App download QR codes
One printed code for your app links
Set iOS and Android destinations with a fallback website in the app-link workflow. Bring app promotion into a single managed campaign.
Make it useful from the first scan.
Use the correct store listing for each platform and a helpful fallback page for desktop visitors. Test each destination instead of assuming every device opens the same store.
Route app interest to an appropriate destination
An app download campaign often needs separate iOS and Android store destinations. A managed app-link code collects these destinations in one workflow and provides a fallback website for other visitors. Use the public store listing for the correct application and publisher. A developer console link or internal test invitation is not a substitute for a listing intended for your audience.
Device routing is a convenience rather than a guarantee. Browsers can report unusual device information, visitors may scan from a tablet, and a desktop camera may open the code on a computer with no matching mobile store. A useful fallback explains what the application does and offers clearly labelled platform links. Review how the destination behaves when the application is already installed, but do not assume a store URL provides a custom deep-link experience.
Before a launch, test the real campaign image across representative devices and signed-out browsing states. Check regional availability directly with your store listing and avoid advertising features or platforms unavailable to the audience. Keep screenshots and written promotional claims aligned with the released application. When a listing changes, update the managed destination and retest old printed material. If one platform has not launched, say so on the fallback page rather than sending users to an unrelated application. Assign a maintainer who can check these destinations after each release, and keep a written product website address beside the image for visitors who prefer to read before downloading.
A worked example
A language-learning team promotes an application on classroom posters. They add the released iOS and Android listings and a lightweight fallback page explaining platform availability. Testers scan the printed poster on both phone families and on a tablet with unusual browser settings. The fallback provides explicit store choices. When the Android listing address changes, the team updates the managed destination and rechecks a poster already mounted in the classroom, including the action visible after returning from the store. They compare scan reporting with store analytics separately.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a developer dashboard URL.
- Leaving unrecognized devices without a fallback.
- Claiming a scan proves an installation.
Prepare, test, then publish.
- Choose the destination and check its details.
- Generate your code and preserve its white border.
- Test the artwork at the intended size, on a real phone.
Keep an accessible alternative such as a short written website address alongside the code. A QR image should make information easier to reach.
Frequently asked questions
What happens on desktop?
Provide a helpful fallback website with platform links and ordinary product information. Test that path explicitly instead of assuming every scanner is a phone.
Should I use a deep link?
Only when your application and link infrastructure support it. Public store URLs are easier to verify; custom deep links need separate testing and fallback behavior.
Does a scan measure downloads?
No. A redirect request is not proof of a store download, installation or active user. Use appropriately configured app analytics for those separate questions.