How To Timestamp a YouTube Video

In many cases Youtube videos are too long but still full great information. Sometimes you like a quote inside the video so much, so you want to really share it with the world.

How do you link a YouTube video at a specific time?

Timestamp a Youtube comment or your video description:

To create a timestamp link in your comment or video description:

  1. Go to the Youtube page and play the video up to the point which you want to create a link to
  2. Pause the video at the point you want to timestamp
  3. Type the time exactly as you see in the video player into the comment box or the video description field.
    • Note the timestamp format is Hours:Minutes:Seconds (i.e. no spaces)
Youtube comments
[Clicking any of these blue timestamps will start the YouTube video at a certain time]

Summing up,

How to link to a specific time in Youtube comments: Simply type in the timestamp exactly the way you see in the video player.

This will embed time links inside your Youtube comment sending viewers deep into the video.

How to Link a YouTube Video at a Specific Time?

Now, how to create a link to the part inside a video to share in an email or on social media? It’s easy on desktop, not so much on mobile.

How to Deep-Link to a Certain Time of a Video on Desktop?

  • Play the video up to the part you want to link to and then pause it at the very moment you want to share
  • Right-click on the video
  • Select “Copy video URL at current time”
How do you share a YouTube video at a certain time
The easiest way to link to a specific time inside the video is to right click on the player and then select “Copy video URL at current time”. Next, CTRL+p (Windows) or CMD+p (Mac) to paste it anywhere you want to share the link (like inside an email or a new Tweet box

Alternatively, to share a YouTube video at a certain time:

  • Watch your video up to the part you want to link to
  • Click “Share” link below the video
  • Check the box next to “Start at XX:XX” (your time here)
  • Copy link and paste it so share it anywhere you want (including social media and emails)
Link a YouTube Video at a Specific Time?

You are done! This link will start the video at the exact time you see in the “Start at” line.

How to Share a YouTube Video with a Timestamp on Mobile (iPhone or Android)?

  1. Start watching a video in mobile browser or on Youtube app up to the place you want to share and take note of the time
  2. Convert your timestamp into seconds, for example, 1 minute 5 seconds would be 65 seconds (Use Google Converter for that)
  3. Click “Share” icon overlaying the video player
  4. Click “Copy link”
  5. Double-tap (iPhone) or tap-and-hold (on Android) on the field where you want to share the link and select “Paste”
  6. Add your time in seconds at the end of the URL in the following format:

    ?t=65

How do you share a YouTube video with timestamp on mobile?
Copy-paste this link and then add your timestamp manually by adding ?t=XXX at the end of the pasted URL

Unfortunately there’s no easier way to deep-link to a certain part of the video using a mobile device but it’s still doable.

How to Use Youtube Timestamps

There are many ways to take advantage of time-stamping feature on Youtube:

  • Create video timestamps for transcription to point the exact time you are subscribing
  • When posting a Youtube comment, link a time in a YouTube comment to show which part of the video you are commenting on.
  • When uploading a Youtube video, create a pinned comment with the detailed clickable table of contents on what it is you are discussing in the video. This will allow your Youtube viewers to jump right to the part they are most interested and increase engagement with your video
  • When emailing or messaging a Youtube video link, deep-link to the time that got your attention
  • Save your social media followers’ time by deep-linking to the part where the action starts bypassing intros

How To Timestamp a YouTube Comment or Video NOW?

To create a clickable timestamp inside a Youtube comment or video description:

  • Watch the video up until the time you want to link to
  • Pause the video and type the time exactly as you see inside the video player
  • Publish your comment and the timestamp will become clickable
  • Test your timestamp by clicking it (you should be sent directly to the part of the video you paused at when at step 2

Do you have any more tips on sharing a specific part of the video? Please comment below!

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Comments

8 responses to “How To Timestamp a YouTube Video”

  1. Barbara Avatar
    Barbara

    My timestamps work on laptop but not on mobile for my you tube videos?

  2. Enoch Avatar
    Enoch

    Thank you… So easy to do.

  3. Exams4success Avatar
    Exams4success

    Thanks a lot.

  4. kamila Avatar
    kamila

    thanks

  5. OldFart Avatar
    OldFart

    There is an easy way to share (with timestamp) current video from whatever platform to any other… Has two requirements, which can be dealbreakers for some…

    – Use Mozilla Firefox
    – Have an account on Firefox Accounts

    Then just… sync open tabs or share a tab from a device to another or … there are multiple ways to do it. Simplest is to just click the firefox account and you can see all open tabs on all devices (from last sync, irrelevant of state, i.e. if Firefox is running or not)

  6. upTowish Avatar
    upTowish

    This is a great tutorial! I’ve been trying to timestamp my videos for a while now and this is the best tutorial I’ve found.

  7. quiz Avatar
    quiz

    This is a great tutorial! I’ve been trying to timestamp my videos for a while now and this is the best tutorial I’ve found.

  8. sound of Text Avatar
    sound of Text

    This is a great tutorial! I’ve been trying to timestamp my videos for a while now and this is the best tutorial I’ve found.

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