When you build a native Android app by wrapping your website in a WebView, you create a dedicated, closed ecosystem for your content.
This is fantastic for keeping users engaged with your brand, but it creates a massive problem if your website contains links to other websites (like your Facebook page, a partner's website, or a YouTube video).
If you do not configure external links correctly, your app will trap the user. Here is everything you need to know about how to handle external links in a website-based app.
The Problem: The WebView Trap
By default, a WebView acts like a single browser tab.
If a user is inside your app and taps a link to facebook.com, the WebView will load Facebook inside your app.
The user is now browsing Facebook. If your app does not have a properly coded physical back button, the user is trapped. The only way for them to get back to your store is to force-close the app entirely.
This is a terrible user experience and will lead to immediate uninstalls.
The Solution: The External Link Handoff
A properly built website-to-app converter will include native Java/Kotlin code that analyzes every link a user taps.
The code uses a simple logic check:
- "Does this URL match the app's primary domain (e.g., mybusiness.com)?"
- If YES: Open the link inside the app's WebView.
- If NO: Hand the link over to the phone's operating system.
When the link is handed to the operating system, Android will open the link in the user's default browser (like Chrome) or in the native app (like opening the native Facebook app). The user can then easily swipe back to return to your app.
How to Ensure This Works
1. Choose a Premium Converter
The vast majority of free or cheap app converters do not include external link logic. They simply load every URL inside the WebView. Before you choose a platform, read their documentation or test their APK to ensure they support "External Link Handling" or "Intent Routing."
2. Format Your HTML Correctly
If you have control over your website's HTML, you should explicitly mark external links.
Use the target="_blank" attribute on any link that leads away from your primary domain.
For example:
<a href="https://facebook.com/mybusiness" target="_blank">Follow us on Facebook</a>
Many advanced website-to-app converters are programmed to look for this _blank attribute. When the WebView sees it, it knows to open the link in the external Chrome browser rather than loading it internally.
3. Handle Subdomains Carefully
If your business uses subdomains (e.g., your main site is shop.com but your blog is blog.shop.com), you must tell your app converter to whitelist both domains.
If you do not whitelist the subdomain, the app might think the blog is an external site and push the user out to Chrome every time they try to read an article. Look for a setting in your converter called "Allowed Domains" or "Domain Whitelist."
Conclusion
Handling external links elegantly is the hallmark of a professional application. By ensuring your website-to-app converter supports external handoffs and structuring your website's HTML correctly, you can keep your users engaged in your ecosystem without trapping them.