Link Unshortener
Link Unshortener is a Mac utility that expands shortened links, removes common tracking elements, and lets you open the final destination URL.
What is Link Unshortener?
Link Unshortener is a native macOS utility for revealing the real destination behind shortened web links before you open them. It follows redirects step by step, strips common tracking parameters, and can remove text fragments so the final URL is cleaner and easier to inspect or share. The app is useful for privacy-conscious users, researchers, and anyone who regularly receives shortened links in email, chat, or the web. It also includes a share extension and a system service, and it can be used as a default browser workflow for opening links after they have been expanded. Link Unshortener is published by Underpass App Company and is designed specifically for Mac users who want more control over where a link actually goes.
Key features
- Expand shortened links to reveal the final destination URL
- Remove common tracking parameters from web addresses
- Strip URL text fragments for cleaner shared links
- Open the resolved link in your preferred browser or app
- Use a share extension from other macOS apps
- Enable a system service for link processing in macOS
- Optionally use it in a default-browser workflow for inspecting links first
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
This app performs network requests to follow redirects and inspect where a link leads, which is normal for its purpose. It may access links you send to it through the share extension, service, or default-browser workflow, so use it for links you intend to inspect. Its link-cleaning options can improve privacy, but aggressive removal of query strings may occasionally break websites that rely on those parameters.
Recommendation: Keep Link Unshortener if you want to preview shortened links, reduce tracking in URLs, or use a privacy-focused link-opening workflow on your Mac. If you do not use it, you can remove it without affecting macOS, though any share extension, service, or default-browser behavior you set up for it will stop working.
Common paths
/Applications/Link Unshortener.app
Preference paths
~/Library/Containers/com.underpassapp.LinkUnshortener/Data/Library/Preferences/com.underpassapp.LinkUnshortener.plist
Container paths
~/Library/Containers/com.underpassapp.LinkUnshortener~/Library/Group Containers/8LT69JF8NZ.com.underpassapp.LinkUnshortener
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