Links open in separate app, but I want Safari

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Level 2

188 points

Links open in separate app, but I want Safari

Using iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 18.5. When I tap on a link like https://maps.google.com/maps/, it opens the Google Maps app, but I prefer to open it in Safari in a new tab. I’ve tried Googling how to do this, but everything I’m finding has a method that may be old. For example, the instructions I found say to go into Settings, Safari app, and look for “Open Links in Apps”. But that’s not there. There’s an option that says “Open Links”, and tapping on that reveals 2 options: “In New Tab”, or “In Background”. The instructions I found say to scroll down the list of apps to the Google Maps app and turn it off. There is no list of apps. Here are the instructions I was following:

To ensure iPhone links open in Safari instead of Google Maps, you'll need to configure your device's settings. This involves going to Settings > Safari > Open Links in Apps, and toggling off the switch next to Google Maps.Alternatively, you can set Safari as your default browser in Settings > Safari > Default Browser App.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

Open Settings: Locate and tap on the Settings app icon on your iPhone's home screen.
Access Safari: Scroll down and tap on "Safari".
Open Links in Apps: Scroll down further and tap on "Open Links in Apps".
Toggle Google Maps: Locate Google Maps in the list and tap the switch next to it to turn it off. This will prevent Google Maps from opening links in its own browser.
Set Safari as Default (Optional): If you want to ensure all links open in Safari, you can also go to Settings > Safari > Default Browser App and choose Safari.

By following these steps, you can ensure that web links within Google Maps (and other apps) open in Safari instead of within the Google Maps app itself.

As I stated above, it fails at “Open Links in Apps” which doesn’t exist, and no list of apps to turn off a switch. Anybody have another idea? Thanks.

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on May 23, 2025 06:16 PM

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Answer 1

jla930 Author

Level 2

188 points

May 23, 2025 10:22 PM in response to TheLittles

TheLittles wrote:

Recommend this to Apple:

It is best that you provide feedback ob this is Apple. Apple won't get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what their customer prefer, and what features to include in time to come. Apple will know nothing of your ideas, if you don't provide them to them.

Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - 1. Apple

Select: "Feature Request" for the "Feedback Type1. "

Comment:1. that you want this to be an option, and why. Include the URL of this thread.

2. Proceed from there as necessary

Great idea to leave feedback. I will do so.

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Answer 2

jla930 Author

Level 2

188 points

May 24, 2025 02:47 AM in response to Alancito

Alancito wrote:

jla930 wrote: "...I would expect and hope that a link that points to something that I do have an app for (like Google Maps) will still open in Safari. It doesn’t. Why not?...

"

Because Google Maps supports 'universal links' so that "When users tap or click a universal link, the system redirects the link directly to your app without routing through the person’s default web browser...":

Allowing apps and websites to link to your content | Apple Developer Documentation

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Thanks for posting that. The way I’m reading it, “Allowing” to me means the user has a choice to either stay in the browser or open an app. Unfortunately, that’s my whole point: I don’t see a choice. You brought up what I call a work-around to force a specific link to open in a new tab. But I think it would be nice to have choice to set a default. I honestly don’t think anyone should decide for me how I want to open every link. I have my reasons to want to open a maps.google.com link in Safari instead of opening the Google Maps app, and they’re too long to get into here. I will add that with what I’m doing, I don’t think the long press on the link to force it to open in Safari is feasible for me at all. So I’m stuck. Really stuck. I’ll try the suggestion of deleting the Google Maps app and re-installing it. But my point is, I shouldn’t have to. There should be a setting. Thanks again for your comments.

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Answer 3

Alancito

Level 7

29,567 points

May 24, 2025 12:17 AM in response to jla930

jla ~ In Safari, touch & hold the Google Maps link and choose Open in New Tab:

õ¿õ¬

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Answer 4

K Shaffer

Level 8

35,884 points

May 24, 2025 04:54 AM in response to Alancito

Alancito

Perhaps also helpful to use this Safari link as default for Firefox; that works!

Since Firefox is set as Default: This where Safari has no current upgrade..

Such as it helps where a Mac is involved, not an iPhone. While it might.

Brave browser? Might do. ~ As Safari in my older Mac, isn't current.

Oh.. Brave was asked by Google, for too much Control over my Mac.

.So I said heck no..!😸

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Answer 5

Alancito

Level 7

29,567 points

May 24, 2025 03:17 AM in response to jla930

jla ~ It's not what you want, but adding ?force=smap to the URL will force it to open in Safari:

https://maps.google.com/maps?force=smap

õ¿õ¬

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Answer 6

TheLittles

Level 10

201,503 points

May 23, 2025 08:41 PM in response to jla930

"Links open in separate app, but I want Safari: [...]As I stated above, it fails at “Open Links in Apps” which doesn’t exist, and no list of apps to turn off a switch. Anybody have another idea? Thanks."

-------

Set Maps as Default:

Try removing Google Maps, and then set Maps as the default app in Safari. Then, add Google Maps back, seeing if Maps is still used.

Reply

Answer 7

TheLittles

Level 10

201,503 points

May 23, 2025 09:36 PM in response to jla930

"I already had the Google Maps app closed when I tapped on the link, and the app opened. I’ll try deleting it and re-adding it as you suggested. But apparently there’s no way to set a maps app as a default. But ultimately, I don’t want ANY app to open, but rather a Google Maps tab in Safari. Thanks for your help."

-------

View this in Google Maps' Settings:

I don't have Google Maps at this very moment, but see if you can change the default app in Google Maps' settings.

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Answer 8

jla930 Author

Level 2

188 points

May 23, 2025 09:50 PM in response to TheLittles

For a moment, I thought you had figured it out. The closest thing I found in the Google Maps settings were two toggle switches labeled “Show App in Search” and “Show Content in Search”. Turning them both off didn’t prevent the Google Maps app from opening when clicking on a URL. Oh well. I’m finding it hard to believe that there is no way to change this behavior. But I guess Apple can’t think of everything, just as nobody can.

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Answer 9

LD150

Level 10

95,685 points

May 24, 2025 05:23 AM in response to Alancito

Alancito wrote:

jla ~ It's not what you want, but adding ?force=smap to the URL will force it to open in Safari:

https://maps.google.com/maps?force=smap

õ¿õ¬

Mine still goes to Maps app because that is how Google works

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Answer 10

jla930 Author

Level 2

188 points

May 24, 2025 10:56 AM in response to LD150

LD150 wrote:

jla930 wrote:

LD150 wrote:

"When I tap on a link like https://maps.google.com/maps/, it opens the Google Maps app,"

Of course it does, that is what the link is asking for!

It is? The link is a URL designed to be opened in a browser. It’s not a command to open an app. This is my whole point here. If I come across a link to go to adobe.com, but I don’t have any Adobe apps, the link will open within Safari. Likewise, I would expect and hope that a link that points to something that I do have an app for (like Google Maps) will still open in Safari. It doesn’t. Why not? Why do I apparently have no choice to set a default? No, the link is not asking for an app.

You used Google Maps as the example , Google does not have a web map

I can go to the address bar in Safari, and type maps.google.com, and it will open a Google maps page in Safari, not the Google Maps app. So yes, Google has a web map. But tapping on a maps.google.com link opens the app. Why? Seems like inconsistent behavior to me that can’t be changed.

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Answer 11

jla930 Author

Level 2

188 points

May 23, 2025 08:42 PM in response to TheLittles

TheLittles wrote:

Set Maps as Default:

Try removing Google Maps, and then set Maps as the default app in Safari. Then, add Google Maps back, seeing if Maps is still used.

How do I set Maps as the default app in Safari? Where is that setting? I don’t see it. Thanks.

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Answer 12

TheLittles

Level 10

201,503 points

May 23, 2025 09:03 PM in response to jla930

"How do I set Maps as the default app in Safari? Where is that setting? I don’t see it. Thanks"

-------

You are welcome.

Close Google Maps:

Changing the Default Navigation App:

You Can't. This all comes down to navigation. But, Apple Maps cannot be changed as the default app. Just opening Google Maps would make it be used. So, try closing google Maps seeing if the no mongers occurs. (Hold you finger down as you swipe up form the bottom-left corner of your screen. Then, close is, by swiping up quickly on it).

Go to: Settings
Tap: Apps
Tap: Default Apps

DuckDuckGo: change default navigation app iphone at DuckDuckGo

As it Reads: "You cannot change the default navigation app on an iPhone; Apple Maps is the default app and cannot be replaced with Google Maps or any other navigation app. However, you can use Google Maps directly by opening the app whenever you need navigation."

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Answer 13

jla930 Author

Level 2

188 points

May 23, 2025 09:31 PM in response to TheLittles

I already had the Google Maps app closed when I tapped on the link, and the app opened. I’ll try deleting it and re-adding it as you suggested. But apparently there’s no way to set a maps app as a default. But ultimately, I don’t want ANY app to open, but rather a Google Maps tab in Safari. Thanks for your help.

Reply

Answer 14

TheLittles

Level 10

201,503 points

May 23, 2025 09:59 PM in response to jla930

"I already had the Google Maps app closed when I tapped on the link, and the app opened. I’ll try deleting it and re-adding it as you suggested. But apparently there’s no way to set a maps app as a default. But ultimately, I don’t want ANY app to open, but rather a Google Maps tab in Safari. Thanks for your help."

-------

You are welcome.

Recommend this to Apple:

It is best that you provide feedback ob this is Apple. Apple won't get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what their customer prefer, and what features to include in time to come. Apple will know nothing of your ideas, if you don't provide them to them.

Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
Select: "Feature Request" for the "Feedback Type"
Comment: that you want this to be an option, and why. Include the URL of this thread.
Proceed from there as necessary

Reply

Answer 15

jla930 Author

Level 2

188 points

May 24, 2025 01:05 AM in response to LD150

LD150 wrote:

"When I tap on a link like https://maps.google.com/maps/, it opens the Google Maps app,"

Of course it does, that is what the link is asking for!

It is? The link is a URL designed to be opened in a browser. It’s not a command to open an app. This is my whole point here. If I come across a link to go to adobe.com, but I don’t have any Adobe apps, the link will open within Safari. Likewise, I would expect and hope that a link that points to something that I do have an app for (like Google Maps) will still open in Safari. It doesn’t. Why not? Why do I apparently have no choice to set a default? No, the link is not asking for an app.

Reply

Links open in separate app, but I want Safari

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