How to Add a Timestamp to a YouTube Link
Sharing a YouTube video is easy — but sending someone to the exact moment you want them to see is even better. Whether you're referencing a specific tutorial step, a highlight in a long video, or a key quote, YouTube timestamps let you link directly to any point in a video. Here's how the whole system works.
What a YouTube Timestamp Actually Does
A YouTube timestamp is a parameter added to the end of a video URL that tells YouTube's player to start playback at a specific point in the video rather than the beginning. When someone clicks your timestamped link, they land directly at the moment you specified — no scrubbing required.
This works because YouTube URLs support query parameters. The timestamp is added using either ?t= or &t= followed by a time value. That small addition completely changes where playback begins.
How to Add a Timestamp Manually
Basic URL Format
A standard YouTube video URL looks like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID To add a timestamp, you append the time parameter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=90s The &t= is used when other parameters already exist in the URL (which is almost always the case with ?v= already there). The s after the number stands for seconds.
Time Format Options
YouTube accepts a few different formats for the timestamp value:
| Format | Example | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Seconds only | &t=90s | 1 minute, 30 seconds |
| Minutes and seconds | &t=1m30s | 1 minute, 30 seconds |
| Hours, minutes, seconds | &t=1h2m30s | 1 hour, 2 minutes, 30 seconds |
| Raw seconds (no unit) | &t=90 | Also works in most cases |
All of these point to the same moment — the format is mostly a matter of preference. The s-based format is the most widely recognized and reliable across different platforms and link previews.
Using YouTube's Built-In "Copy Link at Current Time" Feature ⏱️
You don't always have to build the URL manually. YouTube has a native feature that does this automatically.
On desktop:
- Pause or play the video at the moment you want to link to
- Right-click on the video player
- Select "Copy video URL at current time"
That's it. The URL copied to your clipboard will already include the correct &t= parameter.
Alternatively, you can right-click the timestamp in a YouTube comment (if someone has already linked to a moment) and copy that link directly.
On mobile (YouTube app):
- Tap Share below the video
- Tap Copy link
- The link generated may or may not include the current timestamp depending on your app version — this behavior has varied across updates
Mobile timestamp reliability tends to be less consistent than desktop, which is worth keeping in mind depending on how you're sharing.
Shortened YouTube URLs (youtu.be)
If you're working with a shortened youtu.be link, the timestamp format changes slightly:
https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=90 Here the ?t= is correct because there are no other parameters before it. This format is common when sharing from mobile or using YouTube's share button, and it works the same way in terms of playback behavior.
Where Timestamps Work — and Where They Don't 🔗
Timestamped links work reliably in most contexts:
- Direct browser links — always work
- Embedded YouTube players — generally supported
- Shared in messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage) — usually respected when the link preview opens YouTube
- Social media posts — depends on the platform; some strip parameters when generating previews
One important variable: YouTube Shorts do not support timestamps. Shorts are designed as short-form content with no timeline scrubbing, so the &t= parameter has no effect on them.
Additionally, some third-party YouTube clients or browser extensions may handle timestamp parameters differently, and age-restricted or region-blocked videos may redirect users to a sign-in page before the timestamp takes effect.
Timestamps in YouTube Comments and Chapters
If you type a timestamp directly in a YouTube comment (formatted as 0:00, 1:30, 1:05:22), YouTube automatically converts it into a clickable link that jumps to that moment in the video — no URL editing required. This only works in comments on the video itself, not when sharing externally.
Chapter markers are a related concept — these are timestamps added by the video creator in the description that create named segments visible on the progress bar. As a viewer sharing a link, you can still use &t= to deep-link into any chapter, but you're linking to a specific second, not the chapter by name.
The Variables That Affect Your Approach
How you add a timestamp depends on a few things specific to your situation:
- Where you're sharing the link — a direct message versus a blog post versus a social platform each has different considerations for whether parameters survive
- Your device — desktop gives you the right-click shortcut; mobile requires more manual effort or workarounds
- The type of content — regular videos support timestamps cleanly; Shorts don't
- Your audience's context — if they're watching embedded video versus opening YouTube directly, behavior may differ slightly
The mechanics of timestamping are straightforward, but whether the right-click method, manual editing, or a URL shortener best fits your workflow depends entirely on how and where you're sharing.