URL expander
Unshorten bit.ly, t.co, TinyURL and every other short link. See each redirect hop and the final address, without the page ever opening on your device.
Expand a short link
How unshortening works
A short link is a row in someone's database: bit.ly/3xyzAbc → a long address. When you visit it, the shortener answers with a 301 or 302 status and a Location header holding the long URL. Your browser follows it instantly, so you never see the step.
The expander does the same request but stops at every hop to write down what it was told. Marketing links often chain several services (a shortener, then an email click-tracker, then an ad redirect), which is why you may see three or four hops before the real page.
Some links can't be fully expanded from outside: a JavaScript redirect needs a browser to run the script, and some shorteners show an interstitial warning page first. When the final page contains a meta-refresh we point it out.
Is it safe to expand a link here?
Yes. Our server requests only the headers of each hop (and the first 200 KB of the final page to read its title). It never executes the page, and your device never connects to it. The request comes from our server's address, not yours.
Common shorteners and who runs them
| Domain | Operator |
|---|---|
| bit.ly | Bitly |
| t.co | X (Twitter), wraps every posted link |
| lnkd.in | |
| tinyurl.com | TinyURL |
| ow.ly | Hootsuite |
| buff.ly | Buffer |
| rebrand.ly | Rebrandly |
| is.gd | is.gd (non-profit) |
| goo.gl | Google (shut down; old links still redirect) |
| amzn.to | Amazon affiliate links |
| youtu.be | YouTube |
Questions people ask
Can I see where a bit.ly link goes without clicking it?
Yes. Paste it above and the expander follows the redirects from our server. Bitly also shows a preview page if you add a + to the end of a bit.ly link.
Why does the expander show several redirects?
Links in emails and ads often pass through a click tracker and an ad server before the real page. Each one records the click and hands you on. Every hop is shown so you can see who is in the chain.
Why did expansion stop at a 403 or a warning page?
Some shorteners and sites block automated requests, or show an interstitial when a link has been reported. That is useful information in itself; if the shortener flagged the link, don't open it.
Does expanding a link tell the sender I looked?
The shortener does count a click, but it sees our server's address and user agent, not yours.