Google’s URL Shortener service, once used to shorten and share long web links, will officially shut down on August 25, 2025.
Although Google announced its closure back in 2018, the old shortened links have continued to work.
But now, this feature will be fully discontinued. Let’s take a look at what the Google URL Shortener was and why it’s being shut down.
What Was Google URL Shortener?
Google URL Shortener was a tool that turned long website links into short ones, like goo.gl/xyz123, making them easier to share via email, social media, or websites.
But starting August 25, 2025, all goo.gl links created with this service will stop working. Anyone who clicks on these links will be taken to a 404 error page.
According to a blog post by Google in 2024, a warning page will appear before the final shutdown to let users know about the end of the service.
Why Is Google Shutting It Down?
Google explained that the use of these shortened links has dropped significantly over time. By June 2024, 99% of goo.gl links had no traffic at all.
Google has already replaced the service with Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL) — a more advanced system that creates smart URLs.
These can send users to a specific page inside an app or website, whether it’s on iOS, Android, or the web.
Who Will Be Affected?
The shutdown will mainly affect developers, content creators, and website owners who are still using old goo.gl links.
They’ll need to replace those links as soon as possible with another link shortener.
Google had already given developers a one-year warning, advising them to migrate their links before the final shutdown.
