[GH-ISSUE #206] [Feature Request] Allow Launching Specific Webapps Via Intent #192

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opened 2026-10-29 12:16:52 +00:00 by bsakaguchi · 3 comments

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-29 12:16:52 +00:00

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Originally created by @womesiete on GitHub (Oct 9, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/cylonid/NativeAlphaForAndroid/issues/206

This is a fantastic tool for compartmentalizing web browsing, and it would be very helpful to be able to programmatically open or return to already open web apps. I frequently use automation apps like Tasker, and there is a workaround of opening the main activity and then simulating a click on the desired web app, but it would be nice to be able to do this directly via intent.

It would also be great if we could open URLs or navigate within specific web apps via intent. I see that "Open supported links" is toggleable in app settings, but I haven't figured out a way to set the Supported web addresses just yet.

Originally created by @womesiete on GitHub (Oct 9, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/cylonid/NativeAlphaForAndroid/issues/206 This is a fantastic tool for compartmentalizing web browsing, and it would be very helpful to be able to programmatically open or return to already open web apps. I frequently use automation apps like Tasker, and there is a workaround of opening the main activity and then simulating a click on the desired web app, but it would be nice to be able to do this directly via intent. It would also be great if we could open URLs or navigate within specific web apps via intent. I see that "Open supported links" is toggleable in app settings, but I haven't figured out a way to set the Supported web addresses just yet.

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-29 12:16:53 +00:00

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@womesiete commented on GitHub (Jan 30, 2026):

I am not sure how to most effectively share this, and I don't know enough java to to see if the implementation was reasonable, but I successfully used the prompt below in Android Studio to add this feature...

You are helping improve an open-source Android app that isolates web apps in separate browser containers. Modify the app so it supports navigating to URLs within a specific web app via intents

Then I added the following line to AndroidManifest.xml under the newly created activity...

android:exported="true"

Following that, the intent below can be used in my repackaged apk to navigate to any URL with the selecting web app. The web app is determined by changing webappID. It starts at 0 and points to each web app incrementally based on the order in the main activity list. If no url is passed, then it will just return to the web app.

adb shell am start -n com.cylonid.nativealpha.debug/com.cylonid.nativealpha.WebViewActivity --ei webappID 1 --es url "keep.google.com"

I assume this could be reproducible for others.

@womesiete commented on GitHub (Jan 30, 2026): I am not sure how to most effectively share this, and I don't know enough java to to see if the implementation was reasonable, but I successfully used the prompt below in Android Studio to add this feature... > You are helping improve an open-source Android app that isolates web apps in separate browser containers. Modify the app so it supports navigating to URLs within a specific web app via intents Then I added the following line to AndroidManifest.xml under the newly created activity... `android:exported="true"` Following that, the intent below can be used in my repackaged apk to navigate to any URL with the selecting web app. The web app is determined by changing webappID. It starts at 0 and points to each web app incrementally based on the order in the main activity list. If no url is passed, then it will just return to the web app. `adb shell am start -n com.cylonid.nativealpha.debug/com.cylonid.nativealpha.WebViewActivity --ei webappID 1 --es url "keep.google.com"` I assume this could be reproducible for others.

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-29 12:16:53 +00:00

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@elvistony commented on GitHub (Apr 24, 2026):

@womesiete Hey this looks interesting. I'm looking for the same concept for it working on my android TV to be paired with ATV Launcher to invoke Native Alpha with a web URL as an intent.

Any chance you could share the code that worked for you? I tried tinkering around the code, but it keeps hitting "Web App does not exist" error when I invoke it via ADB.

@elvistony commented on GitHub (Apr 24, 2026): @womesiete Hey this looks interesting. I'm looking for the same concept for it working on my android TV to be paired with [ATV Launcher](http://atvlauncher.trekgonewild.de/) to invoke Native Alpha with a web URL as an intent. Any chance you could share the code that worked for you? I tried tinkering around the code, but it keeps hitting "Web App does not exist" error when I invoke it via ADB.

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-29 12:16:53 +00:00

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@womesiete commented on GitHub (Apr 26, 2026):

@womesiete Hey this looks interesting. I'm looking for the same concept for it working on my android TV to be paired with ATV Launcher to invoke Native Alpha with a web URL as an intent.

Any chance you could share the code that worked for you? I tried tinkering around the code, but it keeps hitting "Web App does not exist" error when I invoke it via ADB.

Not sure if it was done correctly, and I had errors and warnings during commit, but I hit commit and push anyways.
Here's a fork with my changes.
https://github.com/womesiete/NativeAlphaForAndroid

@womesiete commented on GitHub (Apr 26, 2026): > [@womesiete](https://github.com/womesiete) Hey this looks interesting. I'm looking for the same concept for it working on my android TV to be paired with [ATV Launcher](http://atvlauncher.trekgonewild.de/) to invoke Native Alpha with a web URL as an intent. > > Any chance you could share the code that worked for you? I tried tinkering around the code, but it keeps hitting "Web App does not exist" error when I invoke it via ADB. Not sure if it was done correctly, and I had errors and warnings during commit, but I hit commit and push anyways. Here's a fork with my changes. https://github.com/womesiete/NativeAlphaForAndroid