Expand short URLs before you click.
Paste any shortened URL to reveal its final destination and the full redirect path behind it.
Free, no sign-up. Results open on FindRedirect, our redirect lookup site.
How it works
See where a link leads, without opening it
- 1
Paste the short link
From bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co, ow.ly or any other shortener.
- 2
We follow the redirect
Without running scripts or loading tracking pixels.
- 3
See the real destination
The final URL and every hop open on FindRedirect.
What it is
What is a short URL expander?
A short URL expander reveals the real destination behind a shortened link. Services like bit.ly, tinyurl and t.co hide the final URL behind a redirect; the expander shows you where it leads before you click.
Why expand
Know the destination first
- Check a link is safe before clicking
- Identify the real domain behind a short URL
- Confirm a short link still points to the right page
- Audit marketing campaigns that use shorteners
- Avoid phishing and malicious redirects
Under the hood
How short URLs work
When you click a shortened URL, the service records a click and then issues a 301 or 302 redirect to the original long URL. The short code is just a key in their database that maps to the real destination.
Protect yourself from malicious links
Cybercriminals often use URL shorteners to hide phishing links, malware downloads and scam pages. Expand an unknown short link before you click it, and decide whether the destination is safe.
FAQ