Buffer is discontinuing Start Page, its link-in-bio tool offered since 2021. According to the announcement on the Buffer blog from November 4, no new pages can be created as of that day. Editing ends on November 30, and from February 2, 2027, Buffer will remove pages that have not been migrated. Buffer does not mention exceptions for individual countries, so the deadlines also apply to pages in Germany.
What deadlines apply to Start Page?
Buffer sets three key dates. Since November 4, new Start Pages have been blocked. On November 30, editing of the pages ends, and Buffer also names this day as the deadline for migration. From February 2, 2027, Buffer will shut down all pages that have not been migrated by then.
Start Page: the deadlines at a glance
Buffer announced the shutdown on November 4, 2026
- November 4, 2026No new Start Pages possible anymore
- November 30, 2026Editing ends, Start Page no longer counts toward your channels
- February 2, 2027Buffer removes pages that have not been migrated
Source: Buffer blog
Start Page collects links, videos, products, and forms on one page under a start.page address, which is often found in the profile on Instagram or TikTok. The page tracks clicks and can collect email addresses. Whether statistics, form data, and email addresses are included in the export is not stated in the post.
How do you migrate your Start Page?
Buffer names three ways to migrate:
- Export: You download the complete page including images as a folder with files and upload the folder to a free host such as Netlify, Vercel, or Cloudflare Pages. Instructions are included, as well as a readme file for AI assistants.
- Lnk.bio: The independent provider Lnk.bio is Buffer's recommended provider for the migration. Basic use remains free there, while Lnk.bio offers additional features only in paid plans. Buffer does not state prices.
- Redirect: Buffer redirects the start.page address to your new destination. Without a redirect, the link leads nowhere after the shutdown; with a redirect, it continues on to your new destination.
The updates feed does not migrate with you, because it exists only in Buffer. It is best to back up statistics, collected email addresses, and form data yourself as a precaution.
What this means for you
First determine where your start.page address appears everywhere: profiles on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, the email signature, business cards, and QR codes on flyers. Printed materials cannot be changed afterward. For QR codes on paper, the redirect is therefore the most important safeguard.
Make any changes to the page by November 30, because editing ends after that. Until then, copy the link list and the texts. Also back up statistics and email addresses while the page is still running.
Whether Lnk.bio or your own host: for commercially used pages, the Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz (Digital Services Act) requires a legal notice (Impressum), so an Impressum link belongs on the new page. From November 30, Start Page no longer counts toward your channels. If you pay per channel, you reduce the number of channels in Buffer's billing settings; the change will appear on the next invoice.
Buffer announced the discontinuation of Start Page on November 4, 2026.
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