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LinksHide Destination URL

Hide Your Destination URL

Link cloaking lets you keep your Brevr short link visible in the browser bar even after someone clicks it. Your destination page loads underneath while the short URL stays in place — visitors never see where the link actually goes.

What You’ll Learn

  • What link cloaking does and when to use it
  • How to enable cloaking on any short link
  • What happens when a destination site blocks cloaking

When a visitor clicks your cloaked link, your short URL stays in their browser bar and the destination page loads in the background. The visitor sees the content of your destination site, but the address bar never changes away from your Brevr link. Analytics still record every click normally — cloaking does not affect your tracking data.

📸 Screenshot: [Browser address bar showing a Brevr short link while destination page content is visible]

  1. Open the link editor for any existing link, or create a new link.
  2. Scroll to the “Advanced Settings” section.
  3. Toggle Link Cloaking on.
  4. Save your changes.
  5. Test the link by opening it in a browser tab to confirm the destination loads correctly.

📸 Screenshot: [Link editor with the Link Cloaking toggle highlighted in the on position]

Link cloaking is especially useful in three situations.

Affiliate marketing. Hide long, recognizable affiliate URLs so visitors only see your branded short link. This keeps your campaigns looking clean and professional.

Brand continuity. Keep your branded domain visible throughout an entire campaign, even when visitors land on third-party pages. Your URL stays front and center.

Referrer privacy. When your link loads a page inside your short URL, the destination site may not see which website sent the visitor. This protects your traffic sources from competitors.

📸 Screenshot: [Side-by-side comparison: uncloaked link showing destination URL vs. cloaked link keeping Brevr URL in bar]

When Destination Sites Block Cloaking

Some websites have security settings that prevent their pages from loading inside another URL. When that happens, visitors may see a blank page or an error message instead of the destination content.

This is a restriction set by the destination website — it is not a Brevr bug. You cannot override it from your end.

To check whether cloaking works for your link:

  1. Enable cloaking in the link editor and save.
  2. Click your short link in a private browser window.
  3. Check that the destination page loads correctly.
  4. Disable cloaking if the page shows an error, and use a standard redirect instead.

Common sites that block this behavior include Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and most major e-commerce platforms. Links to your own website or landing page builder typically work without issues.

📸 Screenshot: [Example of a cloaking error page, and the cloaking toggle in the off position as a fallback]

Frequently Asked Questions

Does cloaking affect my click analytics?

No. Every click is tracked exactly the same way whether cloaking is on or off. Your analytics dashboard shows all visits, devices, and locations as usual.

Can visitors find out the real destination URL?

A determined visitor could find the destination URL using their browser’s developer tools. Link cloaking is designed to keep the URL out of plain sight, not to make it technically impossible to discover.

Does cloaking work on mobile browsers?

It works on most mobile browsers. However, some mobile apps — including certain email clients and social media in-app browsers — may behave differently. Always test your link across the platforms your audience uses.

Will cloaking hurt my SEO?

Cloaking affects the visitor’s experience, not search engine crawlers. Search engines follow the redirect to your destination page. Do not use cloaking as an SEO tactic — it is intended for display purposes only.

Can I use cloaking with a custom domain?

Yes. Link cloaking works the same way whether your short link uses brevr.one or your own custom domain.

Watch the Full Walkthrough

🎬 Video walkthrough: [Link Cloaking in Brevr — ~2 min]

Walk through every step below with the screenshots to follow along at your own pace.

Open the link editor for any existing link from your dashboard, or create a new link. The editor panel opens on the right side of the screen and shows all available link settings.

📸 Screenshot: [Dashboard with a link row selected and the link editor panel open, showing all configuration sections]

Step 2: Navigate to the Advanced Settings Section

Scroll down inside the link editor until you find the “Advanced Settings” section. This is where cloaking and other display-related settings are grouped.

📸 Screenshot: [Link editor scrolled to the Advanced Settings section with the Link Cloaking toggle visible in the off position]

Toggle Link Cloaking on. No additional fields appear — the toggle alone activates cloaking for this link.

📸 Screenshot: [Link editor with the Link Cloaking toggle switched to the on position and highlighted]

Click the Save button to apply cloaking. The short URL does not change, and your existing analytics history is preserved.

📸 Screenshot: [Save button highlighted at the bottom of the link editor after cloaking has been enabled]

Open the short link in a private browser window. Confirm that the destination page content loads correctly while your Brevr short URL remains in the browser address bar throughout.

Next Steps

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