In a recent update, Google has introduced a new feature for its Android app that allows users to disable the automatic shortening of URLs when sharing links from the Google Search results or Discover feed. Previously, any shared link would be transformed into a shortened format, specifically a link to share.google.com/abcxyz, which could be less informative for users.
Now, users can opt out of this automatic shortening feature, ensuring that when they tap the share button in the Chrome Custom Tab, the original URL is displayed instead. This change is expected to enhance user experience by providing clearer and more direct links.
To access this new setting, users can open the Google app and select their profile avatar to navigate to Settings. Under the “Other settings” section, they will find a toggle labeled “Shorten links to web pages: Links you share to pages will be automatically shortened.” This feature is enabled by default, which has drawn some criticism, but users now have the option to turn it off.
It’s important to note that this setting does not apply to links shared directly from the Google Discover feed before they are opened. Those links will continue to appear as search.app links, which may be an oversight in the rollout of this feature.
The update is being rolled out across both the stable version (16.23) and the beta version of the Google app, providing users with greater control over how they share content.
