The integration flow is the same for all three paths, but the user experience differs.
Cold and semi-cold flows
Both flows require an install and behave differently per platform because of how each handles deferred deep linking — preserving a link’s context through an app store install so the app can act on it at first launch.Android
Android supports deferred deep linking through the Play Store. After downloading World ID, the user creates an account (cold) or logs in to an existing one (semi-cold), and World ID resumes the verification flow automatically.iOS
iOS does not support deferred deep linking through the App Store. Install loses the original verification context — for both cold and semi-cold users — so resuming the flow requires additional mechanisms.Default behavior
- The user downloads World ID from the App Store and creates an account or logs in to an existing one.
- The user returns to your app, which re-triggers the IDKit verification request (e.g., by rescanning the QR code).
- World ID opens and takes the user through the standard in-app flow.
- The proof consent appears, the user approves, and the proof returns to your app.
With invite-code mode
Invite-code mode shows a 6-character code in your app that the user enters into World ID. World ID treats the code as an entry point to the in-app onboarding flows the user must complete to satisfy your IDKit request, then returns the proof.Invite-code mode exists because iOS lacks deferred deep linking — Android preserves the context via the Play Store.
- Your app triggers an IDKit invite-code request.
- Your app opens the URL that IDKit provides. One of three paths follows:
- User has World ID (mobile): World ID launches directly via deep link.
- User has World ID (desktop): The user scans the QR code with World ID.
- User needs to install World ID: The user installs World ID, completes onboarding or logs in, then enters the invite code to resume the request.
- World ID restores the verification context, walks the user through credential enrollment if needed, and presents a proof consent.
- The user approves and the proof returns to your app.
- Codes expire after a short TTL (currently fifteen minutes).
- Codes are one-shot — once redeemed, they cannot be reused. Re-running the request returns a fresh code with a fresh TTL.
- After the user redeems the code, your existing poll loop receives the proof exactly as in QR mode.
selfieCheckLegacy preset is supported today. For code samples and migration guides, see the per-SDK sections: JavaScript, React, Swift.