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Migrating Firebase Dynamic Links to Bitly

With the retirement of Firebase Dynamic Links, you can move all of your links into Bitly.

If you have an Enterprise plan, you may have more options for migrating your links than what we outline here. Contact your Customer Success Manager to learn more.

Getting started in Bitly

A custom domain is required for creating Universal Links and Android App Links.

Here’s how to get started:

  1. Sign up for a Bitly account, if you don’t have one.

    a. Each Bitly subscription plan has different monthly limits for link shortening.

    b. Make sure your plan’s limit is high enough for the number of links you need to migrate.

    c. For mobile deep links (linking to content within mobile apps), a Premium plan or higher is required.

  2. Set up your custom domain in Bitly. If you use a free subdomain provided by Firebase Dynamic Links, choose a new custom domain or use the bit.ly domain.

    a. Make sure you configure your DNS settings to point at Bitly.

    b. Then, add your custom domain to Bitly.

  3. Configure your domain for mobile deep links, if you link to your mobile apps.

    a. First, set up your mobile apps in Bitly.

    b. Then, configure your custom domain for deep linking.

    c. Finally, install the Bitly SDK.

Once it’s set up on your custom domain, all your links are enabled for deep linking. You can always override this on a link-by-link basis.

Moving your links to Bitly

There are two ways you can move your Firebase Dynamic Links to Bitly:

  1. With the Bitly API

  2. Through a CSV bulk upload

The Bitly API

Our API is available on all plans, including Free. Monthly link limits still apply. It requires a little bit of technical know-how, but it does allow you to override Universal Links/Android App Links for individual links.

Here’s an overview of the process:

  1. Create an access token. This is done in your Bitly account.

    a. Documentation: Generate an OAuth access token for the Bitly API

  2. Create a script to shorten your links. Each link is a single request to the POST /v4/bitlinks endpoint.

    a. Documentation: Create a link

  3. Customize the back-half of your link. This is done with a call to the POST /v4/custom_bitlinks endpoint. It’s necessary if you want your new links to match your existing ones exactly.

    a. Documentation: Add a custom link

CSV bulk upload

CSV bulk uploads are available with some paid plans. For uploads of more than 3,000 links, please talk with our Sales team to discuss other import options that reduce downtime.

Here’s an overview of the process:

  1. Export your Firebase Dynamic Links short links. Consult Google’s documentation for information on how to do this.

  2. Convert your Firebase Dynamic Links export file to our CSV upload template. Be sure to keep all of the columns and headers exactly the same as in the template. Enter the back-half exactly as it is in your current link.

  3. Upload your links. Depending on how many links you have to import, the bulk shortening process can take up to a few hours.

    a. Documentation: Shorten links in bulk

We’ll send you an email when your links have been successfully imported. If there are any issues, check out Troubleshooting bulk upload errors for help.