---
title: "How to Create a Short Link for a Document or Folder in SharePoint Online"
description: "Step-by-step guide to creating a short link for a document or folder in a SharePoint Online library with the Short URL command: select the item, review the title, domain and short name, copy the link and save your changes."
url: https://vitextra.com/en/support/kb/10471
language: en
published: 2026-11-02
modified: 2026-11-07
products:
  - "Short URL Online"
author: "Līga Ozola"
tags: ["create short link SharePoint", "shorten document link", "SharePoint short URL for document", "Short URL command", "SharePoint library command bar", "short link for folder", "copy short link", "Vitextra Short URL Online", "share document short link"]
---

# How to Create a Short Link for a Document or Folder in SharePoint Online

Step-by-step guide to creating a short link for a document or folder in a SharePoint Online library with the Short URL command: select the item, review the title, domain and short name, copy the link and save your changes.

## Introduction

The **Short URL** command in the command bar of a ::document library:: creates a short link to the selected document or folder. It takes a few seconds: you select an item, open the dialog, copy the link and, if you want, give it a more meaningful name.

This article explains how to use the command. For an overview of the whole product, see [KB10470. Short URL Online. Solution Overview](https://vitextra.com/en/support/kb/10470).

## Before you begin

- Short URL Online must be deployed in your ::tenant:: and the **Vitextra Short URL** app must be added to the ::site::. If the **Short URL** command is not visible, ask your administrator to follow [KB10057. How to Deploy and Set Up Short URL Online](https://vitextra.com/en/support/kb/10057).
- The command is available in document libraries.

## Create a short link

1. Open the document library and select the document or folder that you want to share. Select **one** item only.
2. On the command bar, click **Short URL**.

![The Short URL command in the command bar](https://static.vitextra.com/articles/10471/short-url-command-en.png)
*The Short URL command in the command bar*

3. The **Short URL** dialog opens and shows a spinner while the link is loaded. If the item has no short link yet, one is created for it automatically.

![The Short URL dialog](https://static.vitextra.com/articles/10471/short-url-dialog-en.png)
*The Short URL dialog*

4. Click the copy icon next to the short link. The word **Copied** appears briefly to confirm that the link is in the clipboard.
5. Click **Close**, then paste the link into an email, a chat or a document.

📝 **Note**  
The **Short URL** command is visible only when exactly one item is selected. If you select several items, or none, the command is hidden.

📝 **Note**  
If you open the command for an item that already has a short link, the dialog shows that link instead of creating a new one.

## Review the link properties

The dialog contains the following fields.

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| **Title** | A name that helps you recognize the link in the Short URL Management ::web part::. By default it is the title or the file name of the item. Up to 300 characters. |
| **Domain** | The domain of the short link. See [KB10473. How to Choose a Domain and Customize the Short Name of a Link in Short URL Online](https://vitextra.com/en/support/kb/10473). |
| **URL** | The short name that follows the domain. It is generated automatically and you can replace it. Required, up to 200 characters. |
| **Target Link Type** | **Link to item** or **Link to online editor**. See [KB10472. Link to Item vs. Link to Online Editor: Choosing the Target Link Type in Short URL Online](https://vitextra.com/en/support/kb/10472). |
| **URL** | The resulting short link, with a copy button. It opens in a new browser tab when you click it. |
| **Link URL** | The full address of the item that the short link leads to. |

## Change the short link

1. In the **URL** field, type a new short name, for example `price-list`.
2. If needed, change the **Title**, the **Domain** or the **Target Link Type**.
3. Click **Update**. The message **Save completed successfully.** appears and the **URL** field shows the new link.

![The dialog after saving the changes](https://static.vitextra.com/articles/10471/short-url-dialog-saved-en.png)
*The dialog after saving the changes*

❗ **Important**  
The short name must be unique. If the name is already taken, the **URL** field shows the message **This name already exists. You must specify a unique name.** Choose a different name and click **Update** again. If you leave the **URL** field empty, it shows **This field is required**.

❗ **Important**  
The short link consists of the domain and the short name, so changing either of them changes the link itself. Anyone who already received the previous link should be sent the new one.

## What if the dialog shows an error

If the short link cannot be loaded or created, the dialog shows an error message that begins with **The following error occurred:** and only the **Close** button. Close the dialog and try again. If the problem persists, see [KB10365. Why Does a Vitextra Web Part Show "We Hope You Enjoyed Your Free Trial"? License Messages and Fixes](https://vitextra.com/en/support/kb/10365) to rule out a license issue.

💡 **Tip**  
To see all the short links that you and your colleagues have created, and to delete the ones you no longer need, use the Short URL Management web part. See [KB10474. How to Add and Configure the Short URL Management Web Part](https://vitextra.com/en/support/kb/10474).