Google goo.gl Links Remain Active After Policy Reversal

Google has officially reversed its decision to deactivate most of its shortened goo.gl links, providing relief to users who rely on these URLs in documents, videos, and social media posts. The company had initially planned to discontinue all goo.gl links by August 25, 2025, but now says that active links will continue to function as normal. This update addresses one of the most common concerns from users: whether their shared goo.gl links would suddenly stop working.

Why Google Changed Its Plan for goo.gl Links

Originally, Google announced in July 2024 that it would deactivate existing goo.gl URLs due to declining traffic and low activity. Most links saw little to no use, with the company reporting that 99% of goo.gl links had no activity in the last month before the announcement. However, after receiving feedback from users who rely on these links for embedded content, Google decided to maintain active links that did not previously display a deactivation notice. Links that were flagged for deactivation due to inactivity in late 2024 will still expire as planned.

What Users Should Know About goo.gl Links Moving Forward

For those using goo.gl links across websites, social media, and shared files, this policy reversal means that most of your links remain safe. Any goo.gl link that hasn’t shown a deactivation warning will continue to function normally, minimizing disruptions to websites, documents, and older content. However, inactive links flagged last year will still be removed according to Google’s original timeline, so users should double-check any critical URLs to ensure they remain active.

Google’s Approach to Legacy URL Shorteners

The decision reflects Google’s awareness of how deeply its URL shortener is embedded in online content. Although the company stopped creating new goo.gl links in 2019, its recognition of user reliance has led to this revised approach. For content creators, marketers, and businesses, this change ensures continuity for shared resources without the immediate need to replace or redirect older links.