In early 2019, the Bitly API was updated to V4. Bitly no longer supports older versions of the API, and outdated connections were phased out on September 14, 2020.
To learn how to migrate your integration to V4, watch our Bitly Expert Webinar and review our review our migration documentation.
Here are some frequently-asked questions:
- What's an API?
- So how do you know if you're using Bitly's API?
- How do you know if you're using the latest version of the API, V4?
- What to do if you've built your own integration
- What to do if you use a product with its own Bitly integration
What's an API?
An API is a way to pass data from one system or app to another. Hundreds of thousands of people send information through Bitly's API every day.
We've updated our API to V4 (version 4), with improved speed, stability and security, and it's important that you're connecting to Bitly using this latest version.
How do you know if you're using Bitly's API?
If you can create a Bitly link, create a QR Code, or view your engagement data without logging in to the Bitly web app (app.bitly.com), then you're using our API.
Start with checking your settings to see if your account is connected via the API. This will let you know if API changes affect you at all. Visit How do you know if you're using Bitly's API? for instructions.
How do you know if you're using the latest version of the API, V4?
The biggest clue would be if you’re asked to enter a Bitly API key to connect to Bitly. API keys are a method used in the old versions of the API and are no longer supported in V4. Instead, V4 uses OAuth access tokens.
To find out which version of the API you’re using, you'd have to ask the people who built your integration.
What to do if you've built your own integration
- First, make sure you've set your default API group via your Bitly profile settings.
- If you worked with a developer to build your own integration, work with your technical contacts to make sure you're using API V4. Up-to-date information is available on our developer site, dev.bitly.com.
- You can also view our Bitly Expert Webinar, Migrating to API V4, and review our documentation at Migrating from API v3.
What to do if you use a product with its own Bitly integration
If you're using a product like Dynamic Signal, Pardot, Sprinklr, or others that have "plugged into" Bitly:
- First, make sure you've set your default API group via your Bitly profile settings.
- If you're having any problems using the integration, check in with the vendor directly and as them if they have updated to V4.
When a product updates to API V4, the vendor will put your existing connection through an OAuth flow, which will give them an access token to use for all future calls. That's tech talk for: You shouldn't have to do another thing when the system is updated for you.
If your software provider does not update to V4, your integration will stop working, and you will need to log into your Bitly account to shorten links and view your metrics.