Google is ending support for its goo.gl link shortening service, which will be permanently disabled in August 2025. The company recommends that developers update affected links in advance.
Closure of goo.gl
The end of the era of link shortening
Google continues to streamline its portfolio of services, gradually getting rid of some services. In early 2019, Google announced the demise of URL Shortener (goo.gl), a popular short link creation tool that had been around for a decade. Now the exact timing of its final closure has become known.
The Last Days of goo.gl
According to an official Google statement published on the corporate blog, “It is time to turn off service on parts of Google URL Shortener". In just over a year, all links in the https://goo.gl/* format will cease to function, and when trying to open them, users will receive a 404 “Page not found” error message. The final shutdown of the service is scheduled for August 25, 2025.
Transition Period
12 months prior to complete shutdown, starting August 23, 2024, when clicking on goo links. gl will display an interim page warning that the service will soon stop working. This notification will initially be shown to a small percentage of existing links, but will increase in number as the deadline approaches. Google strongly encourages developers to promptly update affected links as the staging page may cause redirection issues.
Alternative solutions
When Google announced the closure of goo.gl about five years ago, the company encouraged developers to switch to using Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL). However, this service has also since ceased to exist, leaving users searching for new alternatives to shorten URLs.
Glossary
- Google is an American multinational corporation specializing in Internet services and products
- URL Shortener - a service for shortening long web addresses
- goo.gl - a domain name used by Google for a URL shortening service
- Firebase - platform for developing mobile and web applications
- FDL (Firebase Dynamic Links) - technology for creating smart URLs, which work on different platforms
Links
Questions Answered
When will Google finally discontinue the goo.gl link shortening service?
What changes will happen to goo.gl links a year before the service is completely shut down?
What recommendations does Google give to developers in connection with the closure of the goo.gl service?
What alternative did Google offer after announcing the closure of goo.gl?
How long had Google URL Shortener been in operation before it was announced that it was closing?
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Discussion of the topic – The end of the era of goo.gl: Google is closing the popular link shortening service
Google has announced that it will shut down its goo.gl link shortening service in August 2025. This decision is part of the company's strategy to optimize its services.
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Olivia
Wow, Google is closing another service! 😮 I wonder how many people still use goo.gl? I personally switched to Bitly a long time ago.
Hans
Yes, Olivia, I haven’t used goo.gl for a long time either. But I’m still surprised that Google gives 2 years for migration. That's pretty generous of them considering their reputation for shutting down services 🤔
Sophie
I agree with Hans! Google is great for giving us so much time. But I'm more concerned about what will happen to the existing links? I have a bunch of them in old projects 😅
Carlos
Sophie, you better start updating your projects now! 😉 I was wondering, maybe it makes sense to create your own link shortening service? It seems there is a niche emerging in the market 🤑
Giuseppe
Eh, these newfangled things of yours again... I still use the usual long links and nothing, I live in peace. Why are these shortcuts needed at all? They only create confusion.
Anna
Giuseppe, come on! 😄 Shortened links are very convenient for social networks and instant messengers. Carlos, interesting idea! Maybe you should think about creating an open source solution? 🤓
Dmitry
Anna, great idea about open source! I would love to participate in such a project. In general, I wonder why Google decided to close this particular service? 🧐
Olivia
Dmitry, perhaps due to low popularity or high support costs. In any case, this is a reminder that you shouldn’t rely too much on free services from big companies 🤷♀️