How to get redirect url using Excel VBA or Python

Getting some tiny URL, that redirects you to somewhere else might be dangerous. There are a lot of people, that would never ever click on bit.ly/something or goo.gl/something, just because they do not know where the redirect is going to bring them. And they probably have a point.

Anyway, here I will show you how to get the target of the redirect url with Excel VBA and with Python.

With Python we use Requests

import requests


def main():
    short_url = "https://bit.ly/3fW7cdQ"
    r = requests.get(short_url)
    print(r.url)
    print(r.headers)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

With Excel VBA we use CreateObject(“WinHTTP.WinHTTPRequest.5.1”)

Sub Main()

    Debug.Print Shortener("https://bit.ly/3tWiGGs")

End Sub

Public Function Shortener(tinyUrl As String) As String
    
    Dim myRequest As Object
    Set myRequest = CreateObject("WinHTTP.WinHTTPRequest.5.1")

    With myRequest
        .Open "HEAD", tinyUrl, False
        .option(6) = True
        .option(12) = True
        .send
        Shortener = .option(1)
    End With
    
End Function

Well, that’s all!