Open google play details page for an app via javascript redirect from android browser

android, google-play, javascript, redirect

Solution

This seems to work. The redirect opens the Google Play app while using the default browser, but translates the link to https:// play.google... when using chrome

if(navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("android") > -1) {
    if(confirm("Download app?")) {
        window.location.href= "market://details?id=<packagename>";
    }
}

Problem

I want my website to redirect to a specific app in the Google Play Market if it is opened on an android device. I followed the instructions on http://developer.android.com/guide/publishing/publishing.html: ``` "Display the details screen for a specific application: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<package_name>". ``` Works great with a link the user is actively clicking on: ``` <a href="http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<package_name>">Download app</a> ``` But if I am detecting the device with javascript and trying to redirect the browser automatically changes the http://... to https://... and the user is redirected to the Google Play website instead of the Google Play app on the phone. ``` if(navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("android") > -1) { if(confirm("Download app?")) { window.location.href= "http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<package_name>"; } } ``` Is there any way to change this behavior, my test device is a Samsung Galaxy with android 2.3.3?

Original source