Is Google Shutting Down URL Shortening?

Google has already shut down its Google URL Shortener, known as goo.gl; the service stopped accepting new links in 2018, and its remaining short links were scheduled to stop redirecting on August 25, 2025. That means a goo.gl link may no longer work, although links that were still active could show an interstitial warning before the shutdown.

What happened to Google URL Shortener?

Google introduced goo.gl in 2009 as a way to turn long web addresses into shorter links that were easier to share. A user could submit a URL and receive a compact goo.gl address. When someone opened that short address, Google redirected them to the original destination.

Google announced in March 2018 that it would wind down the service. From April 13, 2018, new users and people who had never created short links before could no longer make them. Existing users could continue creating links through the service until March 30, 2019. Google then disabled the creation of new goo.gl short links for everyone.

The shutdown had two stages: link creation ended first, while existing redirects remained available for years. Google said in 2024 that links with activity during the preceding months would continue redirecting until August 25, 2025. Links without recent activity could begin showing an interstitial page warning visitors that the link would soon stop working. The planned final date has passed, so goo.gl should no longer be treated as a dependable redirect service.

Why did Google discontinue it?

Google pointed to changes in how people share links. The company said that many users had moved to app-specific sharing and dynamic links, which can direct people differently depending on their device or whether an app is installed. Google also noted the growth of other URL-shortening services.

A shortener is useful when a web address is difficult to share, but operating one involves more than shortening text. The service has to maintain the mapping between the short code and the destination, respond to clicks, and provide tools for managing or measuring links. A service provider can decide that those capabilities no longer fit its product priorities. Google’s announcement was a product decision, not an indication that all URL shorteners were being discontinued.

What happens when you open a goo.gl link?

A short link works as a redirect. For example, a long address such as example.com/products/summer-sale?source=newsletter might be represented by a much shorter address. The shortener stores or looks up the destination associated with that code and sends the browser onward.

With goo.gl, the important question is whether the particular link still resolves. A link might fail because the redirect service has ended, because its destination page was deleted, or because the destination itself blocks access. An interstitial warning, if displayed, is different from the destination page: it is a notice associated with the transition away from the shortener.

Do not assume a link is safe simply because it uses a familiar short domain. A redirect can conceal the final web address. If you do not know who sent the link, avoid entering passwords or payment information after opening it. For a link you own, retrieve the original destination from your records rather than relying on the short URL.

What should you do with old goo.gl links?

If you control a website, document, email campaign, social profile, or other page containing a goo.gl link, replace it with the full destination or a redirect you control. Start with the places most likely to receive visits, such as a website’s navigation, frequently shared documents, and evergreen posts.

Find links you manage: Search your website content, link lists, campaign materials, and saved documents for goo.gl.
Confirm each destination: Check the intended page directly. A working destination is not guaranteed merely because the old short link once pointed to it.
Update the source: Replace the goo.gl address with the destination URL or a redirect on a domain you control.
Check the replacement: Open it in a browser and confirm it reaches the expected page. If the link appears in several places, update each copy.

If you do not control the page containing a broken link, contact its publisher and ask for an updated address. There is no general way for a reader to repair the publisher’s old link themselves.

Choosing a replacement shortener

There is no single replacement that suits every use. For a small number of links, sharing the original URL is often simplest and most transparent. If the URL is unwieldy, a reputable shortening service can provide a new redirect, but it cannot automatically take over a goo.gl address or preserve its old code.

For an organization that needs stable links over many years, using a short domain it controls can reduce dependence on a third-party service. The organization must maintain the domain and redirect system, however; ownership does not eliminate the need for ongoing upkeep. A provider-hosted shortener may be more convenient, but its links depend on that provider continuing the service.

Check permanence: Read the provider’s current terms and documentation. No third-party link is guaranteed to last forever.
Consider ownership: A custom domain gives you more control over the visible link, provided you keep the domain and redirects active.
Review privacy and analytics: Click tracking can reveal information about link use. Understand what data is collected and how it is handled.
Plan for change: Keep a list mapping each short link to its destination so you can migrate or repair links later.

Google’s Firebase Dynamic Links were a separate product from goo.gl and should not be confused with the old URL shortener. Google also announced that Firebase Dynamic Links would shut down on August 25, 2025. That product was intended for more advanced app-linking behavior, not merely making a web address shorter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google shutting down URL shortening?
Yes. Google URL Shortener stopped creating new links in 2019, and Google set August 25, 2025, as the end date for remaining goo.gl redirects.

Can I still create a goo.gl link?
No. Google disabled creation of new short links in 2019. You need to use a full URL or choose another shortening option.

Do old goo.gl links still work?
They should not be relied on. Google’s announced redirect end date was August 25, 2025; a link may also fail if its destination is unavailable.

Can I transfer a goo.gl link to another service?
No automatic transfer preserves the same goo.gl address. Create a replacement link and update the pages or messages you control.

Was Firebase Dynamic Links the same as goo.gl?
No. They were separate Google products. Firebase Dynamic Links supported app-related linking features, while goo.gl provided short redirects; Firebase Dynamic Links also had a separate announced shutdown date of August 25, 2025.

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