Some goo.gl Short Links Will Continue to Work

Red Dog Security

— 2 min read
Some goo.gl Short Links Will Continue to Work

Google has reversed its original decision to fully shut down the goo.gl URL shortening service by August 2025. After significant user feedback, the company confirmed that some links will remain active past the previously announced cutoff date.

Background

Launched in 2009, goo.gl was Google’s official URL shortening service. It was discontinued for new users and developers in 2018.

According to Google, the decision was driven by the growing use of alternative URL shorteners, mobile apps, voice assistants, and other technologies that made goo.gl redundant.

  • In 2019, Google disabled link creation, analytics, and management features.
  • Existing links continued to function, but no new features were added.
  • Google encouraged users to transition to Firebase Dynamic Links, which was later also sunset.

The 2023 Shutdown Announcement

In 2023, Google announced a complete shutdown of goo.gl.

  • Starting August 23, 2024, some goo.gl links began showing an interstitial warning page:
    “This link will stop working soon.”
  • The final cutoff was scheduled for August 25, 2025, after which all links would return a 404 error.

Now, with less than a month before the planned shutdown, Google has revised its position:

  • Actively used links—those that received traffic in late 2024—will remain functional beyond August 25, 2025.
  • Inactive links, especially those already showing a warning page, will stop working as originally planned.

This change is in response to community input, especially from users concerned about thousands of goo.gl links embedded in long-standing documentation, blogs, videos, and social media.

Here’s how to find out whether your goo.gl link is safe:

  1. Visit your goo.gl link.
  2. If it redirects immediately without a warning page, it will remain active.
  3. If you see a message like “This link will stop working soon,” the link is scheduled for deactivation on or after August 25, 2025.

Google's Recommendation

If your links are flagged for removal:

  • Replace them with a reliable alternative such as bit.ly or tinyurl.com.
  • Update critical documents, marketing materials, or web pages before the August 25 deadline.

This is especially important for businesses or organizations that depend on goo.gl links in client-facing communications or automated systems.

Conclusion

Google’s goo.gl shutdown isn’t total—just selective. Links that have seen recent use will continue working, while inactive ones will be disabled as scheduled. Users are advised to test and update their links now to avoid disruption.

“We recognize that these links are embedded in countless documents, videos, posts, and more, and we appreciate the feedback we’ve received,” Google stated.

The takeaway? If your goo.gl link still works without a warning page, you’re safe—for now.

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