Link Expiry

Link expiry is a feature that automatically deactivates a shared URL after a specified date, time, or condition is met. Once the deadline passes, anyone clicking the link sees a notice that the content is no longer available instead of the original publication. The publisher retains full control: the underlying content is not deleted, only the link stops granting access. This means the same publication can be re-shared later with a new link or an extended deadline without recreating anything. Link expiry turns every shared URL into a time-boxed access window rather than a permanent open door.

Content does not always age well. A product catalog with last season's pricing, a proposal with outdated terms, or a promotional offer that ended weeks ago can confuse recipients and damage credibility if left accessible. Link expiry eliminates the need to manually remember and revoke access. It also creates natural urgency: when recipients know a link will stop working, they are more likely to open and read the material promptly. For confidential documents, expiry adds a temporal layer of access control that complements [password protection](/features/password-protection) and [email allowlisting](/glossary/email-allowlist), reducing the window during which forwarded links remain usable.

FlipLink's [link expiry](/features/link-expiry) feature lets you set an expiration date and time on any flipbook or document link. You configure this in the publication settings by choosing a specific calendar date or a relative time window. After the deadline passes, the link returns an expiration notice rather than the content. You can update or extend the expiry at any time from the dashboard without generating a new URL. This works alongside other access controls like [password protection](/features/password-protection) and [privacy settings](/features/privacy-and-access-control) to give you layered security over your published materials.

**Time-sensitive offers.** Sales promotions, flash deals, and seasonal catalogs should expire when the offer does. Setting a link expiry date matching the promotion end date prevents customers from seeing outdated pricing. **Confidential proposals and contracts.** When sharing a business proposal, you may want the recipient to review it within a defined window. A 14-day expiry ensures the document does not remain accessible indefinitely if the deal falls through. **Event-specific materials.** Conference agendas, workshop handouts, and event brochures lose relevance after the event ends. Expiring the link avoids confusion for anyone who stumbles on it weeks later. **Content versioning.** When you publish an updated version of a catalog or report, expiring the old link ensures readers always see the latest version rather than an outdated one they bookmarked.

A real estate agency creates a property brochure flipbook for a luxury listing and shares the link with three potential buyers. The agent sets a seven-day link expiry to create urgency around the viewing deadline. All three buyers open the flipbook within the first two days. After the week ends, the link deactivates. When one buyer returns with a renewed offer, the agent extends the expiry by another week for that buyer's link specifically, keeping the other two expired. This targeted approach lets the agent control exactly who can access the material and for how long, without juggling multiple publication copies.

**Set expiry dates that match business timelines.** A 30-day expiry on a 3-day flash sale link is too generous. Align the expiry window with the actual relevance period of the content. **Combine expiry with other controls.** Link expiry works best as one layer in a multi-layer access strategy. Pair it with [password protection](/features/password-protection) for sensitive documents or [lead capture](/features/lead-capture) to collect viewer information before the deadline passes. **Communicate the deadline to recipients.** Let viewers know the link has a time limit. This transparency motivates prompt action and prevents frustration when the link stops working unexpectedly. **Review expiring links regularly.** Check your dashboard for links approaching their expiry date. Decide whether to extend, let them expire, or replace them with updated content. This keeps your shared content library clean and current. **Use relative time windows for recurring content.** Instead of picking a fixed calendar date, set a "7 days from now" window for materials you send repeatedly, such as onboarding packets or trial access links. This saves you from recalculating dates for each new recipient.