title: Can you launch **any** phone app from a web link?
body: <p>Im making a phone automation system with a web interface.  As part of this I am looking to replace all remote controls (tv media center etc) with my phone.</p>
  
  <p>I have a Roku media player that has a <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roku/id482066631?mt=8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">remote control iOS app</a>, what I am trying to do is to launch the Roku native phone app from my web interface.</p>
  
  <p>I know it is possible to launch apps via href <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5793992/possible-to-launch-an-ios-app-from-a-web-link">such as this:</a></p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;a href="fb://profile"&gt;Launches native FB app&lt;/a&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But I have tried both these which fail</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;a href="roku://"&gt;Fails to launch native 'Roku' app&lt;/a&gt;
  
  &lt;a href="ROKU://"&gt;Fails to launch native 'ROKU' app&lt;/a&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So I have two main questions:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Is it possible to launch any app from a web link, or does the app developer need to enable that function in some way?</li>
  </ol>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Answer - Yes the app developer will need to set a url schemer</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <ol start="2">
  <li>Is there a way to determine the URL you would need to launch an app IE the Facebook app can be launched by fb:// but can you determine that anywhere?</li>
  </ol>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Answer - There is a link to multiple URL schemers for popular apps below but my understanding is that the app developer would need to release them</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>
  
  <p>JS Fiddle just in case - <a href="https://jsfiddle.net/0znc12bs/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://jsfiddle.net/0znc12bs/</a></p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Update - as a point of reference I am not developing an app this is a
    web service trying to connect to apps I didn't author.</p>
    
    <p>Update2 - I have been in touch with Roku support and their remote app
    currently doesn't support deep linking.</p>
  </blockquote>