> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.linkutm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Common issues

> Quick fixes for the things that break most often.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="My short link isn't working">
    Possible causes:

    * **Slug typo.** Compare what you typed vs the saved short code in linkutm.
    * **Wrong domain.** You might be visiting the link on a different domain than it was created on. Check the full short URL on the link detail page.
    * **Reserved path.** A small set of paths are reserved by the system (`api`, `health`, `docs`). If your slug matches one of these, rename it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My short link says it's expired">
    The link has passed its expiration date. If a fallback URL is set, visitors are sent there instead. Edit the link and extend or clear the expiry date to restore the original destination.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Custom domain stuck on 'pending'">
    * **CNAME not pointing.** Confirm your CNAME record matches the target shown
      in linkutm. - **Cloudflare proxied.** Set the
      record to **DNS only** (gray cloud), not proxied. - **DNS propagation lag.**
      Wait 5-30 min after changing DNS, then click **Verify** again. - **TTL too
      high.** Drop TTL to 300 before re-verifying.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="UTM values get changed on save">
    Workspace UTM Rules are running. Default behavior:

    * **Force lowercase** lowercases everything automatically.
    * **Space character** replaces spaces with `_` (or your configured character).

    Open the saved link to see the final stored values. To change this behavior, go to [UTM Rules](/utm-rules/overview).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Validation error: 'Value contains prohibited term'">
    A workspace UTM rule has a banned substring (e.g., `test`, `draft`). Either
    rename the value or remove the prohibited term from rules.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Error: 'Link limit reached'">
    Your workspace is at its maximum link count. Delete or archive unused links
    to free up space. The workspace owner gets a warning email when approaching the limit.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Error: 'Domain or Template limit reached'">
    Each resource type has its own maximum per workspace. Remove unused ones before adding new.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Error: 'Short code already exists'">
    Short link slugs are unique across all of linkutm, not just your workspace. Pick a different slug or leave it blank to auto-generate one. A slug that belonged to a deleted link stays reserved for 30 days after deletion, then frees up automatically.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Click count is zero after testing">
    * Did the click actually resolve? Open the short URL in a private window. -
      Are you within the workspace's retention window?
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Analytics show fewer clicks than expected">
    * **Bots.** Slack/LinkedIn/X fetch your URL once when you paste it for the
      link preview. These show as referrers like `Slack`, `LinkedIn`, etc. -
      **Retention window.** Each workspace has a retention window for click data;
      queries beyond it are silently clipped. - **In-app browsers.** iOS in-app
      browsers (Instagram, TikTok) sometimes don't pass referrer; clicks count,
      attribution doesn't.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Imported links from Bitly / Rebrandly / Short.io are missing">
    Importer skips conflicts. Check the import result for `errors` - each
    conflict says which slug already exists. Rename the slug at source, then
    re-import.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Invite link says 'expired'">
    Invites expire 7 days after sending. Resend from the Members page
    (regenerates the token).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can't accept an invite - 'sent to a different email'">
    Sign in (or create the account) with the exact email the invite was addressed to. Email match is case-insensitive but must be the same address.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Still stuck?

[Contact support](/help/contact-support) with: workspace slug, link short code (if relevant), the exact error message, and the time the issue happened.