URL ShortenerTinyURL in Chrome: the link now opens through a preview page.
Last updated: October 2, 2026 · By Gallera Studio, maker of a one-click URL shortener for Chrome
Chrome extensions that make TinyURL links without an account use TinyURL’s old public address. TinyURL has retired it. A link made that way today opens a preview page with an ad, and only then goes to your page. Our extension used TinyURL as a second service. We removed it and kept only services that redirect directly.
What changed
- TinyURL announced the retirement of its old link-creation address, which never required an account.
- New links created through it open at an address like
tinyurl.com/preview/…: a preview of the destination, an ad, then the redirect. - Older links keep opening directly.
- Such a link cannot be edited or deleted, because it belongs to no account.
We checked this ourselves on 2 October 2026: a new link made through the old address opened the preview page in Chrome.
If you need a TinyURL link
Use a TinyURL account
Links created inside an account, on the TinyURL site or through its current API, are the supported way. The free plan allows 30 links a month.
Check the link before you send it
Open it in a private window. If you see a preview page, the link was made the old way.
If you only need a short link
Install the extension
Add “URL Shortener — one click, link copied” to Chrome and pin the icon.
Click on any page
The address of the current tab becomes a short link, already in your clipboard. No account.
Paste
The link opens the page straight away. It is made by is.gd, da.gd or spoo.me; none of them shows an ad or a preview page.
Questions
Why does my TinyURL link show a preview page first?
The link was made through TinyURL’s old public address, the one most third-party extensions use. TinyURL has retired that address. Links created through it since then open through a preview page with an ad before going on to the destination.
How do I get a TinyURL link that opens directly?
Create the link in a TinyURL account, on its site or through its current API with an account token. Removing the preview from a link made the old way is offered on paid plans.
Does this extension still make TinyURL links?
No. Since version 1.0.1 it uses is.gd, da.gd and spoo.me, which redirect straight to the page. A short link that shows an ad first is not what the extension is for.
Is this the official TinyURL extension?
No. It is made by Gallera Studio and is not affiliated with TinyURL. TinyURL is a trademark of its owner.
Sources: TinyURL’s blog posts on retiring the old API endpoint and on the preview screen, and our own check on 2 October 2026. Something out of date? Write to hello@gallerastudio.com.
No account, no sign-up, no ads on your links.