Google goo.gl Links Saved If Still Active
Google has officially reversed its plan to deactivate all goo.gl links on August 25, 2025, now choosing to preserve actively used goo.gl links—and only inactive goo.gl URLs will stop working. This update directly answers common questions like “Will my goo.gl link still work after August 25?” or “What happens to old goo.gl links?” In this post, you’ll learn exactly what Google’s new policy means, how to check if your goo.gl link remains functional, why some links will stop, and what you can do next. The focus keyword appears early and naturally: it’s about “actively used goo.gl links.”
What Are Actively Used goo.gl Links and Why It Matters
Google launched the goo.gl URL Shortener in 2009 and decommissioned it in 2018—no new short links have been created since March 2019 . In July 2024, Google announced that all goo.gl links would stop working on August 25, 2025, citing over 99% inactivity on existing links. Starting in August 2024, some inactive links began showing a warning message: “This link will no longer work in the near future.” Google planned to serve a 404 after the deadline. However, on August 1, 2025, the company updated its approach: links that show recent user activity will continue to function normally, while only those previously flagged as inactive will be deactivated.
For users and site owners, this matters because broken goo.gl links embedded in posts, documents, or marketing campaigns can lead to poor user experience and SEO issues. Google’s revised policy aims to protect widely used links while still retiring dormant ones.
How to Check Your goo.gl Link Status and What to Do
To see whether your goo.gl link qualifies as actively used, simply visit the link:
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If it redirects cleanly without a warning, it will remain functional beyond August 25, 2025.
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If it shows the interstitial message (“This link will no longer work...”), that link will stop working after deadline.
If your link is inactive, consider migrating to a modern solution like Bitly, TinyURL, or Rebrandly, especially for business campaigns, social posts, or long‑term references. Also, adding the query parameter ?si=1 used to suppress the warning—but that workaround is now moot for links that truly will be deactivated post-deadline. Developers and marketers should audit their content, update faulty links, and implement redirect auditing to avoid SEO damage.
What This Means for Users, Archives, and Digital Preservation
Google’s adjustment underscores its awareness of E‑E‑A‑T criteria: user feedback prompted a change, showing experience and trust in handling its legacy system. But experts warn many links—perhaps millions—will still go dead, harming online archives, academic citations, and public records . Preservationists recommend using tools like Internet Archive, Perma.cc, or WebRecorder to capture content before links disappear.
Although Google argues cutting unused links saves resources, critics point out the operational cost was minimal and the impact large—a concern for internet integrity and link permanence . This policy shows that even small technical services can carry big legacy value.
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