How to Make a YouTube Timestamp Link (Step-by-Step Guide)

Have you ever watched a YouTube video and wanted to share a specific moment without making someone scrub through the entire thing? Maybe you found an epic joke, a crucial tutorial step, or an embarrassing livestream fail—whatever it is, YouTube timestamps let you jump straight to that moment.

A well-placed timestamp doesn't just save time—it creates a better viewing experience for everyone involved. In this guide, we'll show you how to create YouTube timestamp links using different methods, including video descriptions, URLs, and comments. By the end, you'll be able to direct people to an exact second in a video like a pro!

Read More: How To Make a Viewer Avatar for YouTube

What Is a YouTube Video Timestamp?

A video timestamp is like a digital bookmark that pinpoints an exact time in a video. Clicking on it skips straight to that moment, making it easier for viewers to find what they're looking for.

Timestamps serve several purposes:
✅ Easier navigation – Skip the fluff and jump to the good part.
✅ Better engagement – Viewers are more likely to stay when they find what they need fast.
✅ Search benefits – YouTube uses timestamps to create video chapters, which can improve rankings in search results.
✅ Simplified sharing – No need to tell your friend, "Go to 3 minutes and 45 seconds." Just send a clickable link!

Types of YouTube Timestamps

Before we dive into the "how-to," let’s break down the three main types of timestamps on YouTube:

• Video description timestamps – Clickable timestamps added to a video’s description.
• Comment timestamps – Time markers placed in the comment section, turning them into clickable links.
• URL timestamps – Modifying a YouTube link to start at a specific time.

Each of these has its own uses, methods of implementation, and limitations. Since the entire point is to make a simpler viewing journey for the audience, all of these ways have their own place. Let us talk about them in detail below.

How to Add Timestamps in a YouTube Video Description

Adding timestamps to your video’s description helps organize content into chapters, making it easier for viewers to find what they need.

Step 1: Identify Key Moments

Watch your video and note down important timestamps where key sections start. Example:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 02:45 – Chapter 1
• 06:30 – Chapter 2
• 12:15 – Chapter 3

Step 2: Format Your Timestamps Properly

YouTube recognizes timestamps only if they follow a specific format, which is the MM:SS format, where minutes are denoted by 'M' and seconds by 'S.' In case the video exceeds an hour of runtime, then the correct format would become HH:MM:SS, where 'H' stands for the hours.

You must also put the timestamp first, followed by a short description, that best explains the content of the chapter. Each timestamp must be on a new, separate line.

Example:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:45 How to Create a YouTube Channel
• 06:30 Monetization Tips
• 12:15 Final Thoughts

Step 3: Add Timestamps to the Description

1. Open YouTube Studio and select your video.

1. Click Edit and scroll to the Description box.

1. Paste your formatted timestamps.
2. Click Save.

On completing these steps, your video will be divided into chapters that can make viewing more precise for the audience and they can skip to the parts they find the most interesting. Here’s how chapters appear under your video description.

To enable YouTube chapters (which show up in the video’s progress bar of the video), make sure:

• The first timestamp is 00:00.
• You have at least three timestamps
• Each segment is at least 10 seconds long.

Read More: YouTube Video Descriptions: How to Write Them Better In 2025

How to Link to a Specific Time on YouTube (Timestamp Links)

Need to share a YouTube link that starts at a specific time? There are three ways to do this:

Method 1: Use YouTube’s Built-in Share Feature

Like most other features, YouTube has an inbuilt method to share timestamped videos from the website/app itself. Here's what you need to do:

1. Open the YouTube video and pause it at the desired time.

1. Click the Share button below the video.

1. Check the box that says “Start at” – YouTube will auto-fill the time.

1. Copy the generated link and share it!

Example link:

https://youtu.be/abcdefghijk?t=120

(Here, ?t=120 tells YouTube to start the video at 120 seconds or 2 minutes in).

Method 2: Manually Add a Timestamp to a URL

You can also create a timestamp link manually by adding "?t=" (or &t= if the URL already contains “?”).

Examples:

Start at 2 minutes (or 120 seconds):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefghijk&t=120

Start at 1 hour, 30 minutes (or 5400 seconds):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefghijk&t=5400

Alternative format (more readable):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefghijk&t=2m30s

Both formats work, but the m/s format is easier to read at a glance.

How to Add Timestamps in YouTube Comments

Comments are where the heart of the viewers lies. They show you the impact of a video and its creator almost instantly, without even referring to the analytics.

Want to highlight a moment in the comments? Just type the timecode and post it!

Example:

💬 “This part at 5:30 is hilarious!”

YouTube will automatically turn 5:30 into a clickable link.

This is best used for engaging with viewers, referencing funny moments, or marking applicable sections in a long video.

Read More: 6 Golden Rules for Responding to YouTube Comments

Advanced Timestamp Tricks

1. Embedding a YouTube Video with a Timestamp

To embed a YouTube video on your website or other platforms with a specific timestamp link, you can do the following:

1. Click Share → Select Embed.

1. Check the “Start at” box and enter the time.

1. Copy the embed code.

Example embed code:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XRj2z0Z9GlQ?si=B7etvGM8x-2KoBn2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This will start the embedded video at 2 minutes and 12 seconds.

2. Creating Timestamp Playlists

If you want to guide viewers through a series of timestamps in different videos, you can create a timestamp playlist!

• Generate timestamp links for different moments.
• Paste them in order in a post, email, or blog.
• Viewers can click through them like a curated playlist!

Playlists made with timestamped videos are the best way to answer really specific queries. For tutorials and educational videos, these playlists can become really valuable resources.

Best Practices for YouTube Timestamps

We’ve talked about the many ways to create and utilize YouTube timestamps, but there are a few things to keep in mind about this feature.

1. Be precise: Accuracy matters when creating timestamps. Find the exact moment you want to highlight rather than approximating.
2. Use Descriptive Labels: Make your timestamp descriptions clear and concise. A good description gives viewers a reason to click
3. Create a Logical Flow: Arrange your timestamps in a way that tells a story or creates a logical progression through the content.
4. Update Video Timestamps: If necessary, update your timestamps to reflect the new timing if you edit your video after publishing.
5. Use Timestamps Strategically: Don't overdo it with timestamps—highlight only the most important or valuable moments. Having too many timestamps can be overwhelming and counterproductive.

Why You Should Use YouTube Timestamps

YouTube timestamps are extremely useful for both content creators and viewers. They can ease the viewing experience by making videos more navigable and shareable. So, it doesn’t matter which stand of the field you’re from, understanding how to effectively use timestamps can significantly improve your YouTube experience.

By implementing these techniques, you'll be able to create, share, and utilize YouTube timestamps. Start experimenting with these methods today and watch how they transform your video engagement and sharing capabilities.

Now that you know how to create timestamps with ease, start using them today and watch how they transform your video experience!