Paste a YouTube video URL, enter the start time, and copy a link that opens the video at that exact moment.
Works with YouTube watch URLs, youtu.be links, Shorts, and embed URLs.
Use a normal YouTube watch link, youtu.be short link, Shorts URL, or embed URL.
Type the time as hours, minutes, and seconds, or use a quick format like 1:23.
Share the generated link so viewers open the video at the exact moment.
Different YouTube link types use slightly different timestamp parameters. The generator keeps the rest of your URL intact and chooses the right format automatically.
| Link type | Timestamp parameter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Watch page | ?t=90s or &t=90s | Best for normal youtube.com/watch links and most sharing use cases. |
| youtu.be short link | ?t=90s | Keeps the short URL clean while opening the same video at the selected second. |
| Embed player | ?start=90 | YouTube embeds use start instead of t, so the tool switches formats for you. |
| Playlist video URL | &t=90s | Keeps the playlist ID so the video can still open inside the playlist context. |
Save people from scrubbing through a long video.
Send students directly to the key explanation inside a lecture or tutorial.
Copy the exact timestamp link before posting a YouTube comment or reply.
Point colleagues to the exact clip in a meeting recording, demo, or review video.
Keep a clean link to the section you want to revisit later.
Most timestamp problems come from player behavior, invalid time values, or video availability rather than the link itself.
Some YouTube app versions normalize URLs after opening them. If a timestamp fails in the app, test the same link in a mobile browser.
Shorts URLs can accept timestamp parameters, but the Shorts player experience is less consistent than the standard watch page.
A timestamp only works when the viewer can access the video. Private, deleted, age-restricted, or region-blocked videos may not play at all.
If the timestamp is longer than the video duration, YouTube may start at the beginning, end the video, or ignore the parameter.
No magic, just a URL parameter YouTube already understands — this tool builds it correctly so you don't have to edit the link by hand.
Parsing the URL and adding the timestamp happens on your device. The tool never calls the YouTube API, so there's no quota to hit and nothing is sent to our servers beyond the page load itself.
Any playlist ID, referral tag, or other query parameter already on the URL stays exactly as it was — only an existing t or start value is replaced with the new one.
Watch pages, youtu.be links, and Shorts get a ?t=90s parameter. Embed URLs use ?start=90 instead, since YouTube's embed player ignores t. This tool picks the right one automatically.
Sources and methodology
The timestamp generator changes only the YouTube URL parameters needed to start playback at a selected second. It does not call the YouTube API or store the video URL.
The tool accepts watch URLs, youtu.be links, Shorts URLs, embeds, and playlist video links, then preserves the useful existing parameters while replacing old start-time values.
Inputs such as 1:23, 01:02:03, or 90s are normalized into seconds. Watch, short, and Shorts links use a t value such as 90s.
YouTube embed URLs use the start parameter rather than the t parameter, so the generator switches formats automatically for iframe-style links.
Reviewed by the Playlist Length Calc editorial team. Last updated July 24, 2026. Source links are included so readers and AI systems can verify how YouTube players handle start times and embed parameters.
YouTube timestamp FAQ
Paste the YouTube video URL, enter the start time, and generate the link. The link includes a timestamp parameter so the video starts at that moment.
Free. No signup required. Generate an exact-start YouTube link in seconds.