Migrate from Google URL Shortener to Flyn
goo.gl is discontinued, recreate your short links in Flyn and get unlimited links, custom domains, and analytics goo.gl never had
Last updated: April 2026
Pre-Migration Checklist
Complete these steps before starting the migration to ensure a smooth transition.
- 1Compile a list of your goo.gl short links and the destination URL each one pointed to (the original codes are not needed, only the destinations)
- 2Check which goo.gl links still redirect and which now 404, so you know what must be recreated from your own records
- 3Audit where your goo.gl links are published (docs, emails, social bios, printed QR codes) so you can swap them later
- 4Ensure your Flyn account is on the right plan for your link volume
- 5Notify your team that goo.gl links are being replaced with Flyn links
Step 1: Export from Google URL Shortener
First, export your existing links from Google URL Shortener so you can import them into Flyn.
Understand that goo.gl is shut down
Google stopped creating goo.gl links in 2018, and on August 25, 2025 deactivated links that were inactive in late 2024, those now return a 404. The original short links cannot be exported from a live console or transferred, so migration means recreating your links in Flyn.
Gather your goo.gl links and destinations
Collect a list of your old goo.gl short links and the long destination URL each one pointed to. Good sources: a spreadsheet you kept, an old goo.gl analytics CSV export (if you saved one before 2019), links embedded in your docs, emails, or printed QR codes, or your browser history.
Recover any still-resolving links
For goo.gl links that still redirect (active links and some Google-app links were preserved), open each one and note where it lands, that is the destination you will recreate in Flyn. For dead links that 404, use your own records to find the original destination.
Build a simple CSV
Put your destinations in a CSV with a column for the long URL and, optionally, a desired slug and a label/tag. This is all Flyn needs to recreate working short links, you do not need the old goo.gl codes themselves.
Step 2: Import into Flyn
Upload your exported links into Flyn. The import wizard auto-maps columns and preserves your slugs.
Create a Flyn account
Sign up at flyn.to/signup, no credit card required. Free accounts can import up to 25 links.
Go to Dashboard > Import
Open the Flyn dashboard and click the "Import" button in the top navigation.
Upload your Google URL Shortener CSV
Drag and drop the CSV of destinations you assembled, or click to browse. Flyn auto-maps your columns (long_url, slug, tags) to the correct fields. You can also add links one by one in the dashboard if your list is short.
Review and confirm
Preview the new links. Flyn applies your chosen slugs and destination URLs and gives each link rich analytics from the first click. Click "Import All" to finalize.
Step 3: Domain & DNS Migration
Point your custom domain to Flyn so existing short links keep working seamlessly.
Decide on a custom short domain
goo.gl links lived on Google’s shared domain, which you never controlled. With Flyn you can use your own branded short domain (e.g., go.yourcompany.com) so your links never depend on someone else’s product lifecycle again.
Point the CNAME at Flyn
In your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.), add or update the CNAME record for your short domain to point to link.flyn.to.
Add your domain in Flyn
In the Flyn dashboard, go to Settings > Domains > Add Domain. Enter your branded short domain and click Verify.
Wait for DNS propagation
DNS changes typically propagate within 5-30 minutes. Flyn will show a green checkmark once the domain is verified, and your new links will resolve on your own domain.
DNS Record Summary
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CNAME | CNAME |
| Host | go (or your subdomain) | go (no change) |
| Target | goo.gl | link.flyn.to |
What Transfers
Here is what carries over from Google URL Shortener to Flyn and what needs to be reconfigured.
| Item | Transfers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Destination URLs | Recreate | You re-enter the long URLs, they become brand-new Flyn links |
| goo.gl short codes | goo.gl is shut down, original codes cannot be transferred or revived | |
| Custom slugs | Recreate | Choose new slugs in Flyn (goo.gl never allowed custom slugs) |
| Custom domains | New | goo.gl had none, add your own and point CNAME to link.flyn.to |
| Click analytics | goo.gl analytics ended with the service, new clicks tracked in Flyn | |
| QR codes | Regenerate | Old goo.gl QR codes point to dead links, regenerate free in Flyn |
| Inactive goo.gl links | Deactivated Aug 25, 2025 (404), recreate from your own records |
Post-Migration Verification
After completing the migration, work through this checklist to verify everything is working.
- Verify 5-10 of your new Flyn links resolve to the correct destinations
- If you added a custom domain, confirm it shows a green checkmark in the Flyn dashboard
- Check that new clicks are appearing in Flyn analytics
- Regenerate any QR codes, old goo.gl QR codes point to dead links
- Replace published goo.gl links (docs, emails, social, print) with the new Flyn links
- Set up redirects from any goo.gl links you embedded on pages you control
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them.
My old goo.gl link returns a 404
That link was inactive in late 2024 and Google deactivated it on August 25, 2025. It cannot be revived. Find the original destination from your own records (spreadsheet, docs, email) and recreate it as a new link in Flyn.
I cannot create a new goo.gl link to compare
goo.gl stopped accepting new links in 2018 and the service is shut down. There is no way to create one. Create the equivalent short link in Flyn instead; it works immediately and includes analytics goo.gl never offered.
A goo.gl link still works but I want it in Flyn
Some active links (including some Google-app links) were preserved. Open the link, note where it redirects, and recreate that destination in Flyn. Then update wherever the old link is published to point to the new Flyn link.
CSV import showing mapping errors
Ensure your CSV uses UTF-8 encoding and has a clear column for the long destination URL. Use the manual column mapping in the Flyn import wizard to match long_url, slug, and tags fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I migrate from Google URL Shortener to Flyn?
Because goo.gl is discontinued, you recreate rather than transfer. Gather your old short links and their destinations, sign up at flyn.to/signup, and import or re-add them in Flyn. You get fresh working links with far richer analytics, and you can put them on your own custom domain.
Can I transfer my actual goo.gl short links to Flyn?
No, the goo.gl service is shut down, so the original short codes cannot be transferred or revived. You recreate the links in Flyn using the destination URLs they pointed to. The new Flyn links work immediately and include analytics goo.gl never had.
My goo.gl links return 404, can I get them back?
Not through Google. Links inactive in late 2024 were deactivated on August 25, 2025 and cannot be restored. If you still know the original destination, recreate the link in Flyn and update wherever it was published.
Do my goo.gl analytics transfer to Flyn?
No. goo.gl’s click data ended with the service and was never portable. Once you create links in Flyn, all new clicks are tracked with richer data, real-time streams, city-level geo, device breakdowns, and referrers.
Will my old goo.gl links keep working during migration?
Some active goo.gl links were preserved and still redirect; inactive ones now 404. Either way, your new Flyn links are independent and work the moment you create them, so there is no downtime on the Flyn side, just swap the old links wherever you published them.
Is there a limit on how many links I can import?
Free accounts can import up to 25 links. Flyn Pro supports unlimited link imports, there is no cap on CSV size or API bulk creation.
How do I stop depending on a service that might shut down again?
Use your own custom domain in Flyn (e.g., go.yourcompany.com). Because you control the domain, your short links are portable and never disappear with a third party’s product sunset the way goo.gl did.
Ready to Migrate from Google URL Shortener?
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