YouTube Timestamp Link Generator

Share a YouTube video that starts at the exact moment you want. Create youtu.be, watch and embed links with a start time, and check your chapters.

YouTube chapters checker

Paste your chapter list (one per line, as you'd write it in the description) to check YouTube will recognise it. If you've entered a video link above, each chapter also gets its own link.

      How to link to a specific time on YouTube

      1. Paste the video link into the box above.
      2. Type the start time, like 1:23 or 2m30s.
      3. Copy your link. Anyone who opens it will start watching at that exact moment.

      You can also do this on YouTube directly. On desktop, pause the video, right-click it and choose Copy video URL at current time. Or click Share and tick Start at. The mobile app doesn't have this option, which is where this tool comes in handy.

      Under the hood, a timestamp link just adds ?t= followed by the number of seconds, e.g. youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?t=83 starts at 1:23. Embedded players use ?start=83 instead.

      YouTube chapter rules

      Chapters split your video into sections on the progress bar, and they can show up as "key moments" in Google search. YouTube only creates them when your description's timestamps follow these rules:

      • The first timestamp must be 0:00.
      • There must be at least three timestamps, in ascending order.
      • Each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long.
      • Each timestamp should be at the start of its own line, followed by the chapter title.

      Frequently asked questions

      How do I share a YouTube video at a specific time?

      Paste the video link and your start time into ThumbDL's timestamp link generator, then copy the link it creates. It adds a ?t= parameter so the video starts at that moment.

      How do I add a timestamp link on mobile?

      The YouTube app doesn't offer a "Start at" option. Copy the video's share link, paste it into this tool with your start time, and share the generated link instead.

      Why aren't my YouTube chapters showing?

      The most common reasons are a first timestamp that isn't 0:00, fewer than three timestamps, or a chapter shorter than 10 seconds. Paste your list into the chapters checker above to find the problem.

      Do timestamp links work with Shorts?

      Shorts always play from the beginning in the Shorts player. If you open a Short with a timestamp link in the regular video player, the start time works as normal.

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