How to remove tracking from links you copy on Mac

Copy a link and you get half a paragraph of utm_source and other tracking tags. Copy just the link.

Short answer

Safari Private Browsing, Mail and Messages remove known tracking parameters, and Safari can do it for all browsing; links you copy elsewhere keep theirs. MacFixes strips tracking like utm_source from links you copy, in any app.

What macOS gives you

In Safari, Private Browsing removes known tracking parameters from links, and you can turn that on for all browsing in Safari → Settings → Privacy → Advanced Settings. Mail and Messages also remove known tracking information from links shared in them. Links you copy from other browsers and apps keep everything.

How MacFixes fixes it

  1. 1
    Add the fix
    Open MacFixes Settings → Clipboard and add “Clean links”. Fixes are off until you add them.
  2. 2
    Copy links as usual
    Tracking like utm_source is removed as you copy. You can add your own parameters to strip.
This is one of 28 fixes in MacFixes.
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Questions

Can I strip other parameters?

Yes. Add any parameter names you want removed in the fix’s settings.

What about a link inside a paragraph I copy?

It’s left as it is. MacFixes cleans the clipboard when it holds just a link.

More fixes macOS doesn’t give you

See your clipboard history›Paste without formatting›Cut and paste files›