Cannot ‘like’ posts on foolooed blogs because “link expired”

• 

  kimwhysall · Member · Jan 27, 2026 at 11:57 am

  • Copy link
  • Add topic to favorites

  After the last update of the Reader, I find it easier to not use it (!) and simply have emails sent to me when there is a new post on a blog I follow. But if I press the ‘Like’ button in the email, I get a message of “Link Expired”. The ‘Comment’ button still works.

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

• 

  james3265166 · Member · Jan 27, 2026 at 2:01 pm

  • Copy link

  It sounds like you have run into a frustrating security “handshake” issue between your email provider and WordPress.com. The “Link Expired” message usually occurs because the “Like” button in an email is a unique, time-sensitive link generated specifically for your account to allow a “one-click” action. If your email provider (like Outlook or Gmail) uses a security scanner that “pre-clicks” links to check for viruses, it can effectively “use up” the link before you ever get a chance to click it yourself.Another common reason for this error is a mismatch in your browser’s login state. Even though you are clicking the link from your email, the action still needs to verify your WordPress.com identity in your default browser. If you have recently cleared your cookies or are logged into a different account than the one that received the email, the “Like” token will fail for security reasons. Since the “Comment” button works, it suggests that the link to the comment section is a standard URL, whereas the “Like” button is an authenticated “action” link that is much more sensitive to these types of interruptions.To fix this, you might try opening the blog post directly from the email and clicking the “Like” button on the actual website instead of within the email body. This bypasses the email provider’s link-scanning interference and ensures you are properly synced with your WordPress.com session. If you prefer using the email buttons, you can also try adding (email visible only to moderators and staff) to your email’s “Safe Senders” list, which can sometimes prevent the automated security scans from “expiring” those interactive links.