The Firebase Dynamic Links shutdown announcement signals the end of a product that played a key role in deep linking across iOS, Android, and the web.
While it served its purpose for years, the Firebase Dynamic Links' end of support leaves many apps scrambling for a replacement, especially those relying on deferred deep linking, referral programs, or custom onboarding flows.
If you're still using FDL, now is the time to plan your the migration. Google has already disabled new creation of new FDL projects, and after the sunset date, all existing links will stop working.
This transition impacts not just technical infrastructure but also user acquisition, attribution tracking, and campaign performance. In short, any delay could cost your app installs, data, and trust.
What Happened to FDL, and Why Google Is Ending It
Google has not provided a detailed Firebase Dynamic Links shut down reason, but the signs have been building for a while.
FDL was introduced to help apps smoothly route users from web to app, and across platforms post-install. But over time, it struggled to keep up with the complexity of today’s app ecosystems.
FDL lacked advanced routing options, failed to evolve with privacy requirements, and offered limited analytics.
With changes in how platforms handle attribution, redirects, and privacy (especially on iOS), FDL became increasingly fragile.
The Impact on Legacy Apps and Developers
Apps that have embedded FDL into referral systems, onboarding flows, or marketing campaigns now face broken links and disrupted user experiences if they don’t transition.
Even if you haven’t actively used FDL recently, older campaigns or third-party integrations might still depend on it.
This is more than just a backend update, it affects everything from acquisition funnels to push notifications and QR code journeys.
And without a proactive Firebase Dynamic Links replacement plan, the consequences could include lost installs, broken attribution, and poor UX.
Meet AppLink
Purpose-built for today's mobile-first world, it provides a smarter way to handle deep linking without Firebase, supporting deferred deep links, campaign attribution, and custom routing across all platforms.
It ensures that users land exactly where they should, whether they have the app installed or not.
If they do, they’re deeply linked directly to the relevant in-app screen. If they don’t, AppLink routes them to the correct store and resumes the experience post-install.
This is the kind of seamless flow users now expect, and that teams can no longer ignore.
In contrast to FDL’s limited configuration, it provides powerful features like:
- Cross-platform compatibility
- SDKs for iOS, Android, and web
- Advanced routing logic with fallback support
- Real-time analytics and click tracking
- Campaign-level attribution
How to Migrate
AppsOnAir offers a guided path to help you migrate.
Here’s how we make it easy:
- Audit existing FDLs: Identify where Firebase Dynamic Links are used across your app and backend.
- Map the logic: We help translate your FDL routing behavior to App Link equivalents.
- Update SDKs: Replace Firebase SDKs with App Link’s lightweight libraries.
- Monitor and test: Use our real-time dashboards to ensure parity and test edge cases.
- Launch with confidence: Full support through testing, staging, and live rollout.
Whether you’re a startup or a legacy app with years of FDL history, we help future-proof your app with enterprise-grade deep linking, before the Firebase Dynamic Links sunset date hits.
Final Thoughts
The deprecation of Firebase Dynamic Links is more than just a technical issue, it’s a reminder that app growth strategies must evolve.
Links aren’t just URLs anymore. They’re the critical connectors between touchpoints, from Instagram ads to install flows, from emails to in-app promotions.
AppsOnAir’s App Link gives you full control, flexibility, and insight into every user journey. For marketers, it means better attribution and personalization.
For developers, it means reliability and better performance. And for users, it means zero friction.
The Firebase Dynamic Links shutdown doesn’t have to mean disruption. It can be your app’s opportunity to move toward a more intelligent, future-ready growth stack.
