CC app broke Gmail opening links in-app?

deefine

I'm using Android, and this problem seems to have started happening after trying out the CC app suggested by the site; previously, when I tapped the Read Message button from the notification email, the link would open in the Gmail app, then after using the site, I could tap the top left-arrow button (of the parent app, Gmail, not a site button) to exit that sub-browsing session easily and go back to the Gmail email which I could then delete and move on to the next message.

Now, the link either opens in Chrome, or I have to choose which browser to open the link in (since I have two on my phone), if I don't choose "Always" for one of them.

I uninstalled the CC "app" long ago (which I think isn't actually an Android app, because I'm not finding it in the Play Store), but nothing I try gets Gmail to open CC links in itself as a sub-browser session... it's driving me crazy, because now it's many more steps to move on, like I either have to tap Back many times, or close the tab and switch apps, or tap the Recents button on the phone then tap Gmail, which leaves a tab open in Chrome of that browsing session I longer need.

I've gone through settings, app defaults, and cache clearing for Gmail, the Google app, and Chrome, according to online instructions, but CC links just will not open in the Gmail app anymore.

Now I can't find how to install the CC app again to see if I need to disable something in there, or clear it's cache, or hit it with a stick... my thought is that something about that app or how Android handles it has gummed up in-app browsing for Gmail >:-(

Wooooooah!! CC doesn't have an app, only a website. Who gave you the link to an app? That sounds super fishy!

Gary

We do have a PWA App - it's not officially on the store but it's the closest thing we have to an app right now. Navigate to settings and click "Install" - or alternatively add icon to home screen on your phone/desktop.

I've tried it on my phone and it does indeed open Chrome browser. Though I can't ever remember Gmail having an embeded-like browser that you're describing @davebutton

You can still navigate back - just navigate back on Android (gesture back, or from androids navbar) and should take you straight back to Gmail app. At least it does on my phone.

deefine

@squeakytoy The CC "app" is what's suggested to try on that pop-up panel at the bottom of the site. I don't know if using that app caused the problem.

The Gmail app for Android has had in-app browsing for years, across multiple major versions of Android, among different phones and manufacturers I've had.

https://support.google.com/android/thread/18382921/open-links-on-the-chrome-app-instead-of-gmail-in-app-browser?hl=en&msgid=18386507

"In the Gmail app go to Settings > General Settings > Open web links in Gmail and untick this."

For some reason I don't have the "Open web links in Gmail" setting there, even though I have the latest Gmail app. I'm using Android 8 though, but I don't know why I would have the feature for over a year and then lose it months ago. It looks like that Google answer was voted down by 50% of the readers though

I'll try the web app again.

deefine

OK, I uninstalled the DuckDuckGo browser app, reinstalled the CC web app, looked through that app to find anything that could be affecting this, found nothing, went into its Android App Settings, force-stopped it, disabled it, cleared data (which clears cache of course), uninstalled it, rebooted, and now links in Gmail open in the app.

The setting has also returned.

I'm just flabbergasted. I read other users saying the option disappeared for them too, but it seemed to have been due to some recent update (I have the version from May 2), "work profile" (which I don't have on my phone), or just completely randomly based on Android version or manufacturer or the time of year or the color of the breeze... I don't know.

Anyway, I'll blame Android on this one, but if you run into the same issue, try what I did and it may fix it. Possibly the Gmail app doesn't like more browsers than the Chrome browser on the phone, or doesn't like progressive web apps, I don't know. This whole thing has been nonsense 😆

deefine

Here's what the prompt looks like initially:

Here's what the in-app browser looks like (notice the nice little exit arrow at the top left):

Here's what the setting looks like:

Gary

That's good info thanks. I'm not sure we're be able to do anything about this though, as it's just down to the way Android + Chrome and PWAs work.

If it's a problem with navigating back - you should just be able to trigger back with native android button / gesture.