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WordPress still generates shortlinks, but the classic Get Shortlink button has been hidden by default since WordPress 4.4. The simplest way to restore that editor control is to install the WordPress.org plugin Bring Back the Get Shortlink Button. Its directory listing reports testing through WordPress 6.1.12, so check the listing against your installed WordPress version before activating it.
What the restored button actually does
The button exposes WordPress’s own shortlink for the current post. It does not create a branded URL such as a custom domain shortener. For a public post type, WordPress’s default value is generally a compact ?p= URL, for example https://example.com/?p=123.
Removing the button did not remove the underlying core feature. WordPress can still generate shortlinks for posts, pages, attachments, and the site itself. Plugins may replace or modify the generated value.
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Restore the button with the WordPress.org plugin
Check compatibility first
- Open the official WordPress.org plugin directory and find Bring Back the Get Shortlink Button.
- Check the plugin’s “Tested up to” value against the WordPress version shown under Dashboard → Updates.
- Treat “tested through 6.1.12” as the limit of the listing’s stated testing, not as confirmed support for newer releases.
- Back up the site, or test the plugin on a staging copy, before activating it on a production site.
Install and activate it
- In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin.
- Search for Bring Back the Get Shortlink Button.
- Confirm that the author and listing are the expected WordPress.org entry, then select Install Now.
- Select Activate.
- Open an existing post or create a draft and look for the restored shortlink control in the editor’s link or publishing area, depending on the editor and theme.
If the control does not appear, update the page, clear any browser or caching layer that affects the editor, and check whether another plugin or the active editor has changed the publishing interface.
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When this plugin is not the right solution
| Need | Best-fit approach | What it provides | Technical skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show the familiar editor control | Bring Back the Get Shortlink Button | Restores access to WordPress’s generated shortlink; compatibility must be checked for the installed version | Dashboard installation |
| Generate or replace shortlinks programmatically | Use WordPress shortlink hooks | Lets code short-circuit or filter the value | PHP development |
| Print a shortlink in a theme template | Use the_shortlink() |
Outputs a link for the current post inside the Loop | Theme development |
| Create a branded or third-party short URL | Use a maintained URL-shortening service or plugin | A separately managed short domain or redirect system | Service and integration setup |
The official plugin directory lists other shortlink plugins, but their features and compatibility differ. If the named plugin is unsuitable, compare each alternative’s current listing, update history, and editor support rather than assuming that every result restores the same button.
How WordPress generates a shortlink
wp_get_shortlink()
The core function has the signature wp_get_shortlink( int $id, string $context = 'post', bool $allow_slugs = true ): string. It can return a shortlink for a post, page, attachment, or the site. Core’s default support is centered on ?p=-style links for posts. If no shortlink is available or shortlinks are disabled, the function can return an empty string.
Changing the result with filters
Code can use pre_get_shortlink to short-circuit generation before the normal result is produced. The get_shortlink filter can alter the generated string afterward; it receives the shortlink, ID, context, and allow_slugs flag. The latter hook has existed since WordPress 3.0.0.
These hooks are appropriate when a developer needs rules such as a custom redirect format, a different behavior for a post type, or integration with another system. They do not, by themselves, add a dashboard button.
Rank #3
the_shortlink() in a theme
the_shortlink() outputs a link for the current post and is intended to run inside WordPress’s Loop. Add it to a theme or template only when you want visitors to see a shortlink on the rendered page. It is not an editor replacement for ordinary dashboard users.
Troubleshooting a missing or unusable button
- Plugin cannot be installed: confirm that your account can install plugins and that the site is not a managed installation with plugin restrictions.
- Activation fails: deactivate the plugin, restore the backup or staging copy, and review the site’s PHP and WordPress error logs before trying another version.
- The button is still absent: verify activation, reload the editor, test with other plugins temporarily disabled, and check whether your editor presents the control under a different publishing panel.
- The copied URL is not branded: that is expected. Core’s normal shortlink is a WordPress-generated
?p=address, not a third-party shortened URL. - The plugin is outdated for your release: do not assume compatibility from the 6.1.12 testing note. Review currently maintained directory alternatives or have a developer expose the core value through a custom admin feature.
Choosing the safe path
For a site that only needs the old editor control, check the plugin listing and your WordPress version, test on staging, and install the named plugin if the compatibility evidence is acceptable. For branded links, use a separate short-link system. For custom generation or front-end display, use the core filters or the_shortlink() in the appropriate code location.
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