Google Maps is the most widely used navigation tool in the world, and sharing a location is a daily task for millions of people. The problem is that Google Maps URLs are among the longest and most unwieldy links you will encounter on the web. A link to a single restaurant can easily run to 200 characters, filled with coordinates, parameters, and encoded search terms that make it impossible to share cleanly in a text message or WhatsApp chat.
This guide explains exactly why Maps URLs are so long, how to shorten them in under a minute, and where a short Maps link is most useful.
Why Google Maps URLs Are So Long
A typical Google Maps URL for a business looks something like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Taj+Mahal/@27.1751448,78.0399535,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x39747121d702ff6d:0xdd2ae4803f767dde!8m2!3d27.1751448!4d78.0421422!16zL20vMGZueXk?entry=ttu
That URL is 248 characters. It encodes the place name, latitude and longitude coordinates, zoom level, map data layers, a business identifier, and various other parameters Google uses to reconstruct the exact map view. None of these components can simply be removed — without them, the link either breaks or opens a generic map rather than the specific location.
Google does provide a short Maps link format (maps.app.goo.gl) through the Share function in the Maps app, but this only works for locations — not for directions, custom map views, or specific zoom levels. For anything more complex, a third-party URL shortener gives you a reliable, permanent short link.
How to Shorten a Google Maps Link — Step by Step
- Open Google Maps in your browser. Navigate to maps.google.com and find the location, business, or route you want to share.
- Copy the URL. Click the address bar at the top of your browser — the full Maps URL is selected automatically. Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac) to copy it.
- Go to clkr.me. Open a new browser tab and navigate to clkr.me.
- Paste your Maps URL. Click the input field and paste the URL. The full link — however long — is accepted.
- Click Shorten. Your 6-character short link is generated in under a second.
- Copy and share. Click the Copy button and share your short link wherever needed.
Result: A URL like the one above — 248 characters — becomes clkr.me/ab3x9z — 14 characters. Anyone who clicks it is taken directly to the same location on Google Maps.
How to Get a Google Maps URL on Mobile
Getting the full Maps URL on a phone requires a slightly different approach than on desktop, because the Maps app does not show a URL in the same way a browser does.
Method 1 — Use the Share Button in the Maps App
Open Google Maps on your phone, navigate to the location or business, and tap the Share button (the arrow icon on iOS or the share icon on Android). From the share sheet, select Copy Link. This copies a maps.app.goo.gl short link that you can paste directly into clkr.me for further shortening, or share as-is.
Method 2 — Open Maps in Your Mobile Browser
Open Chrome or Safari on your phone, go to maps.google.com, and search for the location. The full URL appears in the browser's address bar. Tap it to select it, then copy. This gives you the complete URL that you can then shorten with clkr.me.
| Method | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Maps app Share button | maps.app.goo.gl short link | Single locations and businesses |
| Browser address bar (mobile) | Full google.com/maps URL | Directions, custom views, routes |
| Desktop browser address bar | Full google.com/maps URL | Any Maps content |
| Any method + clkr.me | clkr.me/xxxxxx short link | Clean sharing anywhere |
Where Short Google Maps Links Are Most Useful
A shortened Maps URL is significantly more practical than the full link in the following situations:
WhatsApp and Telegram
When you send a location link in WhatsApp, the app generates a preview card showing a map thumbnail. This preview is generated from the destination URL regardless of whether you share a short or full link. The advantage of shortening is that the link text in the chat is clean and single-line rather than a paragraph of encoded characters.
SMS and Text Messages
Standard SMS messages have a 160-character limit. A full Google Maps URL at 200 or 300 characters would need to be split across multiple messages, which can arrive out of order and break the link. A 14-character clkr.me link fits in any single SMS with room for a message alongside it.
Printed Materials
Business cards, flyers, event programmes, and menus sometimes include a "find us" URL. Printing a full Google Maps URL on a business card is impractical — it would take up the entire card and no one would type it out manually. A short link like clkr.me/abcxyz is practical to print and easy to type.
QR Codes
QR codes generated from shorter URLs contain less data, which means a simpler, denser-free pattern that scans more reliably, especially at small print sizes. A clkr.me short link produces a QR code that works well even at business-card size.
Email Signatures
Many professionals include their office or shop location in their email signature. A full Maps URL breaks across multiple lines and looks cluttered. A short link stays on one line and looks intentional.
Google Maps for Business Listings
If you manage a Google Business Profile, your listing has a unique Maps URL that you will want to share with customers — for reviews, for directions, and for general discovery. These business profile URLs are long and often contain a place ID string.
Shortening your Google Business Profile URL with clkr.me gives you a clean link you can place on:
- Your website's Contact or About page
- Your Instagram bio (where only one link is allowed)
- Printed business cards and menus
- WhatsApp Business automated messages
- Email newsletters and promotional materials
The short link redirects customers directly to your Google Maps listing where they can get directions, see your hours, and leave a review — all from one clean URL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shorten a Google Maps URL?
Yes. Google Maps URLs are standard https:// links and work with clkr.me like any other URL. Paste the full Maps URL into clkr.me and click Shorten to get a 6-character short link.
Why are Google Maps URLs so long?
Google Maps URLs encode coordinates, zoom levels, map layers, place identifiers, and view parameters. All of these are needed to reconstruct the exact map view — which is why the URLs are so long.
Does the short Google Maps link still open in the Maps app?
Yes. The short link redirects to the full Google Maps URL, which then opens in the Maps app on mobile or the Maps website on desktop — behaving identically to the original link.
How do I share a Google Maps location on WhatsApp without a long link?
Open Google Maps, find your location, tap Share, copy the link, then paste it into clkr.me. Copy your short link and paste it into WhatsApp. The recipient gets a clean link that opens the correct location in Maps.
Will the short Maps link work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. The redirect works on all devices and browsers. The Maps app on each platform is opened automatically by the operating system when a Maps URL is detected.
