Help Center

Paste your long URL into the box on the homepage and press the shorten button. You do not need an account — links created as a guest are saved in your browser. If your URL is missing the https:// prefix, we add it automatically.

Open the custom alias option before shortening and type your preferred slug — for example urlshorter.cc/summer-menu. Aliases must be 3–16 characters and can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. If an alias is already taken you will be prompted to pick another. Full rules are in the documentation.

Signed-in users can manage their links from the dashboard, including pausing links and reviewing analytics. The short code itself is permanent — if you need a different alias, create a new link so existing shares keep working.

Links belonging to registered accounts do not expire by default. Guest links may have retention limits, so we recommend creating a free account for anything you plan to print, publish, or share long-term.

Sign in and open your dashboard: every link shows its lifetime click count, plus geographic, device, and referrer breakdowns. For a deeper look at interpreting this data, read our link analytics guide.

Yes. Add UTM parameters to your destination URL before shortening it — for example example.com/page?utm_source=newsletter. The short link hides the clutter while your analytics tool still receives the tags. See the UTM parameters guide for a naming system that scales.

Shortener clicks count every redirect, including bots, link previews, and visitors who block JavaScript. Google Analytics only counts visitors who load the page and run its script. Some gap between the two is normal; large gaps usually mean bot traffic or a slow destination page.

Use the free QR code generator. Shorten your URL first, then generate the QR code from the short link — that way scans are tracked in your analytics and the printed code stays valid even if you later change campaigns.

As a rule of thumb, print at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in) for close-range scanning such as menus or packaging, and scale up roughly 1:10 with scanning distance — a poster scanned from one meter away needs a code around 10 cm wide. Always test with both iOS and Android before printing a batch.

Click Sign in in the header and use your Google account. Registration is free and moves the links you created as a guest into a permanent dashboard.

Destinations are validated at creation time, links that point to phishing or malware are disabled, and every redirect is served over HTTPS. If you find a short link abusing the service, please report it — reports are reviewed promptly. More detail is in our security guide.

We collect only what the service needs to function and never sell personal data. Read the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for specifics, including how advertising and analytics cookies are used and how to opt out.

First, confirm the destination URL still exists by visiting it directly — expired or moved destination pages are the most common cause. Second, check the link hasn't been paused in your dashboard. If the destination works and the link is active but the redirect still fails, contact support with the short code.

Platforms occasionally flag shortener domains when other users abuse them, or when the destination itself violates the platform's rules. Check that your destination page loads fast, matches your post's claim, and isn't on a blocklist. Our article on avoiding spam flags covers prevention in detail.

Aliases are first-come, first-served and unique across the service. Try a short variation — adding a year, product name, or channel tag (menu-2026, menu-nyc) usually resolves it while keeping the link readable.