How to Shorten Links Instantly with the Alias Browser Extension
· Guides · 4 min read
The Alias extension for Chrome and Edge lets you shorten any page or link with a right-click — no tab switching, no copy-pasting URLs. Here's how it works.
Every time you want to share a link, the usual workflow is: copy the URL, open a new tab, go to a shortener site, paste, click, copy the result, close the tab. The Alias browser extension cuts all of that to a single right-click.
What the Extension Does
- Right-click any page or hyperlink to shorten it instantly from the context menu.
- The short URL is copied to your clipboard automatically — no extra steps.
- Works in guest mode with no account or setup required.
- Connect your Alias account for custom slugs and to save links to your dashboard.
- Recent links are stored locally so you can copy them again without re-shortening.
- Available for Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
How to Install
- Download the extension from the Chrome Web Store (search "Alias URL Shortener") or from the GitHub releases page.
- Click "Add to Chrome" (works for Edge too).
- The Alias icon appears in your toolbar. The extension is ready to use immediately — no setup needed.
Guest Mode vs Connected Account
In guest mode, the extension creates random short links using the public API — no login needed. If you connect your Alias account by entering your API key in the extension settings, you get custom slug support, and every link you shorten is saved to your Alias dashboard with full analytics.
Shortening from the Popup
Click the Alias icon in the toolbar to open the popup. Paste any URL and click Shorten, or browse your 5 most recent short links to copy them again. The popup also gives access to Settings where you connect your API key.
Privacy
The extension only reads the URL of the active page when you explicitly trigger shortening — it does not monitor your browsing or read page content. Your API key is stored locally in Chrome's storage and is never sent anywhere other than the Alias API.