The Truth About goo.gl Links in 2025

The Truth About goo.gl Links in 2025

For years, the writing was on the wall: Google’s once-popular URL shortener, goo.gl, was slowly being phased out. But now, in a move that’s bringing relief to many, the company has changed its stance — at least partially.

Despite earlier plans to kill every single short link by August 25, 2025, Google has announced that actively used goo.gl links will continue to work. This reversal comes after widespread concern from users, archivists, and content creators about the damage mass link deletion could cause.

The Original Shutdown Plan

Back in 2018, Google disabled the ability to create new goo.gl links, citing shifts in how people share content online. While existing links still worked, the message was clear: the service was being retired.

Then, in mid-2024, Google set a final deadline: August 25, 2025, would be the end of the line. After that date, all goo.gl links would stop redirecting and return a 404 error.

By late 2024, the company began rolling out warning pages for inactive links. Clicking on one would show an interstitial screen with the message:

“This link will no longer work in the near future.”

It looked like the end was inevitable.

Why Google Changed Its Mind

Now, as the deadline nears, Google has hit pause — but only for some.

The updated policy states that links still receiving traffic will remain active. If your goo.gl link doesn’t show the warning page and redirects smoothly, it’s considered “in use” — and Google says it will keep working.

This decision wasn’t made lightly. The sheer volume of goo.gl links scattered across the web made a full shutdown risky. These aren’t just random social media shortcuts — they’re embedded in:

• Blog posts and news articles
• YouTube video descriptions
• Business listings and location shares
• Academic references and documentation

Removing them all would’ve created massive link rot, breaking years of digital history.

How to Check If Your Link Is Safe

Wondering if your goo.gl link will survive?

Here’s the simplest way:
Click on it yourself.

• ✅ If it redirects without showing a warning — you’re good. It should keep working.
• ❌ If you see the “This link will no longer work” message — it will stop functioning after August 25, 2025.

Google hasn’t provided a public tool to check link status, so manual testing is currently the most reliable method.

A Legacy Tool That Refused to Fade

At its peak, goo.gl was more than just a shortener — it was part of Google’s own ecosystem. The company used it in Google Maps, Google My Business, and internal tools to share locations and data.

According to Majestic, a backlink intelligence platform, over 3.6 billion goo.gl links have been created since the service launched. That kind of footprint doesn’t disappear overnight — and apparently, Google finally realized that.

The Irony of the Replacement

Here’s the twist: Google’s recommended alternative, Firebase Dynamic Links, is also being discontinued — on the same date: August 25, 2025.

So while users were urged to migrate years ago, the replacement path is now vanishing too. This adds another layer of frustration for developers and businesses who followed Google’s advice, only to face another shutdown.

What This Means for You

If you’re using goo.gl links in active content:

• ✅ No urgent action is needed — as long as the link is still in use.
• 🔍 Monitor your links periodically to ensure they’re not showing warnings.
• 🛠️ For new projects, consider switching to a more stable service like Bitly, Rebrandly, or TinyURL.

Google’s decision reflects a growing awareness: once something is published online, it becomes part of a larger ecosystem. Even small links can carry big consequences when broken.