How to Link to a Specific Part in a YouTube Video

Create a YouTube link with a timestamp

What To Know

  • Easiest: Open the YouTube video > cue it to the point you want to share > press Share > copy the URL, and send it.
  • Manually: Open the YouTube video, and copy the URL. Then, add &t= with the time, like &t=1m30s.
  • For shortened URLs, use ?t= instead.

This article explains how to link to a specific part of a YouTube video using the Share feature or by adding a timestamp. These steps pertain to desktop users only. All browsers are supported.

Create a YouTube Link With a Timestamp Using the Share Feature

The simplest method is to add a timestamp using YouTube's sharing options.

  1. Open the YouTube video you want to share and play it or move through the timeline until you reach the exact moment you want to use in the timestamp.

  2. Stop the video.

  3. Click the Share button to open the sharing pop-up.

  4. Select the checkbox under the URL that says Start at, and optionally adjust the time if it isn't correct.

    Screenshot of Sharing screenin YouTube with timestamp URL highlighted
  5. Copy the updated shortened URL with the timestamp appended.

  6. Share this new URL, and anyone who clicks it sees the video beginning at the timestamp you specified. For example, in The Goonies video, the URL might look like this:

Manually Add a Timestamp to a YouTube URL

To add a timestamp manually, open the YouTube video in your browser, then locate the URL for this video in your browser's address bar. This is the URL that shows near the top of the browser window when you're watching a video on YouTube.

Depending on the URL, there are two ways to add a timestamp to the video:

  • &t=1m30s or
  • ?t=1m30s

Use the ampersand example if the URL includes a question mark, like if it ends in


Short URLs that are listed as don't have a question mark, so those would need to use the second example above.

Here are two examples that jump to the same point in the video (using the two different timestamp options from above):


The time you choose can be anything: hours, minutes, or seconds. If the video should be started at 56 minutes in, t=56m is all you need to include. If it should be 12 minutes and 12 seconds, t=12m12s is how you'd write it. A 2-hour, 5-second timestamp can skip the minute field altogether: t=2h5s.

  • How do I add timestamps to my YouTube videos?

    Sign in to YouTube Studio, go to Content, and choose a video. In the description, add a list of timestamps and titles starting with 00:00. To add automatic timestamps, select Show more > Allow automatic chapters.

  • How do I get my YouTube channel link?

    Sign in to YouTube Studio and go to Customization > Basic info. Your YouTube channel link appears under Channel URL.

  • How do I add a YouTube link to my Instagram story?

    To add a link to an Instagram story, create your story and tap the Link icon (the chain). Tap URL and enter the URL.

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