How to use your own private link shortener — in plain English.

1What it is

ShrinkLink turns a long web address into a short one on your own domain, gives it a friendly label, and keeps a private library of every link you make. Nothing is shared with an outside shortener — the links live on your address and in your database, and only you can see your library.

Your app lives at one web address — bookmark it:

2Install it like an app

Optional, but it gives ShrinkLink its own icon and a clean full-screen window.

Android phone

Open the link in Chrome, tap the ⋮ menu, choose Install app (or “Add to Home screen”).

Mac

In Chrome, click the install icon at the right end of the address bar. In Safari, use File → Add to Dock.

3Your account

Sign in once per device. Your links are private to you.

Create your account

First time in, tap Create one, enter your email and a password, tap Create account. You land straight in the app with your email shown at the top.

Sign in later

On any new device, enter the same email and password. That’s the only step — you never paste any keys. A green dot by your email means you’re in.

Forgot your password?

1. Type your email in the Email box first — the reset goes there.
2. Tap the blue Forgot your password? link.
3. Open the reset email on this device (check spam if it’s slow).
4. Enter a new password (6+ characters) and tap Update password.

4Creating a link

Fill in the Create New Link card and tap Shorten & Save (or press Cmd+Enter). Only the URL is required.

The short link is built from your label. “Library” becomes:

It’s short and already reads like the label — which matters most where a link can’t hide behind a name, like text messages.

5Copy formats explained

Every app has its own way of writing “show this word, but link to that address.” The Copy button speaks all the common ones. Tap Copy, pick the format that matches where you’re pasting, then paste.

What each one actually copies

For a link labeled “Library,” here’s the literal text each format puts on your clipboard:

You don’t need to understand those symbols. Each destination app reads its own format and turns it into a clean clickable “Library” — the brackets and arrows disappear.

6Sending a labeled link

Getting just the label depends on where you’re sending it. Here’s the honest guide.

Email on a computer — the reliable way

Works in Gmail, Apple Mail, and Outlook on a Mac or PC every time:

1. In ShrinkLink, tap Copy → Plain URL.
2. In your email, type the word to show, e.g. Library.
3. Double-click that word to select it (it turns blue).
4. Press Cmd+K (Ctrl+K on Windows) — the “add link” shortcut. A box appears.
5. Press Cmd+V to paste the link into that box, then Enter. Done — “Library” is now a clickable link.

What’s Cmd+K vs Cmd+V? Cmd+K means “turn the selected text into a link” and opens a box asking for the address. Cmd+V means “paste” — you use it to drop the copied link into that box. They work together.

The shortcut

Copy → Email / Docs copies the finished labeled link. In an email on a computer, click in the message and press Cmd+V — the label drops in already clickable. (This shortcut is unreliable in phone mail apps, which is why the Cmd+K method above is the dependable one.)

Text messages

Texts have no formatting at all, so a hidden-link label is impossible there — for anyone. The upside: your short link already reads like the label, so linkdr.netlify.app/library in a text is about as clean as it gets. Use Copy → Plain URL or Send → Text message.

7Send menu & QR codes

Each link has a Send button beside Copy. Options depend on your device:

QR codes

Tap the QR icon on any link for a scannable code in your blue branding. Download PNG saves it for a flyer, slide, or business card; Send shares it. Because your links live on your own domain, the code points at your address — it depends on nothing but your own database.

8Clicks, export & help

Click tracking

Every time someone opens a short link — tapped in an email, scanned from a QR — the Clicks column ticks up.

Export CSV

The Export CSV button downloads your whole library (labels, links, categories, tags, clicks, dates) as a spreadsheet. A good backup.

If something looks off

9Quick reference

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