YouTube timestamp link generator
Paste a YouTube URL, type the minute and second you want the video to start at. We return the URL with YouTube's ?t= parameter set so the link plays from that exact timestamp. Works on long-form videos and Shorts.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I share a YouTube video starting at a specific time?
Take the YouTube URL and append ?t=<seconds> (or &t= if there's already a ? in the URL). For example, to start at 1 minute 30 seconds (= 90 seconds), the URL becomes https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?t=90. The tool above does the math for you — type minute and second, get the timestamped URL.
What is the YouTube ?t= parameter?
?t= is the official YouTube URL parameter for setting the playback start position. The value is in seconds (so 1m30s = ?t=90). YouTube also accepts the longer ?t=1m30s format with explicit minute and second markers — both work. The tool generates the cleaner integer-seconds form because it's shorter and universally compatible.
Does the timestamp parameter work on YouTube Shorts?
Partially. Shorts are typically under 60 seconds and the Shorts player doesn't show a scrub bar, so jumping to a specific moment isn't part of the standard viewing flow. But the URL parameter IS honored when you load a Short with ?t= — the video starts at that point. Practical use case: linking to a punchline at second 45 of a 60-second Short.
How do I add a timestamp to youtu.be short URLs?
Same way: append ?t=<seconds>. The youtu.be format is https://youtu.be/<videoId>?t=90 for a 1m30s start. The tool handles both youtu.be and youtube.com URL formats — paste either and the timestamp is applied correctly. The video ID is preserved.
Can I make a YouTube link that starts AND ends at specific times?
Not on the standard YouTube watch page — only ?t= (start) is honored. To enforce both start and end times you need an embed: an <iframe> with src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/<id>?start=90&end=120". The Embed code generator on this site builds those URLs for you.
Why doesn't my YouTube timestamp link work?
Three common causes: (1) The URL has the timestamp in the wrong place — it should be ?t=90, not /t=90 or #t=90. (2) The original URL already had query parameters; in that case use & instead of ? (e.g. ?v=abc&t=90). (3) The user is on a TV / smart speaker / car interface that doesn't honor URL parameters; those platforms always start at 0:00. The tool above produces the correct format for browsers and the YouTube apps.
Does the timestamp link work in mobile YouTube apps?
Yes. Both iOS and Android YouTube apps honor ?t=<seconds> when the link is opened from another app (Twitter, Slack, Messages, browser). The video opens already seeking to the specified position. Same behavior in the YouTube web player — desktop and mobile.
Can I link to a specific frame on YouTube?
Not at frame-level precision. The ?t= parameter accepts integer seconds (or decimal seconds in some clients, but support varies). For sub-second precision you'd need an embed with the YouTube IFrame API and JavaScript, which goes beyond a shareable URL. For most use cases — "watch this clip starting at the punchline" — second-level precision is enough.