Open Spotify, Apple Music, and App Store links in their apps

Junction is a free, open-source macOS app that becomes your default browser and routes each link by your rules. Its deep links start a shared song in Spotify or Music instead of a web player, and open an App Store link in the App Store.

How do I make Spotify links open in the Spotify app?

Turn on Spotify in Settings → Deep Links, or add a rule with the spotify deep link. Tracks, albums, artists, playlists, shows, and episodes open in the app.

{
  "name": "Spotify → app",
  "match": { "patterns": ["open.spotify.com/*"] },
  "action": { "deepLink": "spotify" }
}

If Spotify isn’t installed, the link opens in your fallback browser instead.

How do I open Apple Music links in the Music app?

Turn on Apple Music in Settings → Deep Links, or add a rule. A song link opens on that song, not just its album.

{
  "name": "Apple Music → Music",
  "match": { "patterns": ["music.apple.com/*"] },
  "action": { "deepLink": "apple-music" }
}

$ junction test "https://music.apple.com/us/album/abbey-road/1441164426?i=1441164430"
input:       https://music.apple.com/us/album/abbey-road/1441164426?i=1441164430
rule:        [1] Apple Music → Music
action:      deep link (apple-music)
url:         music://music.apple.com/us/album/abbey-road/1441164426?i=1441164430

How do I open App Store links in the App Store app?

Turn on App Store in Settings → Deep Links, or add a rule for apps.apple.com.

{
  "name": "App Store → app",
  "match": { "patterns": ["apps.apple.com/*"] },
  "action": { "deepLink": "app-store" }
}

$ junction test "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xcode/id497799835"
input:       https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xcode/id497799835
rule:        [1] App Store → app
action:      deep link (app-store)
url:         macappstore://apps.apple.com/us/app/xcode/id497799835

Can YouTube open in a different browser?

Yes. YouTube has no deep link, but a rule can send it to its own browser, such as Brave.

{
  "name": "YouTube → Brave",
  "match": { "patterns": ["*.youtube.com/*", "youtu.be/*"] },
  "action": { "app": "com.brave.Browser" }
}

*.youtube.com/* covers www.youtube.com, m.youtube.com, and youtube.com itself.

Which other apps have built-in deep links?

Chat apps are in Slack, Discord and Telegram links, and design tools in Figma, Notion and Linear links. The docs list every one.

Get Junction

Junction is free and MIT-licensed, for macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon and Intel. Install it with Homebrew or the DMG, then follow the first-launch steps.