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Docs for Flare v2.1.0Latest stable · 10d28125Build details ↗Versions & changes
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Short links ​

Flare's Links page turns a long web address into a short redirect under your instance's domain. A short link sends visitors to its original destination; it does not copy or host that destination's content.

Create and manage redirects alongside your uploaded files.
Short links page with a URL input and existing links table

Create and manage redirects alongside your uploaded files.

  1. Open Links in the navigation.
  2. Paste a complete web address into URL to shorten, starting with https:// or http://.
  3. Choose Shorten.
  4. Use Copy link or Open in the result.

Flare generates a unique six-character code. A result looks like:

text
https://files.example.com/u/aB3xY9

The dashboard does not offer a custom short code. Your account's vanity URL setting affects uploaded-file URLs, not the generated /u/… path.

Copy the new link directly, or open it to check the destination.
A newly created short link with copy and open controls

Copy the new link directly, or open it to check the destination.

The table shows the short link, original destination, clicks, creation date, and available actions. Newer links appear first. On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally to reach every column.

Use the row's copy action to share an existing link, or open it to confirm where it leads. If clipboard access fails, select the link and copy it manually.

To stop a redirect, choose its delete action and confirm. The generated short URL then stops resolving through Flare. Deleting the short link does not remove the original webpage or prevent someone using its full address.

There is no destination editor or scheduled expiration in this interface. Create a new short link for a changed destination and remove the old link if it should no longer work.

Understand clicks ​

The click count increments when the redirect route is requested. It is not a count of unique people. Opening your own link, repeated visits, and services that fetch links can contribute to activity.

Use the count as an indication that a link is being followed. Flare does not show a per-person analytics report on this page.

A short redirect is public to anyone who knows it. It has no separate password or private setting. The destination keeps its own access controls: shortening a private Flare file URL does not make that file public, and shortening a protected file URL does not remove its password.

The destination URL is revealed when the browser redirects. Shortening is a convenience, not a way to hide a sensitive address or make an unsafe destination safe.

For a custom integration, use a named API token with urls:write to create or delete links and urls:read to list them. These scopes are separate from file-upload permissions.

Troubleshooting ​

ProblemNext step
Address rejectedInclude the full https:// or http:// address and check for spaces or malformed characters.
Link goes to the wrong pageCheck the original URL in the table. Create a replacement if it was entered incorrectly.
Short link no longer opensCheck that it still exists and that the instance's domain is reachable.
Short link opens a destination errorThe redirect may be working while the target page is unavailable or requires sign-in. Test the original URL.
Your list fails to loadUse the retry control or reload after checking your connection. A load failure is not a successful deletion.