If you were a user of Google’s URL shortening service goo.gl, you may want to take note: your links will cease to work as of August 25th, 2025. Google made the announcement in a blog post, stating that the time has come to shut down the serving portion of the Google URL Shortener. This means that any links in the https://goo.gl/* format will lead to a 404 error after the specified date.
To alert users of the impending shutdown, Google will begin displaying an interstitial page on August 23rd, 2024. This page will notify visitors that the link they clicked on will no longer be functional in the near future. Initially, this message will only pop up for a percentage of existing goo.gl links, but as the deadline approaches, more and more links will be affected.
Developers who have integrated goo.gl links into their projects are encouraged to update them as soon as possible. Google warns that the interstitial page may disrupt link redirections, potentially causing inconvenience to users. When Google first announced the shutdown of goo.gl in 2018, they recommended transitioning to Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL). However, it is worth noting that FDL has also been deprecated since then.
Plan for the Future
As the end date for goo.gl links draws near, users and developers alike should begin planning for the transition. Updating affected links to alternative services, such as Firebase Dynamic Links or other URL shortening tools, will be essential to avoid broken links and disruption to online content.
The end of Google’s URL shortening service goo.gl marks the end of an era for many users and developers. It is imperative to take action before August 25th, 2025, to prevent any link-related issues. While the shutdown may bring about some challenges, it also presents an opportunity for users to explore new and innovative ways to share and manage their URLs effectively.
Leave a Reply