Uncover the Destination: How to See Where a TinyURL Leads

Understanding TinyURL Link Previews

Shortened URLs, often from services like tinyurl.com, are frequently encountered online – in comments, blog posts, and particularly on platforms like Twitter.

However, clicking on these shortened links can sometimes feel risky, as the final destination isn't immediately apparent.

Utilizing the TinyURL Preview Feature

TinyURL.com offers a built-in feature that allows users to view a preview of the actual URL before being redirected.

Importantly, this functionality doesn't require any account login; it simply utilizes a cookie stored in your web browser.

To activate this preview capability, navigate to the TinyURL website and click the link labeled "Click here to enable previews."

Following this, when you click a TinyURL link, such as http://tinyurl.com/2tqueo, you will be directed to a TinyURL page displaying the full destination URL.

Ensuring Previews for Recipients

If you want to guarantee that recipients of your links also see the preview screen, even if they haven't enabled the setting themselves, a simple modification can be made.

By adding "preview." before the domain name, you can force the preview to appear.

For example, http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tqueo will always display the preview, even on devices without the preview cookie enabled.

This method is also useful for accessing TinyURL links on computers where the preview feature hasn't been activated.

This TinyURL preview functionality is a valuable tool for enhancing online safety and transparency when encountering shortened links.