Why expand a short link?
Short links hide their destination. That is convenient for sharing, but it also means you cannot tell whether a link leads to a well-known site, an affiliate page or a phishing page made to look like your bank. Expanding it first lets you check before you click.
The URL expander follows the redirects and shows the final URL in large type, its domain and the number of hops it took. From there you can copy the final URL or remove its UTM parameters in one click. It works with bit.ly, t.co, TinyURL, old goo.gl links, ow.ly, buff.ly, is.gd, lnkd.in and other shorteners.
Our server requests the link for you, so you do not visit it. It refuses private and internal network addresses, uses only ports 80 and 443, follows at most 10 hops with a 6-second timeout per hop, and does not store the URLs. Some shorteners block automated requests or show an interstitial page; in that case the tool shows what it received, including the status code, so you know where it stopped. For the full hop-by-hop detail, use the redirect checker.
How to expand a short URL
- Paste the short link.
- Run the expander; our server follows the redirects.
- Check the final URL and its domain.
- Copy the final URL, or remove its UTM parameters before using it.
When to use it
- Checking a suspicious link from an SMS, email or DM before opening it.
- Finding the real page behind a t.co link on X/Twitter.
- Getting the full URL of a link to save or cite it.
- Getting rid of a shortener and its tracking before sharing a link.
- Expanding a batch of short links from a report or spreadsheet (up to 20 per run with Pro).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which short link services are supported?
Any that use standard HTTP redirects, including bit.ly, t.co, TinyURL, old goo.gl links, ow.ly, buff.ly, is.gd and lnkd.in.
Do I visit the link when I expand it?
No. Our server makes the request, so your browser never opens the destination. The URL is not stored.
Why did a link not expand fully?
Some shorteners block automated requests or show a warning page before redirecting. The tool then shows the status code and the page it reached. Links that redirect with JavaScript are not followed.
Can it tell me if a link is safe?
It shows you where the link goes so you can judge it yourself, for example whether the domain is the one you expect. It does not check the destination against a malware database.
Can I expand several URLs at once?
Yes, with ToolStudio Pro: up to 20 URLs per run, one per line. The free try is for one URL.
How much does Pro cost?
€1.99 a month for every ToolStudio tool, unlimited use and no ads. Cancel anytime.