How It Works

Shortening a URL Has Never Been This Easy

When I first launched uitly, I made sure that even my 60-year-old uncle who uses a basic Android phone could figure it out without asking anyone for help. That is the bar uitly is built to meet.

Here is exactly how uitly works — step by step.

Step 1: Copy Your Long URL

Open the website or app that has the link you want to shorten. It can be a YouTube video, a product page on Amazon or Flipkart, a Google Form, a Google Drive file, a blog post, a news article — literally any URL.

Select the full URL from the address bar and copy it. On mobile, tap the address bar and use ‘Select All’ then ‘Copy’.

Step 2: Paste It Into uitly

Go to uitly.link. You will see a large input box right on the homepage — you cannot miss it. Paste your copied URL into that box. That is it. No account login. No email verification. No CAPTCHA to solve.

Step 3: Choose a Custom Alias (Optional but Recommended)

This is where uitly gets interesting. Below the URL box, you will see an option to type your own custom alias. This means instead of getting a random link like uitly.link/x7k2p, you can get something like uitly.link/myshop or uitly.link/resumepdf or uitly.link/class10notes.

Honestly, this is my favourite feature of uitly. A custom alias makes your link look professional and trustworthy. People are more likely to click a link they can read and understand.

Custom aliases are given on a first-come, first-served basis. If someone has already taken the alias you want, uitly will let you know and suggest alternatives.

Step 4: Click the Shorten Button

Click the big ‘Shorten’ button. Within one second, your new short uitly link appears on the screen. You will also see a free QR code generated automatically for your link.

Step 5: Copy Your Short Link or Download the QR Code

Click the Copy button next to your short link. Paste it anywhere — WhatsApp, Instagram bio, email, SMS, or a document.

To use the QR code, click the Download button. The QR code saves as an image file to your phone or computer. You can print it, add it to a poster, put it on a business card, or share it on social media.

Common Mistake to Avoid

One thing I notice people do wrong is they copy a URL from a search result page instead of the actual destination page. For example, they copy the Google search results URL instead of the actual article URL. The short link will work, but it will take people to the search results — not to what you intended. Always make sure you are on the actual page you want to share before copying the URL.

Frequently Asked Questions About How uitly Works