Remove trackers with NordVPN’s URL trimmer

Get rid of URL tracking parameters and keep your online habits to yourself.

Woman using a laptop with NordVPN to browse securely.

What is URL trimming and how does it work?

URL trimming is the practice of removing tracking parameters tacked on to URL links by many websites. These extra bits of code dictate where you’re going and what you’re telling about yourself when you get there. The NordVPN URL trimming feature automatically snips off unhashed tracking parameters added to links, protecting your privacy as you browse the internet.

Enable URL trimmer feature

Simple — all you have to do is turn NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature on. The URL trimmer will automatically start removing tracking parameters from links.

Open the NordVPN app

Launch the NordVPN app on your device and log in with your credentials.

Click the shield

Select the shield icon on the left-hand side to open the Threat Protection section.

Turn on web protection

Turn web protection on in the Threat Protection tab to enable URL trimming and other protective measures.

To use Threat Protection without URL trimming, click “Manage” in the Threat Protection section and switch “URL Trimmer” off.

Why you should trim URLs

Using NordVPN to remove tracking from an URL.

The benefit of URL trimming is simple — increased privacy. URL tracking parameters can reveal which site you came from, what kind of link you clicked, and even which keywords you used in a previous search. Marketers, web analysts, or online spies can use this information to profile you, analyze your habits, and identify your interests.

In addition, tracking parameters make the URL significantly longer and more dangerous to share. Copying and pasting such a link not only results in a wall of text but also reveals all the tracking information to anyone you give it to.

Is a site using URL tracking parameters?

A man in front of a large computer screen pointing at an URL.

For unhashed URLs, finding out if they have any tracking parameters is easy — simply look for a question mark (“?”) in the address bar or the link you’re about to click. If it’s there, the URL contains one or more tracking parameters, each separated by an ampersand (“&”). However, keep in mind that some URLs might have hashed trackers even without a question mark.

Clean URL example
https://example.com/

Tracking parameters in URL
https://example.com/page?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=
birthday&utm_content=image

Frequently asked questions

How do I trim a URL for free?

You can manually delete tracking parameters by removing all text after the question mark in any given URL. Trimming every URL by hand isn’t practical, however, because links can be embedded in images or hidden in screen overlays.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature includes a free URL trimmer — no extra charge necessary. Once you get a NordVPN subscription, simply activate Threat Protection and it will start scrubbing tracking parameters automatically.

Are there any disadvantages to trimming URLs?

While URL tracking parameters reveal sensitive information, they can also be used to offer special deals or simply load the most suitable version of the web page for you. For example, clicking a birthday campaign link on social media may take you to the product’s page with a special discount applied.

For this reason, you can toggle NordVPN’s URL trimmer off without compromising the rest of our Threat Protection features. In the NordVPN app, click the shield icon on the left-hand side, press “Settings” in the Threat Protection tab that opens, and switch “Tracking URLs” off.

How is a URL trimmer different from a URL shortener?

Unlike a URL trimmer, URL shorteners do not actually remove any parts (including tracking parameters) from the URL. Instead, they provide a short link to another domain that automatically redirects you to the desired page with all original tracking parameters intact. By contrast, a URL trimmer makes URLs shorter by snipping off any extra code added to them.

Can I make URLs shorter myself?

Yes, you can trim or make URLs shorter yourself but, beware, the task can be very tedious. First, you have to copy the URL and paste it into the address bar of your browser. Then, look for the question mark “?” and delete it along with everything that goes after it. But this method works only for URLs with tracking parameters. If the URL is inherently long, you wouldn’t be able to make it any shorter yourself.

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