As of December 2009, Google launched the goo.gl URL Shortener, later opening it to the public in September 2010. After years of support, it began winding down new link creation in April 2018, fully ending user and API access by March 30, 2019
On July 18, 2024, Google announced that from August 23, 2024, goo.gl links would begin displaying a warning interstitial page alerting users of their eventual shutdown. Finally, on August 25, 2025, all goo.gl links will permanently stop working and return a 404 error
Why Google Is Removing goo.gl
- Declining Usage: Over 99% of goo.gl links saw no activity in the most recent month, indicating widespread abandonment
- Strategic Focus: Google has shifted to Firebase Dynamic Links, which offer context-aware redirects, deep linking into apps, and cross-platform user experiences—but this replacement service is also slated for deprecation in August 2025
- Security Concerns: URL shorteners have historically facilitated abuse such as phishing or spam distribution. Discontinuation is partly to improve user safety and reduce misuse
What This Means for Users and Developers
- Broken Links Expected: After August 25, 2025, all https://goo.gl/ URLs (except those from Google apps like Maps) will no longer function.
- Interstitial Page Behavior: Starting August 23, 2024, clicking goo.gl links may trigger an alert page warning of the shutdown. Some developers can suppress this page temporarily with the parameter
?si=1, but this is not a long-term solution - Update Urgently Recommended: Users and websites should migrate important goo.gl links to alternative shorteners like Bitly, TinyURL, Ow.ly, or others before the shutdown
Broader Reaction & Impact
- Developer Frustration: Many users have voiced frustration over Google’s frequent shutdown of services. Reddit threads lament the loss of goo.gl links and warn of collapsing versions of old forum threads and documentation
- Link Rot Risk: With billions of goo.gl links in use online, the shutdown increases the risk of dead links across blogs, forums, social media, and embedded content.
- Historical Trend: This move follows closures of other Google products like Reader, Stadia, and Hangouts—reinforcing concerns over long-term reliability
Summary
Google’s one of the longest-serving URL shortener tools, goo.gl, will be taken offline starting August 25, 2025. After warning pages begin in August 2024, the service will fully shut down and yield 404 errors. Users and developers should transition existing goo.gl links to alternate URL shorteners now to prevent broken redirects and maintain usability.
