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How to share a YouTube link that starts at a specific time

Master YouTube timestamp links using desktop share tools, manual URL parameters, and mobile workarounds. Learn the official rules for converting timestamps into clickable video chapters.

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Updated October 11, 20266 min readSince 2018

Short answer

The short answer

To create a YouTube timestamp link, check the Start at box in the desktop Share menu or manually append ?t= followed by the time in seconds or minutes (such as ?t=1m30s or ?t=90) to the video link. On mobile, add the parameter manually or use an online generator.

How to create a timestamp link on desktop

YouTube desktop interface provides a built-in tool to generate timestamped links in three clicks.

1Pause the video at the exact momentNavigate to the video in your computer web browser. Play the video until you reach the exact second you want to share, then hit the spacebar or pause button.

2Click the Share button beneath the videoClick the Share button located directly below the video title to open the sharing modal.

3Check the 'Start at' boxAt the bottom of the Share window, check the box labeled 'Start at'. YouTube automatically reads the current player time and displays it in the timestamp box.

4Copy the modified web linkClick the Copy button. YouTube provides a shortened link with the time parameter appended to the end, ready to paste into emails, Discord, or messages.

Manual URL parameter syntax: seconds versus minutes

If you already have a YouTube link copied to your clipboard, you do not need to reopen the desktop share drawer to add a timestamp. You can edit the URL manually using the official time parameter.

YouTube accepts two different time formats: pure seconds or combination format using hours, minutes, and seconds. If you want a video to begin at 2 minutes and 15 seconds, you can calculate the total seconds (135 seconds) and append ?t=135. Alternatively, you can use the more human-readable format by appending ?t=2m15s. For longer videos or live stream archives, you can specify hours as well, such as ?t=1h10m45s.

Pay close attention to whether you need a question mark or an ampersand. In shortened share links like youtu.be/abc123XYZ89, the time parameter is the very first query parameter, so it begins with a question mark (?t=90). In full desktop watch links that already contain a video ID query (such as youtube.com/watch?v=abc123XYZ89), you must use an ampersand (&t=90) because the question mark was already used for the video ID.

How to create timestamp links on iPhone and Android

The mobile YouTube app handles timestamps differently than desktop browsers.

The missing mobile share checkboxWhen you tap the Share button inside the iOS or Android YouTube app, the share sheet generally doesn't offer the 'Start at' option found on the desktop website, so 'Copy link' gives you a link that starts at the beginning.

Manual clipboard editing on mobileThe quickest mobile workaround is pasting your copied link into a text field, then typing ?t= followed by your desired minutes and seconds (for example ?t=1m30s) at the very end of the URL before sending.

Using a mobile timestamp link generatorIf you share timestamps frequently on mobile, paste your video link into an online timestamp link generator in your smartphone browser. Enter the minute and second, and the tool outputs a perfectly formatted link with one tap.

URL timestamp syntax comparison across link types

Different YouTube URL structures require specific parameter symbols to start playback correctly.

URL Format Type	Example Syntax Structure	Connector Symbol	Primary Use Case
Shortened Share Link	youtu.be/abc123XYZ89?t=90	?t=	Sharing on social media, chat apps, and mobile messaging.
Full Desktop Watch URL	youtube.com/watch?v=abc123XYZ89&t=1m30s	&t=	Direct browser address bar links and desktop documentation.
Embedded Iframe Link	youtube.com/embed/abc123XYZ89?start=90	?start=	Website blog embeds and CMS iframe player code (seconds only).

How description timestamps turn into video chapters

Adding timestamps to your video description creates clickable chapter markers on the player scrub bar.

Rule 1: First timestamp must start at 0:00According to YouTube Help Center, your chapter list must begin with a timestamp set to 0:00 (or 00:00). If your first timestamp starts at 0:15, YouTube chapter system will fail to activate.

Rule 2: Minimum of three ascending timestampsYour video must include at least three distinct timestamps listed in chronological ascending order. A description containing only two timestamps will not generate interactive scrub bar chapters.

Rule 3: Minimum 10 seconds per chapterEach chapter segment must last for at least 10 seconds. Chapters spaced five seconds apart will be rejected by the automated chapter parser.

Clickable blue links in descriptionsWhen formatted properly, YouTube automatically converts every timestamp inside your description into a clickable blue link that jumps the player directly to that segment, both on mobile apps and desktop browsers.

Why sharing timestamp links improves viewer retention

Sending someone an unedited link to a thirty-minute video with the message 'check out this cool part' is a recipe for being ignored. Most viewers lack the patience to hunt through a long timeline to find the moment you wanted them to see.

Sharing a direct timestamp link removes all friction. The viewer clicks, the video starts at the exact sentence, guitar riff, or software demonstration, and they immediately understand the value. If the moment captivates them, they often continue watching the rest of the video.

For creators, using timestamp links in customer support replies, community posts, and social media teasers is an essential communication skill that maximizes engagement and respects audience attention.

Free tools

Tools for this

Free, no signup and no email. Each one covers something this post just described.

Timestamp Link GeneratorCreate a link that jumps straight to a specific moment.Embed Code GeneratorTurn a video URL into an embed snippet, then add start= to begin at a set second.

FAQ

Common questions

See Pricing

On desktop, click Share beneath the video, check the 'Start at' box, and copy the link. Alternatively, append ?t= followed by the time in seconds (such as ?t=90) or minutes (such as ?t=1m30s) to the end of the URL.

Because the mobile app's share sheet usually doesn't offer 'Start at', copy the regular link, paste it into your message or browser, and manually type ?t= followed by the time (for example, ?t=2m15s) at the very end of the link.

Use ?t= when the time parameter is the first query parameter in the URL (common in youtu.be links). Use &t= when the URL already contains a question mark for another parameter (common in standard youtube.com/watch?v= links).

YouTube requires that your first timestamp begins at 0:00, that you have at least three timestamps in ascending order, and that each chapter runs for at least 10 seconds. If any of these conditions are missed, chapters will not appear.

Yes. In the embed iframe src attribute, append the start parameter followed by the total number of seconds, such as ?start=120 to begin playback at the two-minute mark.

Keep reading

How to embed a YouTube video with autoplay, start time, and privacyHow to get a YouTube embed code and customise it with start times, muted autoplay, looping and privacy-enhanced mode, plus how to make the player responsive on mobile.How to make a YouTube subscribe link with sub_confirmation=1How the sub_confirmation=1 parameter works, how to build a subscribe link from your @handle, where to put it, and the common reasons it doesn't show the prompt.

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