URL Unshortener — Check Short Link Destinations

Short links are convenient, but they hide the destination. That opacity creates a security risk: you cannot tell if a bit.ly link leads to a legitimate website or a phishing page. y.hn's URL unshortener resolves any short URL and reveals the full destination address without actually visiting the page, keeping you safe from malicious content.

The unshortening process works by following the redirect chain server-side. Our tool sends a HEAD request to the short URL, follows each 301/302 redirect, and reports back the final destination along with every intermediate step. This reveals not just where the link ends up, but also any tracking redirects or intermediary domains in the chain — useful for identifying link hijacking or ad injection.

Use the y.hn URL unshortener as a quick security check before clicking any suspicious short link you receive in emails, messages, or social media. It works with all major shortening services and is completely free with no account required. For developers needing to unshorten URLs programmatically, our API supports batch unshortening.

Key Features

Unshorten any short URL
Full redirect chain revealed
Server-side — safe for you
Works with all shortening services
Free with no sign-up
Shows intermediate redirects
HTTP status codes displayed
API for batch unshortening

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "unshorten" mean?
Unshortening is the process of resolving a short URL to its full original destination. For example, unshortening a bit.ly link reveals the actual website address it redirects to, such as https://example.com/long-path.
Is it safe to unshorten URLs?
Yes. y.hn unshortens links server-side, meaning your browser never visits the destination. You see the full URL without any risk of encountering malicious content.
Which short URL services are supported?
All of them. y.hn can unshorten links from bit.ly, TinyURL, t.co, goo.gl, ow.ly, is.gd, rebrand.ly, short.io, and any other service that uses HTTP redirects.
How is this different from the link expander tool?
They are the same tool with different names. "URL unshortener" and "URL expander" both describe the process of revealing where a short link leads. We offer both pages so you can find the tool regardless of which term you search for.

Ready to get started?

Join thousands of users who trust y.hn for the shortest, most trackable links.

Unshorten a URL