# Integrate with Desktop Apps via Custom URL Schemes

Operating systems allow applications to register a custom URL scheme (as opposed to, e.g., `https://`). Applications (including the Web Browser) can use this to deep-link into and perform actions in other desktop applications

Some popular productivity applications supporting URL schemes:

* [Drafts](https://docs.getdrafts.com/docs/automation/urlschemes)
* [Omnifocus](https://inside.omnifocus.com/url-schemes)
* [Obsidian](https://help.obsidian.md/Concepts/Obsidian+URI)
* [Zoom](https://marketplace.zoomgov.com/docs/guides/guides/client-url-schemes)
* [Slack](https://api.slack.com/reference/deep-linking#client)
* [Microsoft Power Automate](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/desktop-flows/run-desktop-flows-url-shortcuts#create-a-run-url)

### Using a Custom URL Scheme

To use a custom URL scheme, you can use the `@pixiebrix/browser/open-tab` brick just like with a normal URL

Depending on the application, you may need to specify a different encoding for spaces URL query parameters using the `spaceEncoding`. For most cases, the default `%20` encoding is what's expected. But you may need to use `+` in some cases.

### Advanced: Disable Browser Confirmation

{% hint style="warning" %}
By disabling the confirmation, a malicious site could trick you into performing an action in a desktop application. That being said, most applications do not expose destructive actions via URL schemes for this reason
{% endhint %}

When you try to navigate to a link with a custom URL scheme, Chrome will prompt you to open the application:

<figure><img src="/files/PZOd9RmLFGxpHGQWaE2c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If you're trying to trigger a lot of actions, that can become tedious. Here [are some steps for disabling the confirmation in Chrome](https://superuser.com/questions/1481851/disable-chrome-to-ask-for-confirmation-to-open-external-application-everytime/1518982#1518982).

#### MacOS

1. [Open the terminal](https://www.howtogeek.com/682770/how-to-open-the-terminal-on-a-mac/)
2. In the prompt, enter the following with the URL scheme for the application you're using. For example, the [Drafts](https://docs.getdrafts.com/docs/automation/urlschemes) URL scheme is `drafts://`, so we'd enter:

   ```yaml
   defaults write com.google.Chrome URLAllowlist -array-add 'drafts://*'
   ```
3. Restart Chrome

### Desktop Developer Resources

* [Mac: Defining a Custom URL Scheme for Your App](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/defining-a-custom-url-scheme-for-your-app)


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