YouTube Timestamp Link Generator: Share a Video at the Exact Moment

Formats: 90, 1:30, 1:02:30
Chapter list for description
Links (one per line)

		

	
















FREE TOOL · NO SIGN-UP





This YouTube timestamp link generator turns a video URL and a list of times into links that start playing at the exact second you choose. It is for creators, teachers, marketers and anyone sharing a specific part of a video in a blog post, chat or comment. Paste the video link, add one or more timestamps with labels, and copy ready-made links plus a chapter list for your video description.





It accepts regular watch links, youtu.be short links, embed URLs, Shorts and live links, or just the 11-character video ID. Everything updates as you type.













How YouTube Timestamp Links Work





A timestamp link is a normal video link with an extra instruction telling the player where to start.





The t= parameter





YouTube reads a t value in the link and jumps to that point when the video loads. On a short link it looks like https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=90, and on a full watch link it looks like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=90. Both start the video 90 seconds in. This tool converts every timestamp to seconds and builds youtu.be links, which are shorter and easier to paste into messages, social posts and documents. The rest of the video still plays normally from that point, and the viewer can scrub back to the beginning.





Seconds vs 1m30s format





YouTube accepts the start time as plain seconds (t=90) or in a units format (t=1m30s, or t=1h2m30s for long videos). Both work in browsers and the YouTube apps. Plain seconds are the simplest and least likely to be mangled by email clients or chat apps, which is why the generator uses them. You can type times into the tool however you like: 90, 1:30 and 1:02:30 are all understood and converted.













How to Create a Timestamp Link





The whole process takes under a minute, even for a long list of moments.





Step 1: Paste the video URL





Copy the link from the YouTube address bar or Share button and paste it into the first field. You can also paste just the video ID. If the tool cannot find a valid ID, it asks you to enter a YouTube URL or ID, so you know straight away when a link is wrong.





Step 2: Enter minutes and seconds





In the timestamps box, write one time per line followed by an optional label, such as 4:10 Results. A dash between time and label is fine too. Accepted formats are seconds (250), minutes and seconds (4:10) and hours, minutes and seconds (1:04:10). Find exact times by pausing the video and reading the player clock.





Step 3: Check the links and chapter list





The table lists each time, its label and a Copy link button. Below it you get a chapter list formatted for your video description and a plain list of all links. If your first timestamp is not 0:00, the tool reminds you that YouTube chapters need it.





Step 4: Copy and share





Copy a single link from the table, the whole link list, or the chapter list. The links list can also be downloaded as a text file. Paste links into posts, emails or slides, and paste the chapter list into your video description in YouTube Studio.













Adding Chapters to Your Video Description





Chapters split a video into labelled sections on the progress bar, which makes long videos easier to navigate.





Rules for chapters to appear





YouTube builds chapters automatically from timestamps in your description when a few conditions are met. The first timestamp must be 0:00. There must be at least three timestamps in ascending order, and each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. Put each timestamp at the start of its own line, followed by a short, descriptive title. The chapter list from this tool follows that layout, so you only need to make sure your times meet the rules. YouTube may also generate automatic chapters for some videos, which you can turn off in Studio if you prefer your own.





Chapters and key moments in Google





Google Search can show “key moments” for videos, letting searchers jump straight to a section from the results page. For YouTube videos, Google can use your description chapters to create these. Clear chapter titles that match what people search for give Google better labels. For videos hosted on your own site, you can mark up sections with Clip or SeekToAction structured data, which you can explore with the Video Schema Generator.













Start and End Times in Embeds





Embedded players on your website use different parameters than shared links.





start and end parameters





In an embed URL, use start for the start time and end for where the clip stops, both in whole seconds. For example, https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID?start=90&end=150 plays one minute from 1:30. The t parameter used in share links is not the right choice for embeds, so convert your timestamps to seconds and use start instead.





Embed code example





A basic embed with a start time looks like <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID?start=90" title="Video title" allowfullscreen></iframe>. Add width, height and other options as needed. The YouTube Embed Code Generator builds full responsive embed code with these settings.













Using Timestamps for Engagement and SEO





Timestamp links help people reach the part they care about, which keeps them watching.





Linking from blog posts





When a blog post references a video, link to the exact moment that supports each point rather than the whole video. Readers get the answer faster, and the post becomes a useful index to the video. This works well for tutorials, webinars, podcasts and product demos.





Timestamps in pinned comments





If you cannot edit a video’s description, or you want to highlight moments in someone else’s video, post timestamps in a comment. YouTube turns times in comments into clickable links. Pin your own comment on your channel so viewers see it first.













Timestamp Link Mistakes





A few small errors make timestamp links fail.





Using & vs ? wrongly





The first parameter after a URL uses ? and later ones use &. A youtu.be link needs ?t=90, while a watch link that already has ?v= needs &t=90.





Timestamps on private videos





Links to private videos will not play for others. Use public or unlisted videos when sharing.





Chapters not showing





Chapters fail when the list does not start at 0:00, has fewer than three entries, or includes sections shorter than 10 seconds.













Send Viewers Straight to the Good Part





Paste a video link and your timestamps above to get shareable links and a chapter list in seconds. To get more from your videos, build players with the YouTube Embed Code Generator, help Google index videos on your site with the Video Sitemap Generator, and add markup using the Video Schema Generator. Find all free tools on FHSEO Hub.













YouTube Timestamp Link Generator: Share a Video at the Exact Moment FAQs









Link to a specific time on YouTube by adding a t parameter with the start time in seconds, such as youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=90. You can also click Share under the video and tick “Start at”. This generator builds the links for you from times like 1:30 and handles several moments at once.









The t= value in a YouTube link sets the start time, so the video begins playing at that point instead of the beginning. It accepts plain seconds, such as t=90, or a units format like t=1m30s. Viewers can still rewind to watch earlier parts after the video opens.









Add a start time to an embedded YouTube video by putting the start parameter in the embed URL, such as youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID?start=90. Use whole seconds. You can add end=150 to stop playback at a set point. Share links use t=, but embed URLs use start and end.









YouTube chapters split a video into titled sections on the progress bar. They are created from timestamps in the description, which must start at 0:00, include at least three times in order, and keep each section at least 10 seconds long. Chapters help viewers jump to the part they want.









Yes, timestamp links work on mobile in both the YouTube app and mobile browsers. When someone taps a link with a t value, the video opens at that time. Occasionally an app opens at the start if it was already playing another video, so test important links on a phone first.