Password protected links
Put a password on any short link so only people with the password get through. It's hashed at the edge, never stored in plaintext, and the destination stays hidden from search engines and bots.
What is a password-protected link?
It's a short link with an access gate in front of it. Instead of redirecting straight to the destination, U2L shows a password page; the visitor enters the password, and only on a correct match do they get sent through. It's the simplest way to keep a link semi-private without building logins or user accounts.
How it works
When someone clicks a protected link, U2L's edge network serves a password page instead of redirecting. The password they enter is hashed with a salted SHA-256 and compared server-side against the stored hash — the plaintext password is never stored anywhere. On a match, the redirect to your destination fires; on a wrong guess, they stay on the page and the destination is never revealed. Because it runs at the edge, the gate is fast and close to your visitors.
A password gate, not encryption — here's the honest difference
Password protection is lightweight access control, and it's worth being clear about what that means. It gates who can reach the link, and it keeps the destination out of search results, but it does not encrypt the destination or stop someone who has the password from sharing it onward. Once a visitor passes the gate, they can see and copy the real URL.
For pre-launch content, private-ish sharing, and simple gating, that's exactly right. For truly confidential or regulated data, use real authentication or an end-to-end-encrypted, one-time-secret tool instead — the right tool for the job builds more trust than overclaiming.
What password links are great for
Pre-launch & embargoed content
Share launch previews, press kits, and beta invites with only the people who should see them yet.
Sales & client docs
Gate proposals, pricing, contracts, and client resource hubs behind a password you share directly.
Internal resources
Pre-announcements, training, and policy docs for your team, without building a login system.
Private-ish sharing
Give a known group access to content you'd rather not leave fully public.
Stack it with expiry and click limits
A password is one control; combine it with others for tighter access. Add an expiry date or click limit so a protected preview also stops working after launch, and share the password through a different channel than the link itself. Every protected link is still tracked, so you can compare total clicks against successful unlocks and see how many people actually got in.
Password protected links FAQ
How secure is a password-protected link?+
It's an access gate: the password is hashed with a salted SHA-256 and checked at the edge, never stored in plaintext, and the destination is hidden from search engines and bots. But it's lightweight access control, not encryption or identity-based authentication — anyone who has the password can get in, so share it carefully.
Does it hide the destination URL?+
It hides the destination from anyone who hasn't entered the password, and from crawlers and bots (so it won't get indexed). It does not encrypt the destination — once someone passes the gate, they can see and copy the real URL. For a cryptographically hidden destination you'd need client-side URL encryption, which is a different kind of tool.
Can I change or remove the password later?+
Yes, per link, anytime. Removing the password makes the link openly accessible again, so only do it when you want the content public.
Is it one password for everyone, or per person?+
One shared password per link — not per-user logins. If you need different access for different people, that's authentication rather than a link password; you can also create separate links to segment your audience.
Can I combine a password with an expiry date or click limit?+
Yes. Stack a password with expiration and click limits for tighter control — for example, a preview that needs a password and also stops working after launch day.
Will Google index a password-protected link's destination?+
No. Googlebot can't pass the gate, so the target isn't crawled or shown in search results. Password protection is a simple way to keep a page out of search.
What happens when someone enters the wrong password?+
They stay on the password page and see an error — no redirect happens, so the destination is never revealed to a wrong guess.
Do password-protected links still track analytics?+
Yes — and you can tell total clicks (people who reached the gate) apart from successful unlocks (people who entered the correct password), so you can see the gate working.
Do Bitly or TinyURL support password-protected links?+
No — Bitly links are all public and TinyURL.com has no password option. To password-protect a short link you'd use a shortener that supports it, like U2L.
Is a password link enough for truly confidential data?+
For sensitive or regulated data, no — use real authentication or an end-to-end-encrypted, one-time-secret tool. Password links are best for pre-launch, private-ish sharing, and simple gating, not classified information.
Lock a link with a password
Add a password to your next short link and share it with only the people who should get through.