Essential information
- Google has updated its timeline regarding the shutdown of its URL Shortener, originally announced in July 2024.
- The company indicates it will maintain support for “active” URLs generated through its shortener; however, those that are inactive will be deactivated on August 25, 2025, as previously stated.
- Google advises users to review their shortened URLs to check for any warning messages and, if present, to seek a different shortener.
Google intended to retire all links created via its URL shortener, but leniency is being granted for frequently used ones.
This afternoon (Aug 1), Google published a significant update regarding the prior plan to phase out its “https://goo.gl/*” links (as reported by 9to5Google). The company mentions that its revised strategy aims to “preserve actively utilized links” generated by its URL Shortener. If you or your organization relies on a shortened link from Google’s service, the advice is to verify its status promptly.
If your link is regularly accessed, the announcement indicates you should be directed to that link’s destination without receiving a warning message.