How YouTube timestamp links work
A timestamp link is a normal video link with a start time added. The short form is youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=83, where 83 is the number of seconds into the video. The long form adds &t=83s to a youtube.com/watch link.
When someone opens it, the video jumps straight to that point. It's the easiest way to point people at one tip, song, answer or moment in a long video.
Finding the video ID
Every YouTube video has an 11-character ID. It comes after v= in a watch link, after youtu.be/ in a short link, and after /shorts/, /embed/ or /live/ in those links. This tool finds it in any of them, so paste whatever link you have.
Playlist and channel links don't point to one video, so they won't work here. Open the video itself and copy its link.
The built-in way
On a computer, YouTube can make this link for you. Pause the video at the moment you want, right-click the player and choose Copy video URL at current time. The Share box also has a Start at checkbox.
This tool helps when you know the time but don't have the video open, when you're on a phone, or when you're making several links at once.
Embeds and Shorts
For a video embedded on a website, the start time works differently: add ?start=83 to the embed link instead of t=. The tool gives you that version too.
Shorts are the exception. The Shorts player often starts from the beginning, so a timestamp on a Short may be ignored.
Ways to use timestamp links
Timestamps get people to the good part fast:
- Answer a question in the comments with a link to the exact moment.
- Share a favorite song or scene from a long stream or podcast.
- Point to one step of a tutorial from your blog or newsletter.
- Send a client or teammate straight to the part that needs feedback.
Frequently asked questions
How do I link to a specific time in a YouTube video?
Add ?t= and the number of seconds to a youtu.be link, like youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=90 for 1:30. Paste your link and time above to build it.
How do I turn minutes into seconds for the link?
Multiply the minutes by 60 and add the seconds: 2:15 is 135 seconds. The tool does this for you, and also accepts times like 1m30s.
Do timestamp links work on phones?
Yes. They open in the YouTube app or the browser and start at the time you set.
Can I add a timestamp to a YouTube Short?
You can add one, but the Shorts player often ignores it and plays from the start.