Google URL Shortener goo.gl links stop working August 25

 

Google URL Shortener Shutdown: Goo.gl Links to Stop Working from August 25 – What You Need to Know

The digital world continues to evolve, and as part of this transformation, Google is finally closing the curtain on one of its once-popular services — the Google URL Shortener (goo.gl). If you’ve been using shortened links that start with “goo.gl,” you need to take action before August 25, because after that date, these links will stop working altogether.

Google URL Shortener goo.gl links stop working August 25

Let’s dive into the complete details of what this means for users, how it affects your content and traffic, and what you can do right now to safeguard your links.

What Is Google URL Shortener?

Google URL Shortener (goo.gl), a free service that was introduced in 2009, lets users create condensed versions of lengthy web links. It was particularly useful for sharing on platforms with character limits like Twitter, emails, and text messages. These shorter URLs not only saved space but also allowed Google to track click data for analytics.

Over the years, many websites, businesses, and individuals used goo.gl links across marketing campaigns, documents, videos, blogs, and presentations.

Why Is It Shutting Down Now?

In 2018, Google progressively phased out the creation of new links after first announcing the sunset of the goo.gl URL shortener. However, existing links continued to work — until now. From August 25 onward, even existing goo.gl links will no longer function, rendering them completely unusable.

This final shutdown marks the complete deactivation of all services tied to the goo.gl platform. Google is pushing users to transition toward newer, more secure, and feature-rich alternatives like Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL).

What Happens After August 25?

Once the deadline hits, here’s what you can expect:

• All good.gl links will break — clicking on them will no longer redirect to the intended destination.
• Old campaigns and embedded content using goo.gl will lose functionality, potentially causing confusion or traffic loss.
• Users will not be able to recover data or redirection services from their shortened links.
• Documents, emails, QR codes, or social media posts using goo.gl links may need manual updates to point to working URLs.

How Will This Affect You?

If you’re someone who:

• Used goo.gl links in blog posts or YouTube descriptions
• Sent shortened links in email campaigns or newsletters
• Shared goo.gl URLs on forums, social media, or printed material

You must act quickly. Inactive links can damage your online reputation, cause traffic drops, reduce sales conversions, and lead to poor user experience.

Google URL Shortener goo.gl links stop working August 25

What You Should Do Now

1.    Audit Your Old Links: Go through your website, documents, social media posts, and other content where goo.gl links might be embedded.

2.    Update with New Shorteners: Replace goo.gl links with active, trustworthy alternatives such as:

o   Bitly

o   TinyURL

o   Rebrandly

o   Firebase Dynamic Links (for mobile-first experiences)

3.    Create Redirects (If You Can): If the goo.gl link originally pointed to a page you control, set up a redirect from that page’s original long URL to a new short URL.

4.    Communicate the Change: If you’ve distributed goo.gl links to your customers or subscribers, send out a notification before August 25 to prevent confusion.

Alternatives to Google URL Shortener

Although goo.gl is fading out, several modern and robust link shorteners are taking its place. Here are some top picks:

• Bitly: Offers analytics, custom domains, and branded links.
• TinyURL: Simple and reliable with no account needed.
• Rebrandly: Great for businesses wanting to use custom branded domains.
• Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL): Best suited for deep linking into apps.

Final Thoughts

The end of the Google URL Shortener is more than just the end of an era — it’s a wake-up call for content creators, digital marketers, and businesses to audit and future-proof their online assets regularly.

If you’ve relied heavily on goo.gl links in the past, August 25 is a hard deadline you can’t afford to ignore. Take time now to replace or redirect those links to ensure your audience continues to find your content without interruption.

Being proactive today means avoiding broken links and frustrated users tomorrow. Don’t let August 25 arrive with surprises — start updating your URLs now.

"Google URL Shortener goo.gl links stop working August 25"

"goo.gl links not working after August 25"

"Google shutting down URL shortener 2025"

"Google URL shortener discontinued"

"Replace goo.gl links before August 25."

"Google URL shortener alternative 2025"

"How to update goo.gl links"

"goo.gl shutdown date August 25"

"Google URL shortener migration guide"