diff --git a/src/open/OpenDefaultViewModel.js b/src/open/OpenDefaultViewModel.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b187046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/open/OpenDefaultViewModel.js
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2020 The Matrix.org Foundation C.I.C.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import {ViewModel} from "../utils/ViewModel.js";
+import {getMatchingPlatforms, selectPlatforms} from "./clients/index.js";
+
+export class OpenDefaultViewModel extends ViewModel {
+    constructor(options) {
+        super(options);
+        const {client, link, openLinkVM, proposedPlatform, webPlatform} = options;
+        this._client = client;
+        this._link = link;
+        this._openLinkVM = openLinkVM;
+        this._proposedPlatform = proposedPlatform;
+        this._webPlatform = webPlatform;
+    }
+
+    get name() {
+        return this._client?.name;
+    }
+
+    get openingDefault() {
+        return !this._client;
+    }
+
+    get autoRedirect() {
+        // Only auto-redirect when a preferred client hasn't been set.
+        return this.openingDefault;
+    }
+
+    get webDeepLink() {
+        return this._client && this._webPlatform && this._client.getDeepLink(this._webPlatform);
+    }
+
+    close() {
+        this._openLinkVM.closeDefault();
+    }
+
+    tryOpenLink() {
+        this._trying = true;
+        // TODO actually try opening link
+        this.setTimeout(() => {
+            if (this.autoRedirect) {
+                // We're about to be closed so don't
+                // bother with visual updates.
+                this.close();
+            } else {
+                this._trying = false;
+                this.emitChange();
+            }
+        }, 1000);
+        this.emitChange();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/open/OpenLinkView.js b/src/open/OpenLinkView.js
index d545885..b859b06 100644
--- a/src/open/OpenLinkView.js
+++ b/src/open/OpenLinkView.js
@@ -22,17 +22,20 @@ import {ServerConsentView} from "./ServerConsentView.js";
 export class OpenLinkView extends TemplateView {
     render(t, vm) {
         return t.div({className: "OpenLinkView card"}, [
-            t.map(vm => vm.tryingLink, tryingLink => tryingLink ?
-                t.view(new TryingLinkView(vm)) :
-                t.mapView(vm => vm.previewViewModel, previewVM => previewVM ?
-                    new ShowLinkView(vm) :
-                    new ServerConsentView(vm.serverConsentViewModel)
-                ),
-            ),
+            t.mapView(vm => [ vm.openDefaultViewModel, vm.previewViewModel ], ([openDefaultVM, previewVM]) => {
+                if (openDefaultVM) {
+                    return new TryingLinkView(openDefaultVM)
+                } else if (previewVM) {
+                    return new ShowLinkView(vm);
+                } else {
+                    return new ServerConsentView(vm.serverConsentViewModel);
+                }
+            }),
         ]);
     }
 }
 
+
 class TryingLinkView extends TemplateView {
     render (t, vm) {
         return t.div({ className: "OpeningClientView" }, [
diff --git a/src/open/OpenLinkViewModel.js b/src/open/OpenLinkViewModel.js
index 2fd4129..97fdac4 100644
--- a/src/open/OpenLinkViewModel.js
+++ b/src/open/OpenLinkViewModel.js
@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@ import {ViewModel} from "../utils/ViewModel.js";
 import {ClientListViewModel} from "./ClientListViewModel.js";
 import {ClientViewModel} from "./ClientViewModel.js";
 import {PreviewViewModel} from "../preview/PreviewViewModel.js";
+import {OpenDefaultViewModel} from "./OpenDefaultViewModel.js";
 import {ServerConsentViewModel} from "./ServerConsentViewModel.js";
 import {getLabelForLinkKind} from "../Link.js";
 import {orderedUnique} from "../utils/unique.js";
+import {getMatchingPlatforms, selectPlatforms} from "./clients/index.js";
 
 export class OpenLinkViewModel extends ViewModel {
     constructor(options) {
@@ -28,12 +30,53 @@ export class OpenLinkViewModel extends ViewModel {
         const {clients, link} = options;
         this._link = link;
         this._clients = clients;
+        this.openDefaultViewModel = null;
         this.serverConsentViewModel = null;
         this.previewViewModel = null;
         this.clientsViewModel = null;
         this.previewLoading = false;
         this.tryingLink = false;
-        this._tryLink();
+        if (!this._tryOpenDefault()) {
+            this._activeOpen();
+        }
+    }
+
+    _tryOpenDefault() {
+        const client = this._getPreferredClient();
+        let proposedPlatform = null;
+        let webPlatform = null;
+        if (client) {
+            const matchingPlatforms = getMatchingPlatforms(client, this.platforms);
+            const selectedPlatforms = selectPlatforms(matchingPlatforms, this.preferences.platform);
+            if (selectedPlatforms.proposedPlatform !== selectedPlatforms.nativePlatform) {
+                // Do not auto-open web applications
+                return false;
+            }
+            proposedPlatform = selectedPlatforms.proposedPlatform;
+            webPlatform = selectedPlatforms.webPlatform;
+
+            if (!client.getDeepLink(proposedPlatform, this._link)) {
+                // Client doesn't support deep links. We can't open it.
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        this.openDefaultViewModel = new OpenDefaultViewModel(this.childOptions({
+            client,
+            link: this._link,
+            openLinkVM: this,
+            proposedPlatform,
+            webPlatform,
+        }));
+        this.openDefaultViewModel.tryOpenLink();
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    closeDefault() {
+        this.openDefaultViewModel = null;
+        this._activeOpen();
+    }
+
+    _activeOpen() {
         if (this.preferences.homeservers === null) {
             this._showServerConsent();
         } else {
@@ -41,18 +84,6 @@ export class OpenLinkViewModel extends ViewModel {
         }
     }
 
-    _tryLink() {
-        const matrixUrl = this._link.toMatrixUrl()
-        if (matrixUrl) {
-            this.tryingLink = true;
-            this.setTimeout(() => {
-                this.tryingLink = false;
-                this.emitChange();
-            }, 1000);
-            this.openLink(matrixUrl);
-        }
-    }
-
     _showServerConsent() {
         let servers = [];
         if (this.preferences.homeservers) {
@@ -67,11 +98,16 @@ export class OpenLinkViewModel extends ViewModel {
                 this._showLink();
             }
         }));
+        this.emitChange();
+    }
+
+    _getPreferredClient() {
+        const clientId = this.preferences.clientId || this._link.clientId;
+        return clientId ? this._clients.find(c => c.id === clientId) : null;
     }
 
     async _showLink() {
-        const clientId = this.preferences.clientId || this._link.clientId;
-        const preferredClient = clientId ? this._clients.find(c => c.id === clientId) : null;
+        const preferredClient = this._getPreferredClient();
         this.clientsViewModel = new ClientListViewModel(this.childOptions({
             clients: this._clients,
             link: this._link,