10 Quick Tricks to Avoid URL Tracking

Ever clicked a link and ended up with a long, messy web address filled with odd codes and symbols?
That’s usually tracking in action. The good news? You don’t have to put up with it.

Here are 10 easy tricks to keep your links clean and your clicks a little more private.

So, What’s URL Tracking?

When you click a link especially from emails, ads, or social media, it often includes extra text.
Those extra parts are called tracking parameters. They usually look something like this:

example.com/page?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=spring_sale

That extra bit tells someone where you came from, what you clicked, or even what device you used.
It doesn’t change the page you see. But it does follow you.

1. Delete Everything After the “?”

One of the easiest tricks? Just clean it yourself. When a URL has a ?, you can delete everything after it and hit Enter.

From: https://site.com/page?utm_source=facebook
To: https://site.com/page

It takes two seconds. No tools needed.

2. Use a Shortcut to Edit the Address Bar

You don’t need to drag your mouse to the address bar every time. Hit Ctrl + L or Alt + D to highlight the full URL instantly.

Clean up the end, press Enter, and that’s it. It’s one of those small tricks that make your more productive.

3. Bookmark Handy Tool

Here’s a neat hack: use a bookmarklet. Just save this as a bookmark in your browser: https://techcycled.com/url-trimmer/

Copy & Paste any messy URL, and it instantly removes all the extra tracking stuff. No extensions, no setup just click and clean.

4. Let an Extension Handle It for You

If you don’t want to do all this manually, try a browser extension.
A few good ones include:

• ClearURLs
• Neat URL
• Redirector

They run in the background and remove known tracking parameters automatically. It’s a simple way to stay safe while using online tools, especially if you click a lot of shared links.

5. Use Incognito for Quick Privacy

To be clear: Incognito mode doesn’t stop tracking URLs. But it does stop your browser from saving your activity.

So if you click a sketchy link or don’t want that visit showing up later, it’s a helpful move. Still, you’ll want to combine this with one of the other tricks above.

6. Try Cached Versions from Google

Did you know search engines sometimes store clean copies of web pages? They do and you can view them by clicking “Cached” under search results. These versions often skip tracking links and load faster. Great when you’re researching or just want to avoid loading scripts.

7. Switch to a Privacy-Focused Browser

If you’re serious about clean browsing, try Firefox or Brave. They block most trackers automatically including some URL junk.

In Firefox, head to:

Settings > Privacy & Security > Enhanced Tracking Protection

Brave takes care of it by default. Very easy, fewer settings, and it helps simplify workflow when you’re multitasking.

8. Copy the Link After the Page Loads

Here’s a super useful habit: Wait for a page to load, then copy the URL from the address bar.

Many sites add tracking codes during the redirect. So copying after the page loads gives you a clean version to share.

9. Be Smart About Short Links

Shortened links (like Bitly or TinyURL) can be cleaner but not always. Some add their own tracking in the background. If you’re going to use them, test the link first. Look for services that let you preview where the link goes before sharing it.

10. Use a Web Tool to Clean It Up

Don’t want extensions or bookmarklets? Try a simple web-based url trimming tool and get a clean version back. No login. No setup. Just cleaner links.

Small Trick, Big Win

Clean URLs aren’t just about privacy. They’re easier to read, share, and save.

For example:

• They look better in emails or Slack messages
• They’re less likely to break when pasted
• They’re more trustworthy for anyone you send them to

And honestly, they just feel better.

FAQ