URL Expander & Redirect Tracer
Reveal where any shortened or suspicious link actually leads
Paste any shortened URL (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co, etc.) or suspicious link below. We'll follow every redirect server-side — safely — and show you the final destination before you ever click.
Why Expand URLs Before Clicking?
URL shorteners like bit.ly, tinyurl.com, and t.co obscure the true destination of a link. Cybercriminals exploit this to disguise phishing pages, malware downloads, and fraudulent websites. A link that appears to point to a bank, government agency, or tech company may actually redirect to an attacker-controlled server.
How the URL Expander Works
Our server makes a HEAD request to the shortened URL and follows every redirect server-side — your browser never contacts the destination. We capture the HTTP status code at each hop (3xx redirects, 2xx final destinations) and display the complete chain. You see exactly where the link goes before deciding whether to click.
Common Shortened URL Phishing Patterns
Watch for redirect chains that pass through multiple obscure domains, chains ending on domains registered very recently, URLs containing login pages for major brands on non-official domains, and final destinations that differ significantly from what the sender claimed.