Unshorten any short URL — see the real destination
Free URL expander for Bitly, TinyURL, Dub.co, Short.io, Rebrandly, and any other shortener. Reveal the full destination before you click — no signup, no tracking.
Paste any short link to expand it:
Choose a URL Shortener to Inspect
Each page provides a dedicated checker tailored to that service, with tips on how to identify and verify those specific short links.
How to unshorten a URL — in 3 steps
No software install. No browser extension. No account. Paste, reveal, decide.
Paste the short URL
Copy any short link from email, social media, or a message and paste it into the checker — Bitly, TinyURL, Dub.co, Short.io, Rebrandly, clik.so, or any custom shortener.
We follow the redirects
Our server-side resolver follows every HTTP 301/302 redirect hop in real time, including chained redirects, until it reaches the final destination.
See the real destination
You get the full, unshortened URL instantly — copy it, open it in a new tab, or decide it is unsafe and skip it. We never store the URLs you check.
Why you should always check a short URL before clicking
Shortened links are convenient for sharing — and convenient for hiding the real destination. Here is when expanding the URL first makes a real difference.
Phishing & scam protection
Cybercriminals routinely disguise malicious links behind shorteners in emails, SMS, and DMs. A harmless-looking bit.ly URL can redirect to a credential-stealing page. Revealing the destination first protects you and your team.
Privacy & tracking awareness
Many short links carry UTM tracking parameters or pass your IP to third-party analytics. Expanding the URL lets you see exactly what data collection might happen before you visit.
Verify shared links at work
When a colleague shares a short link in a Slack message, presentation, or doc, expanding it confirms it points to the right resource — not an outdated draft, broken file, or stale campaign.
Social media due diligence
X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook auto-shorten outbound links. Checking the real destination before clicking a post from an unfamiliar account takes seconds and prevents account takeovers.
Supported URL shorteners
Our universal checker resolves redirects from every major shortener. For service-specific guidance and tips, use the dedicated pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about unshortening URLs and using this tool safely.
How do I unshorten a URL for free?
Paste the short URL into the checker at the top of this page and click "Reveal URL". Our tool follows the redirect chain and instantly shows the real destination. There is no signup, no rate limit for normal use, and no tracking — just the expanded URL.
What is a URL expander?
A URL expander is a tool that takes a shortened link (like bit.ly/abc123) and reveals the original, full-length destination URL. It does this by following the same HTTP redirects your browser would follow, but without actually loading the destination page — so you stay safe even if the link is malicious.
Is this URL reveal tool safe to use?
Yes. We resolve redirects on our servers using a HEAD request when possible — your browser never connects to the destination, so you are not exposed to drive-by downloads, tracking pixels, or fingerprinting. We do not store the URLs you check or associate them with your account.
Why should I check a short URL before clicking?
Short links hide the real destination, and attackers exploit this to disguise phishing pages, malware downloads, and spam. Verifying the destination first lets you make an informed decision — especially for links from email, SMS, social media DMs, and unknown senders.
Does this tool work for all URL shorteners?
Yes. The universal checker on this page works for any short URL that uses standard HTTP (server-side) redirects — Bitly, TinyURL, Dub.co, Short.io, Rebrandly, t.co, goo.gl archives, custom branded domains, and many more. Use the dedicated pages for tailored guidance on a specific service.
Can I unshorten a Bitly, TinyURL, or Dub.co link here?
Absolutely. We have dedicated checkers for Bitly (bit.ly), TinyURL, Dub.co (dub.sh), Short.io, Rebrandly (rebrand.ly), and clik.so links — each with service-specific tips for spotting fakes, identifying branded domains, and understanding how that platform structures its short URLs.
Are there short links this tool cannot reveal?
A few. Links that redirect with JavaScript (rather than HTTP), require a login or cookie, or use anti-bot rate limiting may not resolve server-side. The tool will tell you if that is the case so you can decide whether to investigate further.
Will the destination website know I checked the link?
Most of the time, no. We send a lightweight HEAD request to follow redirects, so the final destination typically does not record a real page view. Some shorteners count any request as a click — that is unavoidable for those services.
What is the difference between an unshortener and a URL shortener?
A URL shortener (like clik.so or Bitly) takes a long URL and gives you a short, shareable alias. An unshortener (this tool) does the reverse — it takes a short URL and reveals the long destination. They are complementary: shorteners help you share links, unshorteners help you verify them.
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