Question 1

What is Clean Links?

Accepted Answer

Clean Links is a free utility for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that strips tracking parameters from URLs and reveals the true target behind QR codes and shortened links - so you open only things that you want to, without hidden trackers or redirects.

Question 2

How does Clean Links protect my privacy?

Accepted Answer

All processing happens on your device - no cookies, identifiers, or analytics data ever leave your phone. Clean Links simply removes known tracking parameters (UTM tags, affiliate IDs, ad-tech tokens) before loading a link. For shortened links, we make requests in an isolated context, without any cookies, sessions etc. This defeats the tracking via cookies that URL shorteners, advertisers and data brokers use to track users.

Question 3

Can Clean Links block phishing ("quishing") attempts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you scan a QR code, Clean Links shows you the full, unmasked URL. You can then decide whether to open it. This is unlike the iOS Camera app and other paid QR code reader apps, which simply open the link the QR code is pointing to, without your consent. Furthermore, while following redirects, Clean Links uses lower-level (NSURLRequest) APIs that have a very small attack surface compared to that of a fully-fledged web browser. This means Clean Links is immune to most zero-day exploits that target web browsers. Secondly, the app runs within its own sandbox, which adds another layer of security.

Question 4

How do I check a QR code?

Accepted Answer

Launch Clean Links from your Home Screen, Shortcut, or Action button on iPhone, iPad, or Mac and point your camera at the code. You'll see the real destination URL before choosing to open it. Clean Links follows any redirects and strips tracking parameters from the final destination-preventing phishing links hidden behind short-link or redirection services.

Question 5

Can I expand and preview shortened URLs?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Paste or share any bit.ly, TinyURL, t.co, or other short link into Clean Links. It unshortens all redirect chains and shows you the final URL before you tap.

Question 6

Can I generate a privacy-safe QR code from a cleaned link?

Accepted Answer

Yes. After cleaning a URL, tap "Generate QR" to create a new code you can share completely free of tracking parameters. This is especially handy when you want to share the cleaned link with friends: one tap and they can check your QR code to open the exact same, tracker-free URL. Also useful when you're trying to share content with your Android using friends, without being surveilled by cough cough: What's that app called again? This helps you and your friends avoid getting plastered with ads related to the content that you just shared, for the next week or two.

Question 7

Does Clean Links work inside Safari, Mail, and other apps?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Clean Links' system-wide Share Sheet extension on iPhone, iPad, and Mac can be used within Safari, Mail, X (Twitter), Youtube, LinkedIn, or any other app that uses native Share Sheets.

Question 8

Can I automate link cleaning with Shortcuts or Siri?

Accepted Answer

Clean Links provides App Intents that work with both Apple Shortcuts and Siri. You can build a shortcut that cleans links from your clipboard or anything else. For example, use this "Clean Links" shortcut to get the link from your clipboard, clean it, and paste the cleaned URL back to the clipboard.

Question 9

Which devices and iOS versions does Clean Links support?

Accepted Answer

Clean Links supports iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices that can run iOS 18.0 or later (iPhone/iPad) or macOS Sequoia or later.

Question 10

Does Clean Links store my history or checked QR codes?

Accepted Answer

No. By design, Clean Links does not log or store links you clean or check.

Question 11

How is Clean Links different from other URL cleaners like Firefox, Brave, or Link Cleaner?

Accepted Answer

Most URL cleaners (including Firefox, Brave, and web-based tools like Link Cleaner) focus on trimming visible tracking parameters from the URL you provide. They don't follow redirect chains, so trackers hidden behind shortlinks (bit.ly, t.co, lnkd.in) or social wrappers (l.facebook.com, l.instagram.com) slip through. Firefox even maintains an allowlist that lets certain big-tech trackers through. Clean Links is different: it follows every redirect hop, expands shortlinks, and strips trackers at each step-revealing the final destination before you open it. Clean Links also includes a built-in QR code reader that previews URLs safely, works 100% on-device with no analytics (unlike Link Cleaner's anonymous usage stats), and integrates natively with iOS Share Sheets, Shortcuts, Siri, and Mac clipboard monitoring. If you want comprehensive protection that catches hidden trackers and works across all your Apple devices, Clean Links is designed to do just that. See the full comparison with Link Cleaner for more details.

Question 12

How is Clean Links different from Safari's Advanced Tracking & Fingerprinting Protection in iOS 26?

Accepted Answer

Safari's Advanced Tracking & Fingerprinting Protection (ATFP) in iOS 26 is excellent at reducing tracking during Safari browsing, but it has limitations. ATFP only works in Safari, not in in-app browsers (like Instagram or TikTok web views) or other browsers. It also doesn't preview short links or clean trackers that appear at the end of redirect chains. Clean Links complements ATFP by working system-wide across all apps, following every redirect hop, and showing you the final URL before you open it. When you share links, Clean Links removes platform wrappers (like t.co or l.instagram.com) so your recipients get truly clean URLs regardless of whether they use Safari or have ATFP enabled. Use both together: keep ATFP on in Safari for automatic in-browser protection, and use Clean Links before opening or sharing links to handle shorteners, redirects, and cross-app scenarios. Read our detailed comparison to learn more.

FAQ

Getting Started

What is Clean Links?

Which devices and iOS versions does Clean Links support?

Why did we create Clean Links?

How do I send links from my iPhone to my Mac?

Can I send links to multiple Macs?

Can I use Send to Mac with Shortcuts?

Privacy & Security

How does Clean Links protect my privacy?

Can Clean Links block phishing ("quishing") attempts?

Does Clean Links store my history or checked QR codes?

Is this really local? I see it makes network requests to the URL

Features & Integrations

How do I clean a link I've copied?

How do I check a QR code?

Can I expand and preview shortened URLs?

Can I generate a privacy-safe QR code from a cleaned link?

Does Clean Links work inside Safari, Mail, and other apps?

Can I automate link cleaning with Shortcuts or Siri?

Comparisons

How is Clean Links different from other URL cleaners like Firefox, Brave, or Link Cleaner?

How is Clean Links different from Safari's Advanced Tracking & Fingerprinting Protection in iOS 26?

How is Send to Mac better than AirDrop?

How is Send to Mac better than iCloud Tabs?

How is Send to Mac better than Safari Tab Groups?

How is Send to Mac better than Safari Reading List?

How is Send to Mac better than Handoff?

How is Send to Mac better than Universal Clipboard?

How is Send to Mac better than iMessage?

How is Send to Mac better than email?

How is Send to Mac better than Pushbullet?

How is Send to Mac better than Firefox Send Tabs?

How is Send to Mac better than Firefox tab sync?

How is Send to Mac better than HyperDuck?