How to Shorten a URL with Kutt

Updated

To shorten a link on Kutt, paste your long URL into the shortener on the kutt.to homepage and submit it; Kutt then returns a short link in the form kutt.to/.... Before submitting, you can open the advanced options to pick a domain, set a password, choose an expiry, and add a description. This works for anyone who just needs a quick short link; the options below are worth setting when you need access control or a link that stops working after a set time.

Step by step

  1. Open the shortener. Go to kutt.to. The page heading is "Kutt your links shorter." and the form is the main element on the page.
  2. Paste the long URL. Put the full destination address into the link field. This is the address people will land on after clicking the short link.
  3. Open advanced options if needed. The page exposes a "Show advanced options" control. Expanding it reveals the settings below.
  4. Configure the options you want:
    • Domain – a dropdown that defaults to kutt.to. The page shows the domain selector with kutt.to as the current value, so the short link is built on the domain you choose there.
    • Password – protects the link so visitors must enter a password before being redirected.
    • Expire in – sets when the link stops working.
    • Description – a note for your own reference so you can identify the link later.
  5. Submit the form. Kutt generates the short link. The expected result is a link of the form kutt.to/... (or your chosen domain followed by a short path).
  6. Copy and share the result. Use the generated short link wherever you need it.

What each option does

Option What it controls When to use it
Domain Which domain the short link is built on; defaults to kutt.to When you want the link to appear under a different domain available in the selector
Password Requires a password before the redirect When the destination should not be open to anyone who finds the link
Expire in How long the link stays active For time-limited campaigns, temporary files, or one-off shares
Description A label stored with the link When you manage many links and need to tell them apart

Checking it worked

After submitting, confirm three things: the short link appears in the expected kutt.to/... format, the domain matches what you selected, and any password or expiry you set is reflected in the link's settings. Then open the short link in a private window — if you set a password, you should be prompted for it; if you set an expiry, the link should still resolve until that time passes.

Common snags

  • The short link uses the wrong domain. Recheck the Domain dropdown before submitting; it defaults to kutt.to, so a different selection only applies if you change it.
  • A password-protected link "doesn't work" for a recipient. They are seeing the password prompt, not a broken link — share the password separately.
  • A link stops resolving. Check whether an expiry was set; links with "Expire in" stop working after that period.
  • You can't find an old link. The Description field is the fastest way to identify links later, so fill it in when creating links you'll need to manage.

Kutt also offers a Premium page linked from the site; the homepage itself presents the shortener as free and open source, and the advanced options above are available directly in the form.