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How can I create and upload a apple-app-site-association file and JSON file inside a ".well-known" folder in Webflow?

TL;DR
  • Webflow can't host .well-known/apple-app-site-association, so use an external host like Netlify, Vercel, or Firebase to serve the file with proper headers.
  • Either set up a reverse proxy to serve the file alongside your Webflow site or host it on a subdomain and point Universal Links there.

To enable app-to-website association (like Universal Links) in Webflow, you need to host a .well-known/apple-app-site-association file. Webflow currently does not support hosting server-level static files or folders like .well-known.

Here’s what you can (and can’t) do:

1. Understand Webflow’s Hosting Limitations

  • Webflow does not allow direct file uploads to custom directory paths like /.well-known/.
  • Files uploaded through the Assets panel are processed and stored in Webflow’s CDN, with renamed URLs.
  • You cannot control the headers or content type (important for the apple-app-site-association file which must be served as application/json, without redirects or extensions).

2. Workaround: Use a Reverse Proxy Or External Hosting

To serve this file properly, you'll need to use an external service or set up a middleware proxy. Here are two options:

Option A: Use a Reverse Proxy with a Subdomain

  • Host your site on a reverse proxy using services like Cloudflare Workers, Firebase Hosting, or Netlify.
  • Serve your Webflow site on the root path (/) and route requests to /.well-known/apple-app-site-association to your JSON file.
  • This lets you serve the required file while preserving Webflow design and CMS.

Option B: Host the File on a Subdomain

  • Create and host the apple-app-site-association file on an external HTTPS server (e.g., AWS S3 + CloudFront, Netlify, Vercel).
  • Point a subdomain like links.yourdomain.com to the external host.
  • Configure Universal Links to check that domain instead of your main one.

3. JSON Requirements

  • File must be served with no redirects and a Content-Type: application/json header.
  • File name must be exactly apple-app-site-association (no .json extension).
  • Make sure the content follows Apple's format: associate your app’s appID, paths, etc.

Summary

Webflow cannot serve .well-known files natively. To set up an apple-app-site-association file, you must use an external hosting service or proxy to serve it properly with the correct directory path and headers. A common and reliable approach is to use Netlify, Vercel, or Firebase Hosting with a custom subdomain or reverse proxy setup.

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