How to Use Link Expiration in UseClick

What is Link Expiration?

Link Expiration lets you set a specific date and time after which your short link will automatically stop working. Instead of redirecting to the destination, expired links show a customizable message to visitors. This is perfect for time-sensitive campaigns, limited offers, event registrations, or any content that should only be accessible for a specific period.

How it works: When you set an expiration date/time, UseClick automatically disables the link at that exact moment. Visitors clicking the link after expiration see a custom message instead of being redirected. You can always extend or remove the expiration later if needed.

Why Use Link Expiration?

Time-Limited Offers

Automatically disable discount codes, flash sales, or promotional campaigns after the deadline passes.

Event Registration

Close registration links automatically when the event starts or when early bird pricing ends.

Content Control

Prevent access to outdated content, old documentation, or information that should no longer be available.

Temporary Access

Provide time-limited access to resources, downloads, or content that should expire after a trial period.

Campaign Management

Ensure your marketing campaigns automatically stop after the planned end date without manual intervention.

Set and Forget

Schedule link expiration in advance and don't worry about manually disabling links when promotions end.

Plan Availability

Plan	Link Expiration Available
Free	❌ Not Available
Starter	✅ Available
Growth	✅ Available
Pro	✅ Available
Business	✅ Available

Link expiration is available on all paid plans (Starter and above). Upgrade your plan to start using this feature.

How to Set Link Expiration

When Creating a New Link

Click "Create Link" in your dashboard
Enter your destination URL and configure basic settings
Scroll to the "Link Expiration" section
Toggle the switch to enable expiration
Choose your expiration date and time:
- Click the date picker to select a date
- Use the time selector to set the exact hour and minute
- Your timezone is automatically detected
(Optional) Customize the expiration message shown to visitors
Click "Create Link"

Pro Tip: Set expiration times to match your campaign deadlines exactly. For example, if a sale ends at 11:59 PM PST, set the expiration for 11:59 PM in your local timezone.

For Existing Links

Go to your Links dashboard
Find the link you want to add expiration to
Click the three dots menu → "Edit"
Scroll to "Link Expiration"
Toggle on and set your expiration date/time
Click "Save Changes"

Expiration Date & Time Settings

Understanding Timezone Handling

UseClick automatically detects your browser's timezone when you set an expiration. The link will expire at that exact local time. For example:

You're in New York (EST) and set expiration for March 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The link will expire at 5:00 PM EST on March 15
For someone in California, that's 2:00 PM PST
The link expires for everyone globally at the same moment

Important: Double-check your timezone before setting expiration times. UseClick uses your browser's timezone, so if you're traveling or using a VPN, verify the timezone is correct.

Date Format

When using the API, provide expiration dates in ISO 8601 format:

2025-03-15T17:00:00Z - UTC time
2025-03-15T17:00:00-05:00 - With timezone offset (EST)

Managing Expired Links

Viewing Expiration Status

In your links dashboard, you'll see expiration status for each link:

Active with expiration: Shows countdown ("Expires in 3 days")
Expired: Shows red badge "Expired"
No expiration: Shows "Never expires"

Extending or Removing Expiration

You can change expiration settings anytime:

Edit the link
Go to "Link Expiration" section
To extend: Update the date/time to a later date
To remove: Toggle off the expiration switch
Click "Save Changes"

Pro Tip: If you need to quickly reactivate an expired link, simply remove or extend the expiration date. The link will work immediately without needing to update it anywhere it's shared.

Customizing Expiration Messages

When a link expires, visitors see a default message. You can customize this:

Edit your link
In the "Link Expiration" section, find "Custom expiration message"
Enter your message (e.g., "This promotion has ended. Check our website for current offers!")
Save your changes

Default message: "This link has expired and is no longer available."

Common Use Cases

1. Flash Sales & Limited-Time Offers

Scenario: Running a 24-hour flash sale on your e-commerce store.

Solution:

Create short link: uclick.to/flash-sale
Set expiration: Tomorrow at 11:59 PM
Custom message: "This flash sale has ended. Visit our store for current deals!"
Share on social media and email

Result: Link automatically stops working after the sale, preventing customer confusion and ensuring outdated promotions don't remain active.

2. Event Registration Deadlines

Scenario: Webinar registration closes 1 hour before the event starts.

Solution:

Create registration link: uclick.to/webinar-march
Set expiration: Event date at 1 hour before start time
Custom message: "Registration is now closed. Join us for the next webinar!"

Result: No late registrations, and you don't have to manually close registration or worry about forgetting to do it.

3. Early Bird Pricing

Scenario: Conference offers early bird tickets until a specific date.

Solution:

Create link: uclick.to/early-bird
Set expiration: Last day of early bird pricing at 11:59 PM
When expired, update link destination to regular pricing page

Result: Automatic transition from early bird to regular pricing without changing the link or creating confusion.

4. Seasonal Content

Scenario: Holiday gift guide should only be accessible during November-December.

Solution:

Create link: uclick.to/holiday-guide
Set expiration: December 31 at 11:59 PM
Custom message: "Our holiday guide is now closed. Check back next season!"

Result: Content is automatically hidden after the season, keeping your marketing materials fresh and relevant.

5. Beta Access Programs

Scenario: Offering beta access to software for a limited testing period.

Solution:

Create link: uclick.to/beta-signup
Set expiration: End of beta period
Custom message: "Beta testing has concluded. Thank you for your interest!"

Result: Automatic closure of beta signups without manual intervention.

Best Practices

✅ DO:

Set clear expiration times: Use specific times (11:59 PM) rather than midnight to avoid timezone confusion
Add buffer time: For events, expire registration 30-60 minutes before to ensure smooth processing
Write helpful messages: Include next steps or alternative actions in your custom expiration message
Test before launch: Create a test link with near-future expiration to see how it behaves
Monitor expiring links: Check your dashboard regularly for links expiring soon
Combine with click limits: Use both expiration and click limits for maximum control

❌ DON'T:

Set expiration too early: Allow enough time for your target audience across timezones to see the campaign
Forget to communicate: Let your audience know the link is time-limited (creates urgency)
Use vague dates: "Expires soon" in your marketing materials doesn't create urgency like "Expires March 15 at 5 PM EST"
Ignore expired links: Review and either extend, reactivate, or delete old expired links to keep your dashboard clean

Link Expiration + Other Features

Feature Combination	How It Works	Use Case
Expiration + Password	Link requires password AND respects expiration time	Secure time-limited beta access or private event registration
Expiration + Click Limit	Link stops after X clicks OR expiration date (whichever comes first)	Limited tickets with a deadline (e.g., "First 100 or until March 15")
Expiration + Geo-Targeting	Geographic routing works until expiration, then all users see expired message	Global campaign with regional offers that end simultaneously
Expiration + UTM Parameters	Tracking continues until expiration, then analytics show "expired" status	Time-limited campaigns with precise attribution tracking

Troubleshooting

Link expired earlier/later than expected

Solutions:

Verify your timezone was correct when setting expiration
Check if you're in a location with daylight saving time changes
Remember: Expiration uses the timezone active when you SET it, not when it expires

Can't set expiration date (greyed out)

Solutions:

Verify you're on a paid plan (Starter or higher)
Check your subscription status in Account Settings
If you recently upgraded, try logging out and back in

Want to reuse an expired link

Solutions:

Edit the link and either remove expiration or extend the date
Changes take effect immediately
No need to recreate the link or update where it's shared

Expiration message not displaying

Solutions:

Clear your browser cache
Try accessing in incognito/private mode
Verify the link has actually expired (check dashboard)

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to analytics after a link expires?

All click data remains available in your dashboard. You can still view historical analytics for expired links. Attempts to access expired links are tracked as "blocked" in analytics.

Can I schedule a link to become active in the future?

Not currently. Links are active immediately upon creation. However, you can set an expiration date in the future. For scheduled activation, create the link but don't share it until the desired time.

Will expired links affect my SEO?

Short links generally don't impact SEO since they're 301/302 redirects. Expired links return a custom page (not a 404 error), which is better for user experience but shouldn't harm SEO since short links aren't typically indexed.

Can I bulk-set expiration for multiple links?

Not currently through the UI. However, you can use the UseClick API to programmatically update expiration dates for multiple links at once.

Does expiration work with branded domains?

Yes! Link expiration works identically with both uclick.to links and custom branded domains. The expiration message displays on whatever domain you're using.

Can I get notified before a link expires?

Not currently. We recommend setting calendar reminders for critical expiration dates or checking your dashboard regularly for links expiring soon.

What's the maximum expiration date I can set?

You can set expiration dates up to 10 years in the future. However, most users set expiration within days, weeks, or months.

Next Steps

Set click limits to control how many times links can be accessed
Add password protection for secure time-limited access
Organize with campaigns to manage multiple time-limited promotions
Use the API to automate expiration date management

Set It and Forget It: Link expiration gives you peace of mind knowing your time-sensitive campaigns will automatically end on schedule. Start using expiration dates today!