Check where a short link goes before you click it. Uncover hidden URLs, verify safety, and inspect redirect chains instantly.
Enter any URL (e.g., bit.ly, tinyurl) or short code to see the final destination.
Final Destination URL
A redirect is a way of automatically transferring you from one webpage to another without any user interaction. Not all links lead directly to their destination; some take a detour through one or more intermediate servers.
Redirects are often used in social media with short links where you do not want the link to take up too much space compared to the accompanying text. For example, a short link like https://t.ly/w1lT might automatically redirect you to a much longer URL like https://www.example.com/a-very-long-page-name.
While social media is one use case, there are many possibilities. For example, example.com/tv could redirect to https://www.example.com/promos/exclusive-tv-only-deal. Using short and memorable URLs in offline advertising makes it easy for customers to find your page while allowing you to track visit statistics and verify marketing campaign performance.
There are many reasons for wanting to check the redirection flow before visiting a link, including:
Often redirects do not go straight to the final page but take steps along the way. Each intermediate site in this chain can track your behavior and set cookies. This is common in affiliate marketing where links contain codes to give publishers a portion of revenue. Checking the path reveals who is tracking you.
A redirect chain could take you from a seemingly safe site to a malicious one (e.g., safe-site.com → evil-site.com/virus). Checking URLs for redirects before visiting them can uncover unwanted behavior and keep your device safe.
Web developers use redirect checkers to verify that their site migrations or marketing links are working correctly. It helps identify caching issues or incorrect routing without constantly clearing browser history.
Sometimes Page A redirects to Page B, which redirects back to Page A, causing an endless loop. A checker tool can identify where the loop occurs so it can be fixed.
Multiple chained redirects add overhead and slow down page loads, especially if they involve multiple DNS lookups. Discovering and removing intermediate redirects ensures a faster experience for users.
Checking the redirection steps of a URL is easy. Simply enter the initial URL or domain name into the search box at the top of this page and press the Check Redirect button.
Our tool acts as an intermediary (a "verbose" URL unshortener). It automatically visits the page, detects the redirect type, and follows the path until it reaches the final destination—displaying the full journey to you.
When a webpage redirects, it sends a specific HTTP status code. Here are the most common ones:
The page has moved to a new location forever. Browsers and search engines will update their records to the new URL. This is the preferred method for SEO when moving content.
The page is temporarily located somewhere else. Search engines will keep the original URL in their index. Often used during maintenance.
Similar to a 302, but ensures the method of the request (GET/POST) remains unchanged when redirected.
Copy and paste these links into the tool above to see how it handles different scenarios: