Add on option to the in-app browser to open in system browser

[PcLover2]

Describe the solution you'd like The in-app browser should have a top bar with 2 options: an arrow on the left to go back to the app and an open in system browser option. If you have more time (probably not since this app is a sideproject) you could even add a share and a reload option.

Describe alternatives you've considered You could also use the default Chrome WebView

[hjiangsu]

This is definitely a possibility that shouldnt take too long to implement - although probably in a later release after some of the more core features are implemented (unless there are more requests for this!)

[nathanloehlein]

Definitely hoping this gets implemented. It's nearly impossible to share links currently. Or the option to open links in the user's external browser.

[vfosnar]

At least on Android you can open a single web page in the default browser. It's what the "official" Mastodon app does.

I'd much prefer this behavior so my settings and extensions work.

[hjiangsu]

This is currently being implemented - to be released in the next version! Heres a preview of the options:

[vfosnar]

uh oh, isn't this the embedded webview option?

[hjiangsu]

uh oh, isn't this the embedded webview option?

Hmm, I'm not too sure what you mean. It would be great if you could clarify this!

For some context, this is the current flow:

• External links automatically open up in a embedded webview that contains the different actions I shared in the screenshot
  • back button to leave this view
  • reload option to reload the embedded webview
  • an option to open the link in the system's browser
  • and a sharing link which opens up the system's share option

So for now, if you want to open up a link in an external browser, then technically you would need to perform two actions:

• Tap the link to open the embedded webview
• Tap the "open in external browser" icon which then opens your default browser with the link

Let me know your thoughts on this!

[vfosnar]

Well, the image I sent here shows a "preview page" provided by Mull (fork of Firefox), my default system browser. This allows for adblock and other extensions to work.

This is the captured intent that opens a link from Mastodon app in the "preview" mode.

intent://[fosny.eu](http://fosny.eu/)?utm_source=mastodon#Intent;scheme=https;[i.android.support](http://i.android.support/).customtabs.extra.TITLE_VISIBILITY=1;[B.android.support](http://b.android.support/).customtabs.extra.EXTRA_ENABLE_INSTANT_APPS=true;i.androidx.browser.customtabs.extra.SHARE_STATE=0;end

Other info about that intent:

ACTION: android.intent.action.VIEW
DATA: [https://fosny.eu?utm_source=mastodon](https://fosny.eu/?utm_source=mastodon)
URI: intent://[fosny.eu](http://fosny.eu/)?utm_source=mastodon#Intent;scheme=https;[i.android.support](http://i.android.support/).customtabs.extra.TITLE_VISIBILITY=1;[B.android.support](http://b.android.support/).customtabs.extra.EXTRA_ENABLE_INSTANT_APPS=true;i.androidx.browser.customtabs.extra.SHARE_STATE=0;end

The flow of this in the thunder app should be smthng like this:

thunder --intent--> Mull preview view --click Open in Mull--> Page loads in the browser with full UI

[hjiangsu]

Just to clarify from what I'm reading, it sounds like the embedded view should use the systems default browser (Mull in your case, but may be something else for another user) rather than the default webview? In addition to that, there should be a button which allows you to open the link in an external browser?

I'm not entirely sure how (or if its possible using flutter alone) to handle this atm, so more research is needed before this can be done

[vfosnar]

Well, it's not an embedded view, the whole "preview page" is provided by the system browser.

I guess this is the equivalent in chromium: https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/11/22324883/chrome-android-link-preview-sneak-peek

[hjiangsu]

I think as a stop-gap to resolve the immediate issue of not being able to open in an external browser, I'll keep the implementation as it currently is.

However, in the future we can revisit this idea as a way to enhance the app!

[hjiangsu]

I'll close this issue since the latest version v0.2.1+6 resolves the issue of opening links in an external browser. However, feel free to create new tickets for enhancements to this feature!

[jasperswallen]

I think using the Flutter plugin for ChromeSafariBrowser would give the most seamless interfacing. At least on iOS, I like the consistency of using SFSafariViewController.

[vfosnar]

It looks like the feature I was talking about is called Custom Tabs: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/219950

edit: I made a new feature request #176