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NicNeely
NicNeely
Participant
May 27, 2026
Answered

QR code redirects to App Store instead of link

  • May 27, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 16 views

Having the exact same issue now! It just redirects to downloading Adobe Express from the App Store and does not take me to what I linked! I tried clearing cache, I tried the view-only link, I tried the URL directly, nothing works!

    Correct answer Rose DV

    ​@NicNeely - super appreciate the additional context!

     

    Thank you for doing all that testing - you've actually pinpointed this really well. The issue appears to be that iOS is intercepting the Adobe Express share link and trying to open it in the app (or redirect to the App Store to install it) rather than the browser. Since Firefox is your default browser on iOS, it's likely handling the universal link differently than Chrome does, or something like Safari might as well. 

     

    For the QR code itself - rather than using an Adobe Express share link as the destination, try linking directly to the PDF's external URL if you have one hosted elsewhere (maybe Dropbox or Google Drive, for example?). Adobe Express share links are designed to open in the app, which is why iOS is routing it that way.

     

    Hope this helps!!

    Rose

    1 reply

    Rose DV
    Community Manager
    Rose DVCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    May 27, 2026

    Hi ​@NicNeely!

     

    Thanks for flagging this - your issue sounds a bit different from the original thread, so I opened a new topic. If your QR code is redirecting to the App Store rather than the URL you entered, that's unexpected behavior.

     

    A couple of questions to help us understand:

    • What type of URL did you enter when creating the QR code? (a website, a file link, an Adobe Express share link?)
    • Which entry point did you use to generate the QR code - from the homepage Quick Actions, or from within a document?
    • Can you share a screenshot/screen recording of the QR code settings when you created it?

    It would also be worth trying to generate the QR code from within a document (open or create a project → search "QR code" in the search bar) rather than from the homepage, as the two generators can sometimes behave differently.

    Rose

      NicNeely
      NicNeelyAuthor
      Participant
      May 27, 2026

      Hi Rose!

      I discovered that the QR code works if I use Google Lens. However, if I use my iPhone Camera (Firefox is my default), it tried to redirect me to the app store. I had a colleague scan my QR code, and it worked (Chrome is their default) oddly enough with different browsers. Answers to your questions:

      • I tried all 3 methods and each failed. I uploaded a PDF to Adobe Express and it was converted. Then I did Share > View-Only Link > Create Link > Copy Link.
        • I tried to copy the web address itself when this failed and that was also rerouting to App Store.
        • I tried a file link and it said the URL was invalid. 
      • I then pasted this Adobe Express share link into QR code generator from the homepage Quick Actions.
      • I attached an image of what I see when I scan on my iPhone and also the settings used. 
      • Here is the link that Express generated: https://new.express.adobe.com/publishedV2/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:5d9051bf-72c0-52b0-bd46-6e1d32c7ff48?promoid=Y69SGM5H&mv=other

      I will also add I was using the Web version of Express! I fear this may be a Firefox related issue since my colleague could scan it with no issue. :(

      Rose DV
      Community Manager
      Rose DVCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
      Community Manager
      May 27, 2026

      ​@NicNeely - super appreciate the additional context!

       

      Thank you for doing all that testing - you've actually pinpointed this really well. The issue appears to be that iOS is intercepting the Adobe Express share link and trying to open it in the app (or redirect to the App Store to install it) rather than the browser. Since Firefox is your default browser on iOS, it's likely handling the universal link differently than Chrome does, or something like Safari might as well. 

       

      For the QR code itself - rather than using an Adobe Express share link as the destination, try linking directly to the PDF's external URL if you have one hosted elsewhere (maybe Dropbox or Google Drive, for example?). Adobe Express share links are designed to open in the app, which is why iOS is routing it that way.

       

      Hope this helps!!

      Rose

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