No callback when user closes browser via X button

[RicardoDS-Paydock]

PayPal Android SDK Version

2.3.0

Environment

Sandbox

Android Version & Device

Google Pixel 8 Pro API 34

PayPal dependencies

gradle/libs.versions.toml

[versions]
paypalWebPayments = "2.3.0"

[libraries]
paypal-web-payments = { module = "com.paypal.android:paypal-web-payments", version.ref = "paypalWebPayments" }

Describe the bug

When users taps the X button in the Chrome Custom Tab toolbar to close the browser during the PayPal checkout/vault flow, there is no callback or indication that the user has abandoned the flow. The activity simply resumes with onResume() but with no way to distinguish this from normal app minimization (e.g., user pressing home button).

The problem:

Without a way to detect browser dismissal, we were are unable to detect/determine if the SDK has been closed or minimised etc

Attempted workaround:

We have created a workaround to compensate for this in the onResume():

// Handles default PayPal SDK intent callbacks)
override fun onNewIntent(intent: Intent) {
    super.onNewIntent(intent)
    setIntent(intent)
    viewModel.handleDeeplinkResult(this, intent)
}

// Workaround to cater for SDK browser closing
override fun onResume() {
    super.onResume()
    // Check if returning without deep link
    if (hasStartedCheckout && intent?.data == null) {
        finishWithCancellation() // Treat as user cancellation
    }
}

Why this doesn't work:

This approach incorrectly triggers cancellation when users simply minimize the app (press home) and later return to it, causing false cancellations and interrupting legitimate flows.

To reproduce

1. Launch the PayPal checkout/vault flow
2. Chrome Custom Tab opens with PayPal login/payment page
3. Click the X button in the browser toolbar (top-left on Android)
4. Browser closes, app resumes
5. Observe: No callbacks triggered ie. onNewIntent() etc

Expected behavior

The expected behaviour is for this to work the same way we handle the "Cancel and Return to Store" flow.

SDK provides a callback or result when the browser is dismissed via X button (similar to how the "Cancel and Return to Store" flow is handled

Screenshots

[kgangineni]

hi @RicardoDS-Paydock, thanks for using the SDK. Currently, the SDK doesn't have a callback, but we are working on it. Will let you know after releasing

[sshropshire]

Hey @RicardoDS-Paydock currently CustomTabsIntent does not offer a callback to listen for close button pressed events. We're looking into supporting the more recently released AuthTabs feature from androidx.browser to fix this scenario. It won't be a perfect solution since older devices may not support auth tabs, but we are hopeful this will allow us to capture explicit cancelation events on AuthTab-supported devices.