If you ever used Google’s URL shortening service, goo.gl, before it shut down in 2019, be warned: these links will stop working on August 25, 2025. Google announced in a blog post that “the time has come to disable the serving portion of Google URL Shortener” and that any links in the format will respond with a 404 error next year.
Prior to the closure, goo.gl links will begin showing an interstitial page on August 23, 2024, notifying users that “this link will no longer work in the near future.” This message will initially appear for a “percentage of existing links” that will increase as the deadline approaches. However, Google is encouraging developers to update affected links as soon as possible, as this interstitial page may cause link redirection disruptions.
When Google announced in 2018 that it was shutting down goo.gl, the company encouraged developers to move to Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL) – which has since also been discontinued.