The fastest way to get a WordPress shortlink is to open the post in the block editor, open the Jetpack panel, expand Shortlink, and click Copy. WordPress.com and Jetpack-connected sites copy a wp.me URL. In the Classic Editor, click Get Shortlink beside the permalink. If neither control appears, shortlink support may be disabled, unavailable, or supplied by no provider.
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What a WordPress shortlink is
A WordPress shortlink is a compact URL that redirects to a post or page. On WordPress.com and Jetpack-powered sites, the address uses the wp.me domain. Jetpack describes these as links for sharing when a shorter address is useful; they are not general-purpose URL shorteners for arbitrary websites.
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WordPress core can also produce a compact query-style URL such as https://example.com/?p=123. That format is different from a wp.me link: it is generated from the site’s post ID and does not depend on the WP.me service.
Shortlinks are useful when a long permalink is awkward to type, display, or fit into a message. The destination remains the same post, so changing themes or editing the post title does not require you to replace a link that has already been shared.
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Choose the workflow that matches your site
| Where the post is hosted | Editor or interface | Shortlink format | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com | Block editor | wp.me |
Jetpack panel in the editor |
| Self-hosted WordPress connected to Jetpack | Block editor | wp.me |
Jetpack connection and enabled WP.me shortlinks |
| Any site with the Classic Editor and a provider | Classic Editor | Provider-generated URL, commonly wp.me when Jetpack supplies it |
Get Shortlink must be available beside the permalink |
| WordPress.com while viewing a published item | Action Bar | wp.me |
Copy shortlink in the more-options menu |
| Core-only self-hosted WordPress | Code or a theme template | Usually ?p= style |
WordPress core shortlink support; a plugin can provide another format |
If you only need a link to share right now, use the first workflow that matches your dashboard. If you are building a theme, plugin, or custom post type, use the developer functions described later.
Get a shortlink in the block editor
WordPress.com or a Jetpack-connected self-hosted site
- Sign in to the WordPress dashboard and open Posts. Open the published post whose shortlink you need. The same route works for a supported page.
- In the editor, click the Jetpack icon in the top-right corner. If the icon is not visible, make sure you are editing a site with Jetpack connected or using WordPress.com.
- Expand the Shortlink panel.
- Click Copy. The editor places the
wp.meaddress on your clipboard. - Paste the result into your message, document, social post, or browser address bar to verify that it points to the intended item.
The copied address is a redirecting WP.me URL, not the full permalink shown in your site’s address structure. Keep the shortlink when the recipient needs a compact address; use the regular permalink when showing your site’s domain is more important.
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The documented workflows are centered on a published post or page. If you are still drafting, save or publish the item first, then reopen it and look for Shortlink. A link generated before publication may not be available through the same interface.
Use the Classic Editor’s Get Shortlink button
- Open the published post in the Classic Editor.
- Look beneath the title, beside the permalink.
- Click Get Shortlink.
- Copy the URL shown in the dialog.
The button is conditional rather than guaranteed. Current WordPress administration code renders it only when a shortlink provider or filter is present and the generated shortlink differs from the post’s normal permalink. Therefore, a missing button does not by itself indicate a damaged post or editor. It usually means that no provider is available, shortlinks were disabled, or the generated value is the same as the permalink.
Copy a shortlink from the WordPress.com Action Bar
When viewing a published post or page on WordPress.com, use the Action Bar:
- Open the published post or page on the public site while signed in.
- Open the Action Bar’s more-options menu.
- Choose Copy shortlink.
- Paste the copied address where you need it.
This route is convenient when you are already viewing the public page instead of working inside the editor.
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Jetpack is not connected on a self-hosted site
On a self-hosted installation, WP.me links are supplied through Jetpack. Install and connect Jetpack, then check its Traffic settings. The relevant option is Jetpack → Settings → Traffic → Create short and simple links for all posts and pages. Once support is available and enabled, reopen the post and check the editor panel or Classic Editor.
WP.me shortlinks are disabled by the site’s plan settings
WordPress.com support documentation reviewed September 28, 2026 states that every WordPress.com page and post has a WP.me shortlink. On Business and Commerce plans, administrators can toggle WP.me Shortlinks under Jetpack → Settings → Traffic. Free, Personal, and Premium plans keep the feature active and do not expose that toggle. If the feature is disabled on a Business or Commerce site, existing shared WP.me links continue redirecting even after the setting is turned off.
No provider supplies a shortlink
WordPress core documents that wp_get_shortlink() returns an empty string when no shortlink exists. A site can therefore have a perfectly normal post but no shortlink control because nothing is generating one.
The generated link is not different from the permalink
The Classic Editor control is shown only when the provider returns a link that differs from the regular permalink. If both values are effectively the same, WordPress has no separate compact address to display.
You are editing an unsupported content type
Jetpack provides WP.me support for the standard post, page, and attachment post types by default. A custom post type may need explicit shortlinks support; the code example below shows how to add it.
WordPress.com, Jetpack, and core-only links compared
| Approach | Hosting context | Typical URL | Interface | Code customization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com shortlink | WordPress.com site | wp.me |
Jetpack panel or Action Bar | Usually unnecessary for routine copying |
| Jetpack shortlink | Self-hosted site connected to Jetpack | wp.me |
Jetpack panel; Classic Editor may show Get Shortlink | Jetpack and WordPress hooks can be used |
| Core fallback | Self-hosted WordPress without a provider | https://example.com/?p=123 |
No WP.me button is guaranteed | Use wp_get_shortlink(), filters, or a provider plugin |
The choice is mainly about the URL format and who generates it. A wp.me address comes from WordPress.com or Jetpack. Core’s fallback is a query URL based on the site’s own domain and post ID.
Get a core shortlink with PHP
Retrieve the URL with wp_get_shortlink()
WordPress exposes this function for code that needs the URL itself:
<?php
$shortlink = wp_get_shortlink();
if ( $shortlink ) {
echo esc_url( $shortlink );
}
?>wp_get_shortlink( $id = 0, $context = 'post', $allow_slugs = true ) accepts an optional object ID, context, and slug allowance. With the default arguments, it asks WordPress for the shortlink associated with the current post context. The function can return a link for a post, page, attachment, or site, depending on the context and available provider.
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Display it with the_shortlink()
Inside The Loop, use the_shortlink() when you want WordPress to output an anchor containing the shortlink:
<?php
if ( get_shortlink() ) {
the_shortlink( 'Copy shortlink' );
}
?>The key distinction is output versus return value. WordPress documents that the_shortlink() displays the complete link and must be called from inside The Loop, while wp_get_shortlink() returns the URL for code that needs to handle it. In a custom template, confirm that the call runs in the correct post context before adding markup around it.
Support shortlinks for a custom post type
Jetpack’s developer documentation lists post, page, and attachment as receiving WP.me support by default. Add support to a custom post type in either of these ways:
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<?php
add_post_type_support( 'custom_post_type', 'shortlinks' );
?>Or include shortlinks in the post type’s registered supports array:
<?php
register_post_type(
'custom_post_type',
array(
'supports' => array( 'title', 'editor', 'shortlinks' ),
)
);
?>Replace custom_post_type with the actual post type key. The post type still needs a provider capable of generating a shortlink; declaring support does not create a WP.me service on its own.
Customize generation with filters
Use pre_get_shortlink when a plugin needs to short-circuit generation and return its own value before the normal process runs. Use get_shortlink when you need to modify the generated URL:
<?php
add_filter( 'pre_get_shortlink', function ( $return, $id, $context, $allow_slugs ) {
// Return a URL here to bypass the normal shortlink process.
return $return;
}, 10, 4 );
add_filter( 'get_shortlink', function ( $shortlink, $id, $context, $allow_slugs ) {
// Adjust or replace the generated URL here.
return $shortlink;
}, 10, 4 );
?>These hooks are appropriate for plugin-level integration, not for a one-off copy operation. Keep the callback’s return value a valid URL or an empty value when no shortlink should be offered. Test the result in both the editor and any template that calls a shortlink function.
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- Confirm the hosting context: determine whether the site is WordPress.com, self-hosted with Jetpack, or core-only. The available URL format depends on this distinction.
- Open a published item: use a published post or page, then reopen the editor. The documented copy controls are tied to published content.
- Check the correct panel: in the block editor, look for the Jetpack icon in the top-right, then expand Shortlink.
- Check Traffic settings: on a self-hosted Jetpack site, verify Create short and simple links for all posts and pages. On WordPress.com Business or Commerce, check the WP.me Shortlinks toggle.
- Look beside the permalink in Classic Editor: the button is named Get Shortlink, not “Short URL” or “Copy URL.”
- Check the content type: standard posts, pages, and attachments have Jetpack support by default; custom post types may require the
shortlinkssupport declaration. - Inspect the returned value: if
wp_get_shortlink()returns an empty string, WordPress has no available shortlink provider for that request. - Distinguish formats:
wp.meindicates WordPress.com or Jetpack generation;?p=123is the normal core-style fallback. - Test the copied destination: paste the URL into a browser and confirm that it redirects to the intended post, especially when multiple posts have similar titles.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing the permalink with the shortlink
The permalink is the post’s normal public address, often containing a readable slug. A shortlink is a separate compact address. Copying the browser address bar may give you the permalink even when a WP.me shortlink is available in the editor.
Assuming every WordPress installation has WP.me
WP.me is associated with WordPress.com and Jetpack. A self-hosted site without Jetpack or another provider can still have a core ?p= URL, but it should not be expected to produce a wp.me address.
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Searching for a button that is intentionally conditional
The Classic Editor’s Get Shortlink button appears only when a provider or filter supplies a distinct shortlink. Its absence is therefore a configuration or provider signal, not evidence that the post failed to save.
Disabling WP.me and assuming old links stop working
According to WordPress.com support, existing shared WP.me links continue redirecting after WP.me Shortlinks are disabled on plans that expose the setting. Disabling the feature affects availability for new use; it does not invalidate those already shared links.
Which method should you use?
- Need one link with no code? Use the block editor’s Jetpack panel and click Copy.
- Working in the Classic Editor? Click Get Shortlink beside the permalink when the button is present.
- Already viewing a WordPress.com page? Use Action Bar → more options → Copy shortlink.
- Running core-only WordPress? Call
wp_get_shortlink(); expect a?p=fallback unless a plugin supplies another format. - Building a theme or plugin? Use
wp_get_shortlink()when your code needs the URL andthe_shortlink()inside The Loop when your template should print an anchor. - Supporting a custom post type? Add
shortlinkssupport and ensure a provider is active.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Get Shortlink button in WordPress?
In the Classic Editor, it appears beside the permalink beneath the post title. It is shown only when a shortlink provider or filter supplies a distinct URL.
How do I copy a wp.me link?
Open the post in the block editor, click the Jetpack icon, expand Shortlink, and click Copy. On WordPress.com, the Action Bar’s more-options menu also includes Copy shortlink.
Can I get a WordPress short URL without Jetpack?
You can get WordPress core’s query-style shortlink, commonly https://example.com/?p=123, through wp_get_shortlink(). A wp.me link specifically requires WordPress.com or Jetpack support.
Why does wp_get_shortlink() return an empty value?
Core returns an empty string when no shortlink exists for the request. Check whether a provider is active, whether the post type supports shortlinks, and whether a filter is returning an empty value.
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