troubleshooting · how to

Shortlink or Link in Bio is not working

Diagnose and recover when shortlink or link in bio is not working needs attention.

Use this guide when a tracked shortlink, Link in Bio page, or pinned bio entry fails to open, redirects incorrectly, or shows expired content.

Symptoms

You may see one or more of these signs:

  • A shortlink returns missing, expired, or wrong-destination errors in a browser.
  • The public Link in Bio URL shows an old set of links or pinned posts.
  • A pinned post should appear on the bio page but does not.
  • Tracked links append unexpected query parameters.
  • Bio analytics shows no new clicks after you shared a link.

Shortlinks, Link in Bio, and UTM defaults are brand-scoped unless the setting you opened applies to the whole organization. You need brand management access to fix them.

Likely causes

  • The shortlink row belongs to a different brand than the one you are publishing from.
  • The shortlink expired or the destination URL changed after you copied the link.
  • The bio page was not saved after you edited links or pinned posts.
  • A pinned post changed status and is no longer eligible for the bio page.
  • UTM defaults changed but you retested an old copied URL.
  • The destination URL fails on its own, even without the shortlink or bio wrapper.

Checks

  1. Open /social, choose Settings, then open Shortlinks or Link in Bio under Links & Distribution.
  2. Confirm the active brand matches the row you are testing.
  3. Copy the short URL or public bio page URL from settings and open it in a fresh browser tab.
  4. Open the destination URL directly without the shortlink.
  5. When query parameters look wrong, open UTM Defaults in the same settings area and read the saved values.

Fixes

Shortlinks

  1. Open Shortlinks under Links & Distribution.
  2. Copy the short URL from the row and open it in a browser.
  3. Confirm it reaches the destination URL you saved.

If the browser reports the link is missing, copy the full URL from Slash Social again and confirm the row belongs to the active brand. If it reports expired, create a new shortlink with a valid destination and optional expiry. If it redirects to the wrong page, edit or recreate the shortlink with the intended destination, then replace any old copy in captions, saved replies, or campaign notes.

Link in Bio

  1. Open Link in Bio from the same settings area.
  2. Open the public bio page URL shown in settings and confirm profile links and pinned posts appear.
  3. Use Manage posts or Add post when a published or scheduled post should appear but does not.

Pinned posts must be eligible for the bio page. Remove and re-add an entry when a post changed status after you pinned it. If the public page shows older links, save the bio page again and reopen the public URL in a fresh browser tab. If one pinned entry opens the wrong page, edit that entry destination or remove and add the post again so the row picks up current post data.

Destination and UTM settings

  1. Confirm the destination URL is reachable on its own without the shortlink.
  2. Open UTM Defaults when tracked links append unexpected query parameters.
  3. Save UTM changes and copy the shortlink again before you retest. Existing copied links may still carry the old destination or campaign values.

CTA and publish flows use the UTM defaults that apply to each item. A bad destination fails even when the shortlink record exists.

Confirm the fix

The shortlink resolves in a browser. The bio page shows current links and pinned posts. New clicks appear in bio analytics when you open Analytics from the bio hub after the click-tracking view refreshes.

Prevent it next time

  • Copy shortlinks from Slash Social after each destination or UTM change instead of reusing old captions.
  • Save the bio page after you add, remove, or reorder pinned posts.
  • Test the destination URL before you create a shortlink or pin a post.
  • Follow Configure link in bio and UTM settings when you set up a new brand bio hub.

Contact support

Escalate when a newly created shortlink fails immediately with a valid public destination, or the bio page URL returns an error for every visitor.

Send support:

  • Workspace name
  • Brand name
  • Shortlink label or bio page name
  • Destination URL
  • Approximate time you created or last saved the link

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