--- description: Capacitor plugin to check whether another app can be opened and to launch it by URL scheme or package name on Android, iOS, and the web. title: Capacitor App Launcher Plugin - Capawesome image: https://capawesome.io/docs/assets/images/social/sdks/capacitor/app-launcher.png --- [Skip to content ](#capacitor-app-launcher-plugin) [πŸ” Introducing the **Capacitor Vault** plugin β€” store secrets behind biometrics or a device passcode. ](/blog/announcing-the-capacitor-vault-plugin/) * [ SDKs ](/docs/sdks/) * [ Configuration ](#configuration) * [ Usage ](#usage) * [ API ](#api) * [ Migrating from @capacitor/app-launcher ](#migrating-from-capacitorapp-launcher) * [ Changelog ](#changelog) * [ License ](#license) * [ App Review ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-review/) * [ App Shortcuts ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-shortcuts/) * [ App Tracking Transparency ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-tracking-transparency/) * [ App Update ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-update/) * [ Apple Sign-In ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/apple-sign-in/) * [ Asset Manager ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/asset-manager/) * [ Audio Player ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/audio-player/) * [ Audio Recorder ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/audio-recorder/) * [ Audio Session ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/audio-session/) * [ Background Task ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/background-task/) * [ Badge ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/badge/) * [ Barometer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/barometer/) * [ Battery ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/battery/) * [ Biometrics ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/biometrics/) * [ Bluetooth Low Energy ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/bluetooth-low-energy/) * [ Clipboard ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/clipboard/) * [ Cloudinary ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/cloudinary/) * [ Compass ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/compass/) * [ Contacts ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/contacts/) * [ Datetime Picker ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/datetime-picker/) * [ Device Info ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/device-info/) * [ Dialog ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/dialog/) * [ Facebook Sign-In ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/facebook-sign-in/) * [ File Compressor ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/file-compressor/) * [ File Opener ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/file-opener/) * [ File Picker ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/file-picker/) * [ Firebase ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/firebase/) * [ Formbricks ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/formbricks/) * [ Geocoder ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/geocoder/) * [ Google Sign-In ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/google-sign-in/) * [ Grafana Faro ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/grafana-faro/) * [ Gyroscope ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/gyroscope/) * [ Haptics ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/haptics/) * [ In-App Browser ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/in-app-browser/) * [ Install Referrer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/install-referrer/) * [ Keep Awake ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/keep-awake/) * [ libSQL ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/libsql/) * [ Live Update ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/live-update/) * [ Localization ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/localization/) * [ Mail Composer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/mail-composer/) * [ Managed Configurations ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/managed-configurations/) * [ Maps Launcher ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/maps-launcher/) * [ Media Session ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/media-session/) * [ ML Kit ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/mlkit/) * [ Navigation Bar ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/navigation-bar/) * [ Network ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/network/) * [ NFC ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/nfc/) * [ Node.js ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/nodejs/) * [ OAuth ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/oauth/) * [ Passkeys ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/passkeys/) * [ Password Autofill ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/password-autofill/) * [ PDF Generator ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/pdf-generator/) * [ PDF Viewer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/pdf-viewer/) * [ Pedometer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/pedometer/) * [ Phone Dialer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/phone-dialer/) * [ Photo Editor ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/photo-editor/) * [ PixLive ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/pixlive/) * [ PostHog ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/posthog/) * [ Printer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/printer/) * [ Privacy Screen ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/privacy-screen/) * [ Purchases ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/purchases/) * [ RealtimeKit ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/realtimekit/) * [ Root Detection ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/root-detection/) * [ Screen Brightness ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/screen-brightness/) * [ Screen Orientation ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/screen-orientation/) * [ Screen Reader ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/screen-reader/) * [ Screenshot ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/screenshot/) * [ Secure Preferences ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/secure-preferences/) * [ Settings Launcher ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/settings-launcher/) * [ Shake ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/shake/) * [ Silent Mode ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/silent-mode/) * [ SIM ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/sim/) * [ SMS Composer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/sms-composer/) * [ Speech Recognition ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/speech-recognition/) * [ Speech Synthesis ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/speech-synthesis/) * [ Share Target ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/share-target/) * [ Square Mobile Payments ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/square-mobile-payments/) * [ SQLite ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/sqlite/) * [ Superwall ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/superwall/) * [ Text Zoom ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/text-zoom/) * [ Thermal State ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/thermal-state/) * [ Toast ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/toast/) * [ Torch ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/torch/) * [ Vault ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/vault/) * [ Volume ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/volume/) * [ Wallet ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/wallet/) * [ Wifi ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/wifi/) * [ Zip ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/zip/) * [ Cordova ](/docs/sdks/cordova/) * [ Cloud ](/docs/cloud/) * [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/integrations/) * Concepts * Reference * [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/troubleshooting/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/faq/) * [ Native Builds ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/) * [ Set Up Environments ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/environments/) * [ Overwrite Native Configurations ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/native-configurations/) * [ Auto-Increment Build Numbers ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/auto-incrementing-build-numbers/) * [ Configure the Web Build Script ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/web-build-script/) * [ Build from a Monorepo ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/monorepo/) * [ Use pnpm, Yarn, or bun ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/package-managers/) * [ Install Private npm Packages ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/npm-private-registry/) * [ Override the Java Version ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/override-java-version/) * [ Custom iOS Provisioning Profiles ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/custom-ios-provisioning-profiles/) * [ Build without Git ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/build-without-git/) * [ Access Git Behind a Firewall ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/firewall-access/) * [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/integrations/) * Reference * [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/troubleshooting/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/faq/) * [ App Store Publishing ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/) * [ Submit a Build ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/submit-a-build/) * [ Submit Automatically After a Build ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/submit-automatically/) * [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/troubleshooting/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/faq/) * [ Automations ](/docs/cloud/automations/) * [ Reference ](/docs/cloud/automations/reference/) * [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/automations/troubleshooting/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/automations/faq/) * [ Assist ](/docs/cloud/assist/) * [ CLI ](/docs/cloud/cli/) * APIs and SDKs * [ Webhooks ](/docs/cloud/webhooks/) * [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/integrations/) * Account * [ Organization ](/docs/cloud/organizations/) * [ Two-Factor Enforcement ](/docs/cloud/organizations/two-factor-authentication/) * [ Audit Logs ](/docs/cloud/organizations/audit-logs/) * [ Billing ](/docs/cloud/organizations/billing/) * [ License Keys ](/docs/cloud/license-keys/) * [ AI ](/docs/ai/) * [ Insiders ](/docs/insiders/) * [ Billing & Plans ](/docs/insiders/billing-and-plans/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/insiders/faq/) * [ License ](https://capawesome.io/legal/eula/) * [ Support ](/docs/support/) * [ Contributing ](/docs/contributing/) * Contributing code * [ Code of Conduct ](/docs/contributing/code-of-conduct/) * [ Questions ](https://docs.github.com/en/discussions/collaborating-with-your-community-using-discussions/participating-in-a-discussion#creating-a-discussion) * [ Blog ](/blog/) * Categories * [ Configuration ](#configuration) * [ Usage ](#usage) * [ API ](#api) * [ Migrating from @capacitor/app-launcher ](#migrating-from-capacitorapp-launcher) * [ Changelog ](#changelog) * [ License ](#license) # Capacitor App Launcher Plugin[ΒΆ](#capacitor-app-launcher-plugin "Permanent link") Capacitor plugin to check if an app can be opened and to open it. [ ![Deliver Live Updates to your Capacitor app with Capawesome Cloud](../../../assets/external/cloud.capawesome.io/assets/banners/cloud-build-and-deploy-capacitor-apps.69628c3f.png) ](https://cloud.capawesome.io/) ## Features[ΒΆ](#features "Permanent link") * πŸ”— **Open apps**: Open another app by its URL scheme or package name. * βœ… **Availability**: Check whether an app can be opened before trying to open it. * πŸ€– **Package names**: Check and open apps by their package name on Android. * πŸ”’ **App Store safe**: Uses only official platform APIs. * πŸ“¦ **CocoaPods & SPM**: Supports CocoaPods and Swift Package Manager for iOS. * πŸ” **Up-to-date**: Always supports the latest Capacitor version. * 🀝 **Compatibility**: Works alongside the [Maps Launcher](https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/maps-launcher/) and [Settings Launcher](https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/settings-launcher/) plugins. Missing a feature? Just [open an issue](https://github.com/capawesome-team/capacitor-plugins/issues) and we'll take a look! ## Newsletter[ΒΆ](#newsletter "Permanent link") Stay up to date with the latest news and updates about the Capawesome, Capacitor, and Ionic ecosystem by subscribing to our [Capawesome Newsletter](https://cloud.capawesome.io/newsletter/). ## Compatibility[ΒΆ](#compatibility "Permanent link") | Plugin Version | Capacitor Version | Status | | -------------- | ----------------- | -------------- | | 0.x.x | \>=8.x.x | Active support | ## Installation[ΒΆ](#installation "Permanent link") You can use our **AI-Assisted Setup** to install the plugin. Add the [Capawesome Skills](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills) to your AI tool using the following command: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-0-1)npx skills add capawesome-team/skills --skill capacitor-plugins ` Then use the following prompt: `` [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-1-1) Use the `capacitor-plugins` skill from `capawesome-team/skills` to install the `@capawesome/capacitor-app-launcher` plugin in my project. `` If you prefer **Manual Setup**, install the plugin by running the following commands and follow the platform-specific instructions below: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-1)npm install @capawesome/capacitor-app-launcher [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-2)npx cap sync ` ### Android[ΒΆ](#android "Permanent link") Starting with Android 11 (API level 30), apps must declare the packages and URL schemes they want to check or open in the [](https://developer.android.com/training/package-visibility) element of their `AndroidManifest.xml`. **If you do not add the corresponding `` entries, `canOpenUrl(...)` always resolves with `value: false` and `openUrl(...)` may resolve with `completed: false`.** Add an entry for **every** package name and URL scheme you pass to the plugin. For example, to check and open the Gmail app (package name `com.google.android.gm`) and any `mailto:` URL, add the following to your `android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml` before or after the `application` tag: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-1) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-2) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-3) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-4) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-5) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-6) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-7) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-8) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-9) ` ### iOS[ΒΆ](#ios "Permanent link") On iOS, every URL scheme you want to check with `canOpenUrl(...)` must be declared in the [LSApplicationQueriesSchemes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/bundleresources/information%5Fproperty%5Flist/lsapplicationqueriesschemes) key of your app's `Info.plist`. **If you do not add the corresponding entries, `canOpenUrl(...)` always resolves with `value: false`.** Add an entry for **every** URL scheme you pass to the plugin. For example, to check any `mailto:` URL, add the following to your `ios/App/App/Info.plist`: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-1)LSApplicationQueriesSchemes [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-2) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-3) mailto [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-4) ` ## Configuration[ΒΆ](#configuration "Permanent link") No configuration required for this plugin. ## Usage[ΒΆ](#usage "Permanent link") `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-1)import { AppLauncher } from '@capawesome/capacitor-app-launcher'; [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-2) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-3)const canOpenUrl = async () => { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-4) const { value } = await AppLauncher.canOpenUrl({ url: 'mailto:' }); [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-5) return value; [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-6)}; [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-7) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-8)const openUrl = async () => { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-9) const { completed } = await AppLauncher.openUrl({ url: 'mailto:' }); [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-10) return completed; [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-11)}; ` ## API[ΒΆ](#api "Permanent link") * [canOpenUrl(...)](#canopenurl) * [openUrl(...)](#openurl) * [Interfaces](#interfaces) ### canOpenUrl(...)[ΒΆ](#canopenurl "Permanent link") `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-6-1)canOpenUrl(options: CanOpenUrlOptions) => Promise ` Check if an app can be opened with the given URL. On **iOS**, every URL scheme you want to check must be declared in the `LSApplicationQueriesSchemes` key of your app's `Info.plist`. Otherwise this method always resolves with `value: false`. On **Android**, every package name or URL scheme you want to check must be declared in the `<queries>` element of your app's `AndroidManifest.xml`. Otherwise this method always resolves with `value: false`. | Param | Type | | ----------- | --------------------------------------- | | **options** | [CanOpenUrlOptions](#canopenurloptions) | **Returns:** `Promise<[CanOpenUrlResult](#canopenurlresult)>` **Since:** 0.1.0 --- ### openUrl(...)[ΒΆ](#openurl "Permanent link") `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-7-1)openUrl(options: OpenUrlOptions) => Promise ` Open an app with the given URL. | Param | Type | | ----------- | --------------------------------- | | **options** | [OpenUrlOptions](#openurloptions) | **Returns:** `Promise<[OpenUrlResult](#openurlresult)>` **Since:** 0.1.0 --- ### Interfaces[ΒΆ](#interfaces "Permanent link") #### CanOpenUrlResult[ΒΆ](#canopenurlresult "Permanent link") | Prop | Type | Description | Since | | --------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- | | **value** | boolean | Whether or not the app can be opened with the given URL. On the web, this is always true because the browser cannot determine whether a URL can be opened. | 0.1.0 | #### CanOpenUrlOptions[ΒΆ](#canopenurloptions "Permanent link") | Prop | Type | Description | Since | | ------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- | | **url** | string | The URL to check. On **iOS**, this must be a URL scheme (e.g. mailto:). On **Android**, this can be a URL scheme (e.g. mailto:) or a package name (e.g. com.google.android.gm). | 0.1.0 | #### OpenUrlResult[ΒΆ](#openurlresult "Permanent link") | Prop | Type | Description | Since | | ------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ----- | | **completed** | boolean | Whether or not the app was opened successfully. | 0.1.0 | #### OpenUrlOptions[ΒΆ](#openurloptions "Permanent link") | Prop | Type | Description | Since | | ------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----- | | **url** | string | The URL to open. On **iOS**, this must be a URL scheme (e.g. mailto:). On **Android**, this can be a URL scheme (e.g. mailto:) or a package name (e.g. com.google.android.gm). | 0.1.0 | ## Migrating from `@capacitor/app-launcher`[ΒΆ](#migrating-from-capacitorapp-launcher "Permanent link") This plugin is a drop-in replacement for the official `@capacitor/app-launcher` plugin. The API is identical, so you only need to change the import and installation. | @capacitor/app-launcher | App Launcher | | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | AppLauncher.canOpenUrl({ url }) | AppLauncher.canOpenUrl({ url }) | | AppLauncher.openUrl({ url }) | AppLauncher.openUrl({ url }) | On Android, the `url` may be a URL scheme or a package name for both `canOpenUrl(...)` and `openUrl(...)`. ## Changelog[ΒΆ](#changelog "Permanent link") See [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/capacitor-plugins/blob/main/packages/app-launcher/CHANGELOG.md). ## License[ΒΆ](#license "Permanent link") See [LICENSE](https://github.com/capawesome-team/capacitor-plugins/blob/main/packages/app-launcher/LICENSE). July 7, 2026 Back to top ```json {"@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [{"@type": "TechArticle", "@id": "https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-launcher/#article", "headline": "Capacitor App Launcher Plugin", "name": "Capacitor App Launcher Plugin", "description": "Capacitor plugin to check whether another app can be opened and to launch it by URL scheme or package name on Android, iOS, and the web.", "inLanguage": "en", "url": "https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-launcher/", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-launcher/", "author": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Capawesome", "url": "https://capawesome.io", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://capawesome.io/assets/images/logo.svg"}}, "publisher": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Capawesome", "url": "https://capawesome.io", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://capawesome.io/assets/images/logo.svg"}}, "about": {"@id": "https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-launcher/#software"}}, {"@type": "SoftwareSourceCode", "@id": "https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-launcher/#software", "name": "Capacitor App Launcher Plugin", "description": "Capacitor plugin to check whether another app can be opened and to launch it by URL scheme or package name on Android, iOS, and the web.", "url": "https://capawesome.io/docs/sdks/capacitor/app-launcher/", "programmingLanguage": "TypeScript", "runtimePlatform": "Capacitor", "codeRepository": "https://github.com/capawesome-team", "author": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Capawesome", "url": "https://capawesome.io", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://capawesome.io/assets/images/logo.svg"}}, "publisher": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Capawesome", "url": "https://capawesome.io", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://capawesome.io/assets/images/logo.svg"}}}]} ```