Link Expiry: How to Set Expiration Dates on Short Links

· Features · 3 min read

Set expiration dates on short links so they stop redirecting after a deadline. Perfect for flash sales, event registrations, and time-sensitive campaigns.

Some links should stop working after a certain date. A flash sale that ends Sunday, an event registration that closes Friday, an offer available only to early subscribers — these all benefit from a link that expires automatically.

What Is Link Expiry?

Link expiry lets you set a specific date and time after which a short link stops redirecting. Once expired, visitors who click the link see a friendly "link expired" message instead of being sent to the destination.

When to Use Expiring Links

  • Flash sales and limited-time offers — the link stops working when the sale ends, so you don't have to manually disable it.
  • Event registrations — expire the link when registration closes so late arrivals see a clear message.
  • Seasonal promotions — automatically retire campaign links after the season ends.
  • Limited access downloads — share a download link that expires after a set period.
  • Time-sensitive announcements — a press release or update that is only relevant for a window of time.

How to Set a Link Expiry Date with Alias

  1. Sign in to your Alias dashboard.
  2. Create a new link or edit an existing one.
  3. Open the "Link expiry" field and pick a date and time.
  4. Save the link — it will redirect until the expiry date, then stop automatically.

Expiry vs. Manually Deleting a Link

Deleting a link removes it entirely — anyone who clicks it sees a 404. Expiring a link keeps it in your dashboard and shows a clear "expired" message to visitors. Expiry is cleaner for end users and better for you because the link still appears in your analytics history.

Combine Expiry with Analytics

Even after a link expires, its click data stays in your Alias dashboard. You can review how many clicks a campaign generated and when the traffic peaked — useful for planning future campaigns.

Create an expiring link for free