Create an app-store Smart Link
Create one OmniLab Smart Link that routes users to the correct app store based on device.
Give one QR code to everyone and send each person to the right app store for their phone, so iPhone and Android users both land on the correct download page. This guide shows when to use this type, which fields it includes, and how to test store routing before you distribute it.
The walkthrough uses Duolingo only as a familiar example. The same fields apply to any app once you paste that app's Apple App Store and Google Play listing URLs, plus an optional fallback page and icon.
Prerequisites
- You can open the OmniLab Smart Links app.
- You know which folder should hold the link.
- You have the store listing URLs for your app (for example from the Apple App Store and Google Play).
When to use App Stores
Use App Stores when one QR code or shared link should send people to different app stores depending on their phone:
- iPhone users go to the Apple App Store
- Android users go to Google Play
- anyone else falls back to a website or store page you choose
For most campaign sharing, Create a Redirection OmniLab Smart Link is the better choice. App Stores is for app download journeys.
What you can configure
An App Stores OmniLab Smart Link includes these fields:
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Title | Internal name for the OmniLab Smart Link |
| Description | Extra context for your team (optional) |
| Type | Set this to App Stores |
| OmniLab Smart Link Slug | Public /l/<slug> URL |
| App Store URL | Apple App Store destination for iPhone users |
| Google Play URL | Google Play destination for Android users |
| Default URL (Fallback) | Where people land when their device matches no store route |
| App Icon URL | App icon shown in the store-routing screen (optional) |
| Amazon Appstore URL / Huawei AppGallery URL | Extra Android store destinations, shown when your plan includes them (optional) |
| Enable Expiration Date | End date for the OmniLab Smart Link (optional) |
| Requires Login | Asks people to sign in before continuing (optional) |
Create the OmniLab Smart Link
Start a new OmniLab Smart Link in the correct folder
Open the target folder and click Create SmartLink.
Choose App Stores in OmniLab Smart Link Details
Set Type to App Stores, then enter a clear Title, an optional Description, and a short OmniLab Smart Link Slug.
For this guide, the title is a Duolingo download example, the description notes Apple, Google Play, and the web fallback, and the slug is duolingo-app. Use your own app name and slug in production, and pick a slug that stays stable if it will appear in print or a QR code.
Add your store URLs
Paste the store URLs for the platforms you support, starting with App Store URL and Google Play URL.
Example (Duolingo public listings):
- App Store URL:
https://apps.apple.com/app/duolingo/id570060128 - Google Play URL:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo
Fill in Amazon Appstore URL or Huawei AppGallery URL when those stores are part of your plan.
Add fallback and optional presentation details
Set Default URL (Fallback) so people still reach a useful page when their device matches no store route. For the Duolingo example, the fallback is the public website https://www.duolingo.com.
Add App Icon URL when you have a suitable image URL, so the store-routing screen can show your app icon. The example uses Duolingo's public icon.
Add any optional limits or tracking
Add any of these before you save:
- Enable Expiration Date — turn it on when the app promotion has a fixed end date.
- Requires Login — turn it on only when the download journey should be limited to signed-in users.
- UTM Parameters — fill them in to pass attribution through consistently from the link. For example, set UTM Source to
qr, UTM Medium toposter, and a campaign name that matches your reporting.
Save and test on real devices
When the form is complete, click Save & Activate, then test the OmniLab Smart Link on at least one iPhone and one Android device before launch.
When you set a fallback URL, test that path too.
Testing checklist
- iPhone opens the Apple App Store destination
- Android opens the Google Play destination
- fallback works when expected
- slug looks clean in the public URL
- QR code scans reliably on mobile
Use real device tests
An App Stores OmniLab Smart Link is only complete once you have tested it on the kinds of devices your real users will scan with.
Related
Create a Redirection OmniLab Smart Link
Use Redirection for campaigns, websites, PDFs, and most other web destinations.
Test the OmniLab Smart Link
Run a fuller QA pass before the OmniLab Smart Link is distributed at scale.
Print-ready exports
Choose the right QR output for app download posters, flyers, and other printed assets.