How can I host an AASA JSON file on my Webflow website for iOS Universal links?
- Use an external host (e.g., Netlify or Vercel) to serve the AASA file at
https://links.yourdomain.com/.well-known/apple-app-site-association. - Point your Apple App Site Association to
applinks:links.yourdomain.comin Xcode, avoiding redirects as they are not supported by Apple.
To enable iOS Universal Links using Webflow, you need to host an Apple App Site Association (AASA) JSON file at a very specific location: https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/apple-app-site-association. Webflow, however, does not allow you to upload files directly to the root or .well-known directories.
1. Understand Webflow's Limitations
- Webflow does not support uploading files outside of the
/uploadsdirectory it uses internally (e.g., files you add via the Asset panel). - Universal Links require the AASA file to be hosted at
/.well-known/apple-app-site-associationwith no extension (not even.json).
2. Host the AASA File Externally
Since Webflow can’t natively serve files from the required path, you must use an external host and configure domain records accordingly.
Common hosting options:
- Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, or any static host with HTTPS.
- You can build a small site that only serves the
/.well-known/apple-app-site-associationJSON file.
3. Use a Subdomain for File Hosting
- Set up a subdomain like
links.yourdomain.com. - Host the AASA file there in the correct folder structure.
- Ensure it’s served with the correct content type:
application/json.
Example structure:
https://links.yourdomain.com/.well-known/apple-app-site-association
4. Update Apple App Site Settings
In your Xcode project or Apple Developer portal:
- Point your associated domains entitlement to:
applinks:links.yourdomain.com
Apple will attempt to access exactly:https://links.yourdomain.com/.well-known/apple-app-site-association
5. Optional: Redirect from Main Domain (Not Recommended)
- Some consider using a redirect from the main domain to the external file.
- However, Apple discourages and often disallows redirects in this context.
- To remain compliant, serve the file directly from the correct path on a domain you control.
Summary
Webflow can’t host an AASA file at /.well-known, so set up a subdomain like links.yourdomain.com on an external host (e.g., Netlify), place the AASA file there, and update your Apple App Site Association to match. Avoid using redirects as they often fail Apple’s validation.