Link shorteners turn a long address into something like bit.ly/3xYz12 or tinyurl.com/abc123. They're handy for posters, texts and social posts, but they also hide where you'll end up. Scammers use them for exactly that reason, and some short links pass through several redirects before reaching the final page.
Method 1: use a link expander (works for any shortener)
A link expander follows the short link for you and shows each step. Paste it into our Link Expander and you'll see:
- every redirect in the chain, in order, with its status code
- the final website address
- how old the final website is, when that information is public
- warning signs such as look-alike brand names or a raw IP address
Our server makes the requests, so the destination page never opens on your phone or computer. This works for every shortener, including ones built into apps and newsletters.
Method 2: use the shortener's own preview
Some services offer a preview page that shows the destination before sending you there:
| Shortener | How to preview |
|---|---|
| TinyURL | Add preview. before the address: preview.tinyurl.com/abc123 |
| Bitly | Free Bitly links often show a Bitly preview page with the destination before continuing. Read it before you tap "continue". |
| Others | Many have no preview option, so use a link expander. |
Preview features change from time to time, which is why a link expander is the more reliable habit.
Method 3: long-press or hover (no tools needed)
On a phone, press and hold a link instead of tapping it to see the address. On a computer, rest the mouse pointer over the link and look at the bottom-left corner of the browser. For a short link this only shows the short address, not the destination, but it's useful for spotting links that claim to be one site and point to another. Our guide to checking links on iPhone, Android and computer has the exact steps.
What to look for in the result
- The final domain. Read the part just before the first single
/. Inhttps://secure-login.paypa1-help.com/verifythe real website ispaypa1-help.com, not PayPal. - Brand names in the wrong place. A bank or delivery company's name in a subdomain or the path, on someone else's domain, is a classic phishing pattern.
- Very new websites. A site registered days ago that claims to be a long-established company deserves suspicion.
- Too many hops. Two or three redirects are normal for marketing links. Long chains that bounce through unrelated sites are a warning sign.
- Downloads. If the final step is a file such as an
.apkor.exerather than a web page, don't open it unless you trust the source.
Our guide to reading link check results explains each part of the LinkCheckNow result in detail.
Why short links aren't bad in themselves
Plenty of legitimate businesses, schools and government offices use short links, and a short link with a clean destination is fine to open. The point of checking is to replace a guess with a fact. A few seconds with an expander tells you whether "your parcel is waiting" really leads to Canada Post or to a look-alike site.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to paste a suspicious link into a link expander?
Yes, with ours. The link is followed by our server, so the destination page never loads on your device, and we don't store the links you check.
Can a short link change where it goes later?
Yes. The owner of a short link can often change its destination after it is shared. Check a short link when you are about to use it, not days earlier.
Why does the expander show several steps?
Marketing links often pass through tracking or analytics services before the final page. Each step is a redirect. A few steps are normal; many steps through unrelated sites deserve caution.
Can I check a short link inside a QR code?
Yes. Use our QR Code Link Checker to read the code from a photo, then check the link it contains without opening it.