diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 2fcd8f1..5ecd53f 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
                 <li>
                     <span class="step-paste"></span>
                     <br>
-                    <textarea autofocus oninput="reactInput(this.value)"></textarea>
+                    <textarea autofocus oninput="textareaInput(this.value)"></textarea>
                 </li>
                 <li>
                     <span class="step-share"></span>
@@ -257,6 +257,25 @@
             (isValid ? document.querySelector('form') : document.querySelector('section')).classList.add('hidden');
         };
 
+        // when all apps can generate invite links internally, we may decide to remove on-site generator
+        // and instead show a page with instructions how to generate links in Delta Chat
+        function textareaInput(inputData) {
+            // be idempotent: allow pasting a already generated invite-link to the generator (esp. if generated by the app)
+            if (inputData.startsWith('https://i.delta.chat')) {
+                inputData = inputData.replace(/https:\/\/i.delta.chat\/?#/, '')
+                inputData = inputData.replace(/&/, '#')
+            } else {
+                inputData = inputData.replace(/openpgp4fpr:/i, '')
+            }
+
+            // '#' may be wrongly encoded to '%23' by Safari/iOS; convert it back. see issue #16
+            if (inputData.indexOf('#') == -1) {
+                inputData = inputData.replace(/%23/, '#')
+            }
+
+            reactInput(inputData)
+        }
+
         reactInput(window.location.hash.substr(1));
 
         i18next.init({