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crosshairs-simpleApp Shortcuts

Add dynamic app icon shortcuts to boost user engagement and feature access in Unity mobile games

Essential Kit's App Shortcuts feature lets Unity teams add dynamic shortcuts to the app icon without maintaining platform-specific code. This tutorial walks you through setup, key APIs, testing, and troubleshooting so you can add quick-access shortcuts with confidence.

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Using PlayMaker? See the PlayMaker guide: PlayMaker.

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Looking for a working reference? Open the demo scene at Assets/Plugins/VoxelBusters/EssentialKit/Examples/Scenes/AppShortcutsDemo.unity and the companion script at Assets/Plugins/VoxelBusters/EssentialKit/Examples/Scripts/AppShortcutsDemo.cs to see the full API in action.

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What You'll Learn

  • Create dynamic shortcuts that appear when users long-press your app icon

  • Handle shortcut taps to deep-link users directly into specific game features

  • Manage shortcut lifecycle by adding and removing shortcuts based on player progress

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Why App Shortcuts Matter

  • Boost Engagement: Surface daily rewards, challenges, or unfinished levels right from the home screen

  • Improve Retention: Let players jump directly into multiplayer lobbies or continue their last game session

  • Enhance Discovery: Showcase premium features or limited-time events with prominent shortcuts

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Tutorial Roadmap

  1. Setup – Enable the feature and configure shortcut icons.

  2. Usage – Add shortcuts, handle clicks, and manage lifecycle.

  3. Testingarrow-up-right – Simulate in editor and verify on devices.

  4. FAQarrow-up-right – Troubleshoot common issues.

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Key Use Cases

  • Daily Rewards: Add a "Collect Daily Bonus" shortcut that appears after first login

  • Continue Playing: Show "Resume Level X" shortcuts for players with active sessions

  • Quick Multiplayer: Surface "Quick Match" or "Invite Friends" for social engagement

  • Event Promotions: Highlight limited-time events or new content releases

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Prerequisites

  • Unity project with Essential Kit v3 installed and App Shortcuts feature enabled in settings.

  • iOS or Android target with proper icon assets configured in Essential Kit Settings.

  • Test device to validate long-press shortcuts before release (simulator behavior may differ).

Setupchevron-rightUsagechevron-righthttps://github.com/voxelbusters/essential-kit-docs/blob/master/tutorials/v3/features/app-shortcuts/testing.mdchevron-righthttps://github.com/voxelbusters/essential-kit-docs/blob/master/tutorials/v3/features/app-shortcuts/faq.mdchevron-right
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