The fastest way to get a WordPress shortlink is to open the published post in the block editor, select the Jetpack icon, expand Shortlink, and click Copy. WordPress copies a wp.me URL to your clipboard. In the Classic Editor, click Get Shortlink beside the permalink. On WordPress.com, you can also use the published page’s Action Bar and choose Copy shortlink.
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Choose the method that matches your WordPress setup
WordPress can expose two different kinds of compact URLs. WordPress.com and Jetpack-connected sites use the wp.me domain. A site running only WordPress core can usually provide a query-style URL such as https://example.com/?p=123. Both identify a post, but only the first is a WP.me redirect.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Hosting context | Short URL format | Where you get it | Extra service required | Code-level options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com | wp.me |
Block editor Jetpack panel or the published post’s Action Bar | No separate installation; availability depends on the plan and WordPress.com features | WordPress functions and filters are available when you work with a connected site or its code |
| Self-hosted WordPress connected to Jetpack | wp.me |
Block editor Jetpack panel or Classic Editor’s Get Shortlink | Jetpack must be installed, connected and configured for WP.me shortlinks | Jetpack support plus WordPress shortlink hooks |
| Self-hosted WordPress with core only | Usually ?p=123 |
Core functions or a plugin that supplies a provider; the editor button may not appear | No service for the core fallback, but a plugin is needed for other formats | wp_get_shortlink(), the_shortlink(), pre_get_shortlink and get_shortlink |
If you are unsure which row applies, look at the dashboard. A Jetpack icon in the block editor indicates that the connected-site workflow is available. A WordPress.com dashboard is already covered by WordPress.com’s shortlink service. A self-hosted installation without Jetpack will use whatever provider a plugin supplies, or WordPress core’s fallback behavior.
Get a wp.me link in the block editor
WordPress.com or a Jetpack-connected self-hosted site
- In the dashboard, open Posts or Pages.
- Open the published post or page whose short URL you need.
- In the editor’s upper-right area, click the Jetpack icon.
- Expand the Shortlink section in the Jetpack panel.
- Click Copy. The displayed
wp.meaddress is placed on your clipboard.
Paste the result into your social post, message, document or browser address bar to verify that you copied the short URL rather than the full permalink. The shortlink identifies the same published item; it does not create a second post or change the post’s canonical permalink.
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Jetpack describes these addresses as using the wp.me domain and says that every post on WordPress.com and every post on a Jetpack-powered blog has a WP.me URL. They are intended for sharing a WordPress post where a compact address is useful, not for shortening arbitrary URLs on unrelated websites.
Use the Classic Editor’s Get Shortlink button
Finding the control
- Open the published post in the Classic Editor.
- Look below the title, next to the post’s permalink.
- Click Get Shortlink.
- Copy the URL shown in the dialog.
When a provider returns a short URL, the dialog displays it for copying. The button is conditional rather than guaranteed: current WordPress admin code renders it only when a shortlink provider or filter is present and the generated short URL differs from the normal permalink. Consequently, not seeing the button does not mean that the post is damaged.
Copy a shortlink from a WordPress.com published page
Action Bar workflow
- View the published post or page on WordPress.com.
- Open the Action Bar’s more-options menu.
- Choose Copy shortlink.
This route is useful when you are viewing the public page rather than editing it. The copied address is the same type of wp.me shortlink supplied to WordPress.com content.
Understand WordPress.com plan behavior
WordPress.com’s support guidance, reviewed September 28, 2026, states that every WordPress.com page and post has a wp.me shortlink. The setting that controls creation is exposed only on Business and Commerce plans. On those plans, go to Jetpack → Settings → Traffic and use Create short and simple links for all posts and pages to enable or disable WP.me shortlinks.
Free, Personal and Premium plans keep WP.me shortlinks active and do not expose that toggle. If an administrator disables the feature on a Business or Commerce site, links that were already shared continue to redirect; disabling creation affects availability for future links rather than invalidating the old addresses.
What to do when Shortlink or Get Shortlink is missing
On a self-hosted site, connect a provider
For a self-hosted site that should use wp.me, install and connect Jetpack. Then open Jetpack → Settings → Traffic and enable Create short and simple links for all posts and pages. Return to the post editor and check the Jetpack panel again.
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Check whether shortlinks were intentionally disabled
A site can have shortlinks turned off, or it may simply have no active provider. WordPress core documents that wp_get_shortlink() returns an empty string when no shortlink exists. In that situation, the editor has no URL to display and the Classic Editor button can be absent.
Distinguish a missing control from a missing post
The editor control depends on shortlink support and on the generated address being different from the post’s ordinary permalink. A missing button therefore points to configuration or provider behavior, not to a publishing failure. Check the site’s Jetpack connection, the Traffic setting, and any plugin that filters shortlinks before troubleshooting the post itself.
Use the core fallback when a WP.me URL is unnecessary
WordPress core’s default public-post fallback is commonly a query URL such as https://example.com/?p=123. It is compact and identifies the post by its numeric ID, but it is not a wp.me redirect. Use it when you only need a short core URL and do not want to add a service.
Get a shortlink in code
Retrieve the URL with wp_get_shortlink()
Use wp_get_shortlink() when application code needs the URL as a string. Its documented signature is:
wp_get_shortlink( $id = 0, $context = 'post', $allow_slugs = true )The first argument is the object ID; 0 means the current object in the normal WordPress context. The $context argument identifies whether the object is a post, page, attachment or site. The $allow_slugs argument controls whether a provider may use a slug-style short URL. The function returns a URL for code to process, or an empty string when no provider can supply one.
WordPress documents core support as limited to the ?p=-style format. Plugins can provide other formats, including a service-generated address such as wp.me.
Output an anchor with the_shortlink()
Inside The Loop, the_shortlink() prints an anchor containing the current object’s shortlink. WordPress specifically notes that this template tag displays the complete link, whereas wp_get_shortlink() returns only the URL for code that needs to handle it.
<?php
if ( function_exists( 'the_shortlink' ) ) {
the_shortlink();
}
?>The function is intended to be called from inside The Loop, where WordPress has a current post context. Outside the Loop, pass an explicit ID to wp_get_shortlink() instead of assuming that a current post is available.
Override or modify the generated value with filters
Use the pre_get_shortlink filter to short-circuit generation and return your own value before the normal provider logic runs. Use the get_shortlink filter to modify the URL that WordPress has generated.
<?php
add_filter( 'pre_get_shortlink', function ( $shortlink, $id, $context, $allow_slugs ) {
// Return a URL here to replace normal shortlink generation.
return $shortlink;
}, 10, 4 );
add_filter( 'get_shortlink', function ( $shortlink, $id, $context, $allow_slugs ) {
// Return a changed URL after generation.
return $shortlink;
}, 10, 4 );
?>These hooks let a plugin or site-specific integration provide a format that core does not know about. Keep the returned value as a complete URL so themes and other plugins can use it consistently.
Add shortlink support to a custom post type
Jetpack provides WP.me support for the built-in post, page and attachment types by default. A custom post type must declare shortlink support before it can receive that behavior.
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<?php
add_post_type_support( 'custom_post_type', 'shortlinks' );
?>If you register the post type yourself, include shortlinks in its supports array instead:
<?php
register_post_type( 'custom_post_type', array(
'supports' => array( 'title', 'editor', 'shortlinks' ),
) );
?>This declaration tells the shortlink system that the custom type is eligible. It does not by itself install a WP.me provider; a connected Jetpack service or another provider must still generate the URL.
Decide whether you need WP.me or the core URL
Choose WP.me when a managed redirect is the goal
- You publish on WordPress.com.
- Your self-hosted site is connected to Jetpack and you want the same shortlink behavior.
- You need the editor’s Copy, Get Shortlink or Action Bar workflow.
- You want a consistent
wp.meaddress for sharing WordPress content.
Choose the core fallback when adding a provider is unnecessary
- You run self-hosted WordPress without Jetpack.
- A numeric query URL such as
?p=123meets your needs. - You are generating links in code and do not require a service-specific domain.
The practical difference is the source of the URL: WP.me comes from WordPress.com or Jetpack, while the query-style fallback comes from WordPress core. Installing a plugin solely to expose the Classic Editor button is not required if the core URL is sufficient for your use case.
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Verify and share the link safely
After copying, paste the address into a private browser window or a new tab. It should redirect to the same published post or page. This simple check catches a copied permalink, a truncated clipboard value, or a link belonging to a different item. Keep the complete URL, including the https:// scheme, when placing it in a document or application that does not automatically add one.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11A shortlink is an additional route to the content, not a replacement for the canonical permalink. Do not edit the post’s slug merely to make a sharing URL shorter. The WP.me address is designed for compact sharing while the normal permalink remains the address your site presents as canonical.
If a Business or Commerce administrator later disables WP.me creation, previously distributed WP.me addresses continue redirecting. Keep an inventory of links used in campaigns or printed material, but do not replace working links simply because the setting changed. New posts may require the core fallback or another active provider.
Requirements and limitations by workflow
| Workflow | What must be available | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Block editor | WordPress.com or a Jetpack-connected site with the Jetpack panel | Copy a displayed wp.me URL from Shortlink |
| Classic Editor | A provider or filter that returns a value different from the permalink | Copy the URL from Get Shortlink |
| WordPress.com Action Bar | A published WordPress.com post or page viewed publicly | Choose Copy shortlink |
| Core PHP | WordPress runtime and a valid object context | Receive a provider URL or the core ?p= fallback |
| Custom post type | shortlinks support plus an active provider |
Allow Jetpack or another provider to generate a shortlink |
The interface labels can vary with the editor and installed plugins, but the underlying distinction stays the same: an interface can only display a link that a provider or WordPress core has generated.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failure cases and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| No Jetpack icon in the block editor | The site is not connected to Jetpack, or the available editor does not include its panel | On self-hosted WordPress, install and connect Jetpack, then check Jetpack → Settings → Traffic. |
| No Shortlink section | WP.me shortlinks are disabled or no provider is active | Enable Create short and simple links for all posts and pages where that setting is available, or add a provider. |
| No Get Shortlink button in Classic Editor | WordPress has no provider, or the generated value matches the normal permalink | Check provider support and filters; the button is conditional. |
wp_get_shortlink() returns an empty string |
No shortlink exists for that object in the current configuration | Use the core fallback or configure a provider before outputting a link. |
You copied a URL but expected wp.me |
The site is using core-only behavior | Confirm whether Jetpack or WordPress.com is active; core alone commonly returns ?p=ID. |
| An old WP.me link still works after disabling the feature | Existing shared links remain redirected by design | No repair is needed; the setting controls creation of new shortlinks. |
Shortlink checklist
- Confirm that you opened the published post or page, not a different item.
- For the block editor, open the Jetpack icon and expand Shortlink.
- For the Classic Editor, look beside the permalink for Get Shortlink.
- On a public WordPress.com page, use the Action Bar’s Copy shortlink command.
- Expect
wp.mefrom WordPress.com or Jetpack, and commonly?p=IDfrom WordPress core. - If the control is missing, check the provider and the Traffic setting before changing the post.
- For code, use
wp_get_shortlink()for a URL string andthe_shortlink()inside The Loop for a complete anchor. - Add
shortlinkssupport to custom post types that should receive provider-generated links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Get Shortlink button in WordPress?
In the Classic Editor, open the published post and look beside the permalink under the title. The button appears only when a provider supplies a short URL that differs from the normal permalink.
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How do I copy a wp.me link?
Open the post in the block editor, select the Jetpack icon, expand Shortlink, and click Copy. On WordPress.com, the published page’s Action Bar also includes Copy shortlink.
Why is the WordPress shortlink option missing?
The site may have no active provider, WP.me creation may be disabled, or the generated value may match the regular permalink. Check Jetpack connection and Jetpack → Settings → Traffic before troubleshooting the post.
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Can I get a WordPress short URL without Jetpack?
Yes. WordPress core commonly supplies a query-style URL such as https://example.com/?p=123 through wp_get_shortlink(). That is a core URL, not a wp.me redirect. Another plugin can provide a different format.
Does every WordPress.com post have a wp.me link?
WordPress.com states that every page and post has a wp.me shortlink. Free, Personal and Premium plans keep the feature active; Business and Commerce plans expose the creation setting under Jetpack → Settings → Traffic.
Will an old wp.me link stop working if shortlinks are disabled?
No. Existing shared wp.me links continue redirecting. Disabling the setting affects creation of future shortlinks rather than invalidating links already distributed.
What is the difference between wp_get_shortlink() and the_shortlink()?
wp_get_shortlink() returns the URL as a string for application code. the_shortlink() outputs a complete anchor and is intended for use inside The Loop.
How do I enable shortlinks for a custom post type?
Declare shortlink support with add_post_type_support( ‘custom_post_type’, ‘shortlinks’ ) or include shortlinks in the post type’s supports array. A provider such as Jetpack is still required to generate a wp.me URL.
The Bottom Line
Use Jetpack’s Shortlink → Copy control for a wp.me URL, or choose Get Shortlink beside the permalink in the Classic Editor. WordPress.com also offers Copy shortlink in the Action Bar. If those controls are missing, check provider and Traffic settings; core WordPress can still return a compact ?p=ID URL, while developers can retrieve, output and filter shortlinks with the documented PHP functions and hooks.
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