Google Discover might let you skip link shorteners

Google Discover could soon give users the option to turn off automatic link shortening when sharing articles. This change, spotted in the latest beta version of the Google app for Android (16.23.69.ve.arm64), aims to make sharing simpler and more transparent. Right now, when you share a story from Google Discover, it automatically shortens the URL using Google’s tools, like search.app or share.google.

These short links hide the original website’s address, which some users find confusing or less trustworthy. While these links still show rich previews with images and descriptions, not everyone likes them. Some people worry about Google tracking clicks, or prefer seeing the full URL to know exactly where the link goes. The new toggle, though not fully working yet, was found in the app’s settings. It’s labeled to let users choose between sharing the full, original URL or the shortened version.

This is a step toward giving users more control, which feels like how Google should have rolled out link shortening in the first place—optional, not forced. This update follows Google’s earlier move this year to start shortening Discover links, which sparked some pushback.

Users wanted clarity over where links lead without relying on Google’s shorteners. If this toggle becomes official, it could fix those concerns, letting you share links the way you want. For now, we’re waiting to see if Google fully rolls it out. What do you think about this change? Share your thoughts.