clarify whether redirects are resolved before the App Clip card is presented.

Can you please confirm:

Does iOS resolve redirects before matching against App Clip experiences configured in App Store Connect?
If yes, what are the technical requirements (redirect type, headers, timing)?

Thank you for your clarification.

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