Tracking Parameter URL Cleaner

WHAT IT DOES

This script automatically removes tracking parameters from URLs on any webpage, giving you cleaner, shorter links without the clutter of marketing and analytics parameters. When you visit a URL that contains tracking parameters like utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, fbclid, gclid, ref, source, campaign, and many others, the script detects them and redirects you to a cleaned version of the URL without those parameters. This not only makes URLs more readable but also improves privacy by reducing the amount of data shared with third-party tracking systems. You can customize the list of parameters to remove, add your own, and enable or disable the auto-cleaning at any time. A notification shows you which parameters were removed when a URL is cleaned.

WHERE IT RUNS

The script runs on all websites (*://*/*), making it truly universal. It works on any page with a URL that contains tracking parameters—news sites, search results, social media links, e-commerce pages, and more. It supports both desktop and mobile views.

HOW TO USE

After installation, the settings panel appears on the left side of the screen with the gear emoji (⚙️). Open the panel to configure the script:

- The "Enable auto-cleaning" toggle enables or disables the automatic URL cleaning.

- Add custom tracking parameters to remove in the "Custom parameters" field (comma separated).

- Click "Clean current URL" to manually clean the current page's URL.

- Click "Show tracking parameters" to see which tracking parameters are present on the current page.

The script works automatically—just browse the web and your URLs will be cleaned when tracking parameters are found.

TECHNICAL SECTION — REAL MECHANISM

The script uses the URL API to parse the current URL and its search parameters. It maintains a list of tracking parameter names (over 70 common parameters including utm_*, fbclid, gclid, ref, source, campaign, and many more). When a URL is loaded, the script parses the URL, iterates through the list of tracking parameters, and deletes any that are found in the search parameters. It also checks for tracking parameters in the URL hash (after #). After removing the parameters, it compares the cleaned URL to the original. If they differ, the script uses a GM_notification to inform the user which parameters were removed, and then redirects to the cleaned URL using window.location.href. A flag prevents infinite redirect loops. The script can be triggered manually, and the parameter list can be extended with custom parameters via the settings panel.

THE PANEL

The settings panel is built with BotGentz's BGPanel component. It is draggable via its header, allowing you to reposition it anywhere on the screen. The panel snaps to the left edge by default but can be moved freely. Click the gear emoji to collapse the panel into a small bubble, and click the bubble to expand it again. The panel remembers its position per page session. Press the Escape key to quickly close or minimize the panel. The panel includes a status flash bar that provides visual feedback when settings are changed or actions are performed. All settings save automatically via GM_setValue.

PLEASE NOTE

This script requires the free BotGentz browser extension to run. It does not function as a standalone Chrome extension and does not use chrome.* APIs. The script removes tracking parameters from URLs but does not block or modify cookies or other tracking methods. Some sites may rely on tracking parameters for proper functionality—if a site breaks after cleaning, you can disable the script temporarily or add the site to a whitelist (future feature). The script uses a browser redirect, which may cause a brief flicker on page load. The script stores only your preferences and custom parameters via GM_setValue. No data is sent externally—all processing is performed locally in your browser. The script never reads or writes password fields, hidden inputs, or file inputs. All DOM operations use safe methods (style properties, textContent, appendChild) and never use innerHTML.