Adblock (custom) DNS blocks basic deeplinks

[julian-dotcom]

Describe the bug

As a React Native developer with limited Android native code experience, I am facing an issue with the Branch SDK on Android when using a custom DNS (e.g., an adblock DNS, adguard-dns.io) that blocks Branch network requests.

When opening the app via a deeplink (e.g., exampleapp://buy), the Branch SDK detects the deeplink in Android Studio Logcat logs, but due to the network error, the deeplink is not propagated, and the app fails to route to the intended destination. This only happens when the app is already open in the background.

On iOS, deeplinks work correctly despite network errors, and Android should similarly route basic deeplinks when Branch requests fail. The react-native-branch GitHub page lacks an issues section, so I am reporting this here.

The Android Branch SDK should be updated to handle deeplinks locally and propagate them to the app, even with network failures, matching iOS behavior.

Steps to reproduce

1. Configure adguard-dns.io on Android
2. Open the app via a basic deeplink (exampleapp://buy)
3. Deeplink is lost / not propagated

Expected behavior

I should be able to log without issues.

SDK Version

5.16.1

Make and Model

Samsung A52

OS

14

Additional Information/Context

2025-04-28 09:56:03.997 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D initSession uri exampleapp://buy reactActivity com.exampleapp.MainActivity@577258a
2025-04-28 09:56:03.998 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D notifyJSOfInitSessionStart exampleapp://buy
2025-04-28 09:56:03.998 31110-31110 BranchSDK app.exampleapp V InitSessionBuilder setting BranchReferralInitListener withCallback with io.branch.rnbranch.RNBranchModule$1@6dfa07d
2025-04-28 09:56:03.998 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D sessionBuilder io.branch.referral.Branch$InitSessionBuilder@dcb9b72
2025-04-28 09:56:03.998 31110-31110 BranchSDK app.exampleapp V Callback is io.branch.rnbranch.RNBranchModule$1@6dfa07d
2025-04-28 09:56:04.010 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D reInitSession intent Intent { act=android.intent.action.VIEW dat=exampleapp://buy/... flg=0x10400000 cmp=app.exampleapp/com.exampleapp.MainActivity (has extras) }
2025-04-28 09:56:04.010 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D notifyJSOfInitSessionStart exampleapp://buy
2025-04-28 09:56:04.010 31110-31110 BranchSDK app.exampleapp V InitSessionBuilder setting BranchReferralInitListener withCallback with io.branch.rnbranch.RNBranchModule$1@6dfa07d
2025-04-28 09:56:04.010 31110-31110 BranchSDK app.exampleapp V Callback is io.branch.rnbranch.RNBranchModule$1@6dfa07d
2025-04-28 09:56:04.026 31110-31110 BranchSDK app.exampleapp V callback to be returned io.branch.rnbranch.RNBranchModule$1@6dfa07d
2025-04-28 09:56:07.174 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D onInitFinished referringParams {"error_message":"Trouble reaching server. Please try again in a few minutes"}
2025-04-28 09:56:07.174 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D onInitFinished
2025-04-28 09:56:07.174 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D sendRNEvent
2025-04-28 09:56:07.174 31110-31110 BranchSDK app.exampleapp V callback to be returned io.branch.rnbranch.RNBranchModule$1@6dfa07d
2025-04-28 09:56:07.175 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D Catalyst instance poller try 1
2025-04-28 09:56:07.175 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D Catalyst instance active
2025-04-28 09:56:10.201 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D onInitFinished referringParams {"error_message":"Trouble reaching server. Please try again in a few minutes"}
2025-04-28 09:56:10.201 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D onInitFinished
2025-04-28 09:56:10.201 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D sendRNEvent
2025-04-28 09:56:10.204 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D Catalyst instance poller try 1
2025-04-28 09:56:10.204 31110-31110 RNBranch app.exampleapp D Catalyst instance active

[aadityapaliwal94]

Same issue facing in react native while generating deep link when ad/tracker blocker is enabled.