How to Launch Chrome from LinkedIn WebView via Intent Without Infinite Loading?

[ginnot17]

I’m trying to open a URL in Google Chrome (instead of LinkedIn’s in-app WebView) using an Android Intent. My current code works on some devices but causes infinite loading in LinkedIn’s WebView or redirects to the Play Store.

Current Code (Problem):
const url = window.location.href;
if (/android/i.test(navigator.userAgent)) {
window.location.href = googlechrome://${window.location.href.replace(/^https?:\/\//, '')};
return;
}

How can I force the URL to open in Chrome (not WebView) only when possible?

[rueben.tiow]

Hi @ginnot17,

Welcome to the Auth0 Community!

LinkedIn’s web view may be blocking the redirect leading it to load infinitely, but I am unsure.

It seems that opening the URL in a Google Chrome web browser works. As a workaround, you might consider offering your users a way to copy the URL and ask them to open it in a web browser instead of LinkedIn’s in-app web view.

Additionally, using a standard web browser over the in-app web view is the recommended way for authentication flows.

Check out this post, which explains the best current practice for OAuth 2.0 for native apps.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions.

Thanks,
Rueben

[ginnot17]

Hi Rueben,

Thanks for your response.

I found that the redirection works on iOS using the following code

if (userAgent.includes('Mobile') && (userAgent.includes('iPhone') || userAgent.includes('iPad')) && userAgent.includes('LinkedInApp')) {
    window.location.href = 'x-safari-' + url;
    return;
}

So I believe it should also work on Android, but the issue seems to be related to how the Chrome app is launched.

Do you have any recommendations on the best way to open Chrome from the LinkedIn in-app web view on Android?

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Best,