In short: Microsoft does not offer a public, general-purpose URL shortener. aka.ms is reserved for Microsoft itself, Microsoft Forms and OneDrive only shorten their own links, and Microsoft Teams has no shortener for meeting links. To shorten a Teams meeting link, use a dedicated tool such as MSTeams.link.
If you have ever pasted a Microsoft Teams meeting link into a text message, you know the problem: it is more than 180 characters long, full of encoded symbols, and often breaks. So the natural question is: is there a Microsoft URL shortener you can use instead? Here is what actually exists, what each option can and cannot do, and the quickest way to get a short link for a Teams meeting.
Does Microsoft have its own URL shortener?
Not one you can use for any link. Microsoft runs several short-link domains, but each one is limited to Microsoft’s own content or to a single product:
| Short link | What it is | Can you create one for any URL? |
|---|---|---|
| aka.ms | Microsoft’s own redirection domain, used in documentation, products and support pages. | No: short links are created internally by Microsoft. |
| 1drv.ms | Short version of a OneDrive sharing link. | No: only for files and folders shared from OneDrive. |
| Forms “Shorten URL” | An option in the Share pane of Microsoft Forms. | No: only for that form, and the link stays fairly long. |
| Microsoft Teams | No shortener. Meeting links use the long teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/… format. | No. |
| Microsoft Edge | No built-in shortener; Microsoft suggests installing an extension. | No. |
Even Microsoft’s own community teams have built separate shorteners (the Patterns and Practices team created pnp.ms) because they could not create aka.ms links themselves.
Why are Teams meeting links so long?
A Teams join link contains the meeting thread ID, your organization (tenant) ID and the organizer’s ID, all URL-encoded. The result is a 180 to 250 character address that:
- gets cut in SMS and some chat apps, so the link no longer works;
- is impossible to read out loud or type by hand;
- can be rewritten by Microsoft Defender Safe Links when it is copied from an email, which makes it even longer.
More details in our guide: why Teams links are so long.
Your options to shorten a Microsoft link
1. Use the product’s own option when it exists
For a survey, the Shorten URL box in Microsoft Forms is enough. For a file, the OneDrive share dialog already gives a 1drv.ms link. Neither works for a Teams meeting.
2. A generic shortener (Bitly, TinyURL…)
They work with any URL, but the short link says nothing about Teams, free plans limit customization and statistics, and some company filters block generic short-link domains.
3. Host your own shortener
Developers can deploy an open-source shortener on Azure (for example AzUrlShortener). It gives full control, at the cost of a domain, hosting and maintenance.
4. A shortener built for Teams: MSTeams.link
MSTeams.link is a free URL shortener made only for Microsoft Teams meeting links. It turns the long join URL into a short link such as msteams.link/AB12, generates a QR code for the meeting, and works for Teams work accounts and Teams free (teams.live.com) links. It is an independent service, not affiliated with Microsoft.
- No account needed to shorten a link.
- QR code included, for slides, posters and meeting rooms.
- A Chrome extension and an Outlook add-in to shorten without leaving your tools.
- Click statistics when you sign in.
How to shorten a Teams meeting link in 10 seconds
- Copy the meeting link from Teams or Outlook (see how to copy a Teams meeting link).
- Paste it on msteams.link and select Shorten.
- Copy the short link or download the QR code, then share it by email, SMS or chat.
The short link opens exactly the same Teams meeting: participants join as usual.
FAQ
Can I create my own aka.ms link?
No. aka.ms links are created and managed by Microsoft for its own pages and products.
Is there a URL shortener in Microsoft 365?
Only inside some products: Microsoft Forms (Shorten URL) and OneDrive (1drv.ms sharing links). There is no general Microsoft 365 shortener and none in Teams or Outlook.
Is a short link safe for a Teams meeting?
Yes, as long as the shortener only redirects to the original meeting. MSTeams.link keeps the original destination and checks the domain before redirecting, so the meeting’s own security (lobby, organizer settings) stays in place.