Blog | G5 Cyber Security

Captive Portal: Opening Links & Apps

G5 Cyber Security

TL;DR

Yes, captive portal links can open browsers and apps, but it depends on the device’s operating system (OS), the captive portal implementation, and how the link is constructed. This guide explains how to make it work.

Understanding Captive Portals & Links

A captive portal redirects users to a webpage (often for login or acceptance of terms) before granting network access. The links within this page need to be crafted carefully to ensure they open as intended on different devices.

Steps to Open Links and Apps from Captive Portals

  1. Basic HTTP/HTTPS Links: These work reliably for opening web pages in a browser.
  2. Opening Links in New Tabs/Windows (Browser Control): Use the target attribute.
  3. Opening Specific Apps on Android: Use custom schemes.
    • Each app can register a unique scheme (e.g., myapp://).
    • Example: Open My App Feature
    • The OS will attempt to open the registered app if it’s installed. If not, nothing happens or an error is shown.
    • Important: You need to know the correct scheme for the target app.
  4. Opening Specific Apps on iOS (iPhone/iPad): Use custom URL schemes.
    • Similar to Android, apps register schemes (e.g., com.example.app://).
    • Example: Open My App Feature
    • Important: You need the correct scheme for the target app. iOS is more restrictive; ensure the app supports opening from external URLs.
  5. Opening Apps on Desktop (Windows/macOS): Use file protocols.
    • Example (Windows): Open MyApp
    • Example (macOS): Open MyApp
    • Important: This requires knowing the exact file path of the application executable. Security warnings may appear.
  6. Handling Fallbacks: Provide a standard web link as a fallback if the app isn’t installed.
    • Example (Android): Open My App
    • This attempts to open the app; if it fails (because the scheme isn’t recognised), it redirects to a download page.
  7. Testing: Thoroughly test on different devices and OS versions.
    • Android: Use emulators or physical devices with various Android versions.
    • iOS: Test on iPhones/iPads running different iOS versions.
    • Desktop: Test on Windows and macOS.

Troubleshooting

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