When sharing a URL from the Google app on Android, Search and Discover automatically applies a link shortener. Google now offers a setting to turn this off.
Previously, if you want to share a page you open from Google Search results or the Discover feed, the URL would get shortened to share.google.com/abcxyz.
You can now turn off that link shortener so the Google app’s Chrome Custom Tab gives you the original URL when tapping the share button in the top-right corner.
This setting does not apply to Google Discover links that you share directly from the feed and haven’t opened yet. They remain search.app links in what is hopefully an oversight.
Old vs. new
Open the Google app and tap your profile avatar for Settings. Under “Other settings,” there’s a new “Shorten links to web pages: Links you share to pages will be automatically shortened” toggle. It’s automatically enabled in an unfortunate default behavior.
We’re seeing this new setting rolled out on both the stable (16.23) and beta Google app today.
More on Google app:
- Google app going edge-to-edge for Discover feed
- Google rolling out Search widget redesign on Android
- New Google ‘G’ logo comes to favicon, Search widget with Dynamic Color, more
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