Google has announced that its URL shortening service, goo.gl, will cease functioning entirely on August 25, 2025. The company shared the news on its developer blog, stating that after this date, goo.gl links will result in a 404 error, making them inactive and unusable. Users are encouraged to update any existing goo.gl links and find suitable alternatives before the service ends.
Starting August 23, 2024, goo.gl links will display a warning message alerting users that they will soon become inactive. Google has cautioned developers that this interstitial page might disrupt the functionality of their links, particularly those involving 302 redirects.
This closure marks the final phase in the gradual discontinuation of the goo.gl service, which began in 2018. Google initially stopped new link creation in 2019, and the full shutdown will occur more than six years after the initial announcement.
In their announcement, article authors and engineers Sumit Chandel and Eldhose Mathokkil Babu stated, “Today, the time has come to turn off the serving portion of Google URL Shortener.”
As a temporary measure, developers can add the query parameter “si=1” to existing goo.gl links to suppress the interstitial page. However, this is only a short-term solution, and a replacement service will be necessary to maintain functionality.
Looking ahead, Google suggests that former goo.gl users consider alternatives like Bitly and Ow.ly. Initially, the company indicated it would focus on Firebase Dynamic Links, but with that service also set to end in August 2025, developers are advised to seek services from other providers.
