How short links work
A short link consists of a domain and a code, for example https://clk.ms/sale-2026. The destination is the address to which the service redirects a visitor. Changing an existing link’s destination lets you update a campaign page while keeping the short URL you have already published.
A link can have an expiry date, a start time, a click limit, a password, email verification, referrer restrictions, intermediate pages, UTM parameters and destination rules. These settings serve different purposes and can be used together.
A link without an expiry date has no scheduled end date. This does not mean an HTTP 301 redirect or a promise to store the link forever. Click limits, access restrictions and service rules still apply. Links may be deleted after three years without a click.
Identifier — the part of the address after /. In the interface, it is also referred to as "your identifier." Only Latin letters A–Z, a–z, numbers, hyphen, and underscore are allowed for a personal identifier; length — from 3 to 100 characters. For example, sale-2026 is allowed, but продажи-2026 and sale 2026 are not. Uppercase and lowercase Latin letters are distinguished. Reserved names, such as help, account, and api, cannot be taken.
Creating and looking up links
• Open main page. To manage the link later, first log in to your account.
• Paste the target URL into the «Full URL» field. For a regular site, use the full address, for example https://example.com/catalog?category=books.
• If you are inserting an address without a scheme, select the protocol on the left. If the scheme is already specified in the address itself, it is used.
• If necessary, set the start time, duration, limit, custom ID, password and additional restrictions.
• Click the scissors button. Wait for the result or error message.
• Copy the short address using the button next to the result. In a supported browser, you can open the «Share» system menu; Available applications are determined by the device.
• Open the address in a separate window and check the actual click on the link. Such a click on a link is counted as a real click if the link successfully passes the visitor.
The result may include the destination, expiry and click information, a QR code and download controls. Available options depend on the link type and service settings. Wait for a successful result before publishing; an error or a pending review is not a ready-to-use link.
Entering a short URL from this service switches the form to lookup mode, with a ? button. Lookup displays the available link information without visiting the destination. Public lookup hides the destination when a link has a password, email/OTP or referrer restrictions, or has not yet passed review.
Shortening the same URL again with compatible, matching settings may return an existing link. Creating a link therefore does not always produce a new code or a separate counter. Use different UTM parameters or custom codes when you need to measure channels separately.
Supported addresses
Scheme — Destination https, http — Web page ftp, ftps, sftp — Resource of the corresponding file protocol mailto — Creating a letter in the mail application tel, sms — Call or message on a supported device webcal — Calendar subscription magnet — Opening a magnet link in a compatible app
The presence of a scheme in this list means that the address is supported by the shortener. To open it on the visitor's device, you need a suitable application. javascript:, data:, ws: and wss: are not accepted. You cannot shorten the address of the service itself or its subdomains when creating a chain to it. The default destination URL length is limited to 2048 characters; the actual limit can be configured by the service.
Duration, start time and number of clicks on the link
Field — How to use Start time UTC — Until this point, the visitor will see a message stating that the link is not yet working. An empty field means start immediately. Expires at — The moment when a regular click on a link stops. For no date, enable «Permanent». Click limit — An integer from 1 to 1,000,000. Enable «Unlimited clicks» to remove the limit. Backup URL after expiration or limit — An address that opens instead of a completed offer, for example, the “Promotion has ended” page. HTTP redirect status — 302 default; 301, 307, 308 are also supported.
Enter all fields labelled UTC in UTC, converting from local time when necessary. For example, if your current offset is UTC+3, 12:00 UTC is 15:00 locally. The offset can be different on another date.
301 and 308 indicate a permanent redirect, which browsers and intermediaries may cache. 302 is usually more convenient for campaigns whose destination can change. 307 and 308 preserve the request method when redirecting. These status codes do not change how long the service stores a link.
When the fallback URL is used after expiry or after the click limit is reached, that visit no longer increments the link’s normal click counter. The fallback does not override other causes of unavailability, such as moderation rejection or a frozen owner account. It cannot work after the short link itself has been deleted.