Google has decided not to discontinue support for all goo.gl shortened URLs created via the Google URL Shortener service, marking a surprising turn of events.

On August 1, the company announced that these links would remain active and function as before, without any prior notice regarding deactivation. Google explains that many of these links are embedded in various documents, videos, and posts, prompting the change based on user feedback.

Last July, Google revealed plans to deactivate all goo.gl links by August 25, 2025, citing a decrease in their usage. According to the company, over 99% of such URLs had no traffic in recent times.

However, the company is now revising its plans: only those links that have had no activity since the beginning of 2024 will be deactivated. All other links that continue to receive clicks will remain accessible.