Most video platforms allow you to share a specific point in any video by including a timestamp. However, YouTube makes this especially easy by providing users with the ability to craft links that start a video at a specific moment. This comes in handy for various reasons, such as highlighting a particular moment, skipping intros or outros, and referencing specific content. Whether you’re a creator wanting to pinpoint a certain scene in your video or a viewer seeking to share a notable moment, understanding how to create such a link is essential.
To achieve this, simply navigate to the desired point in the video using the video player’s seek bar. Once you’ve pinpointed the moment you want to link to, click the “Share” button located beneath the video. In the “Share URL” section, you’ll notice that there’s a checkbox labeled “Start at.” When checked, this option adds the “&t=” parameter to the URL, followed by the timestamp of the point you selected. By sharing this adjusted URL, viewers will be taken directly to that specific moment when they click on the link.
This feature not only enhances the viewing experience for your audience but also enables a more precise and efficient way of sharing video content. You can use it to highlight key moments, share tutorials that start directly at the relevant part, or even use it for educational purposes by linking to specific scenes that illustrate a topic. Additionally, it’s important to remember that timestamps are not permanent. If the creator edits the video and changes the content’s timing, the timestamp may become inaccurate. To avoid this, it’s a good practice to double-check the link before sharing it to ensure it leads to the intended moment.
How to Make a YouTube Link Play at a Specific Time
If you want to share a YouTube video with someone and have it start playing at a specific time, you can do so by adding a timestamp to the URL. To do this, simply add the letter “t” followed by the time you want the video to start playing, in the format of “hours:minutes:seconds”. For example, to have the video start playing at the 1 minute and 30 second mark, you would add “&t=1m30s” to the end of the URL.
Here is an example of a YouTube URL with a timestamp:
People also ask
How do I find the timestamp for a specific moment in a YouTube video?
You can find the timestamp for a specific moment in a YouTube video by right-clicking on the video and selecting “Copy video URL at current time”. This will copy the URL of the video, with a timestamp that starts at the moment you right-clicked.
Can I add a timestamp to a YouTube link from my mobile phone?
Yes, you can add a timestamp to a YouTube link from your mobile phone. To do this, open the YouTube app and find the video you want to share. Tap the “Share” button and then select “Copy link”. Then, paste the link into a text editor and add the timestamp to the end of the URL.
Are you tired of sending YouTube links only to have the recipient start watching from the beginning? Do you wish there was a way to share a specific moment or part of a video with others, without them having to manually scrub through the entire clip? Well, there is a way! In this article, we will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to send a YouTube link with a specific time, allowing you to share your favorite video moments with ease and precision. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your viewers will be taken directly to the exact part of the video that you want them to see, enhancing their viewing experience and saving them valuable time.
To begin, open the YouTube video that you want to share. Once the video is playing, pause it at the specific moment that you want to start from. Right-click on the video and select “Copy video URL at current time.” This will copy the URL of the video with the specific time embedded in it. Now, you can paste this URL into a message or email and send it to your recipient. When they click on the link, the video will start playing from the exact time that you specified. Additionally, you can also add a timestamp to the end of the URL to specify an end time for the video, giving your viewers a defined viewing window.
This feature is particularly useful for sharing highlights from long videos, such as webinars, presentations, or tutorials. By sending a link with a specific time, you can direct your viewers to the most important or relevant parts of the video, ensuring that they don’t miss out on any crucial information. Whether you’re a content creator, educator, or simply someone who wants to share your favorite video moments with friends and family, knowing how to send a YouTube link with a specific time is a valuable skill. So, the next time you want to share a YouTube video, give this technique a try and see how it enhances your viewing experience.
Indicating the Exact Time in the Link
To specify the exact time in the YouTube link, append a timestamp parameter to the URL. The syntax is as follows:
Here, [VIDEO_ID] is the unique identifier for the YouTube video, and [TIMESTAMP] is the time in the format of hours, minutes, and seconds. For example, to link to a video at the 3-minute, 15-second mark, use the following URL:
The "t=" parameter is a simple and straightforward method for sharing a YouTube link with a specific time. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to use it:
Determine the Timestamp: Identify the exact time in the video you want to share, and note down the number of minutes and seconds.
Format the Link: Append the "t=" parameter to the end of the YouTube video URL, followed by the timestamp in the format "mm:ss" (minutes:seconds). For example, to share a video starting at 1 minute and 20 seconds, the URL would look like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[video_ID]&t=1:20
Share the Link: Once you’ve formatted the link correctly, you can share it with others. When clicked, the link will open the YouTube video and start playing it from the specified timestamp.
Here’s a table summarizing the steps for using the "t=" parameter:
To share a YouTube video with a specific timestamp, you need to add the timestamp to the URL. The timestamp should be in the format of hours:minutes:seconds. For example, to share a video that starts at 1 minute and 30 seconds, you would add “&t=1m30s” to the end of the URL. Here is a table with examples of timestamps and their corresponding URL formats:
Timestamp
URL Format
1 minute and 30 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=1m30s
5 minutes and 10 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=5m10s
1 hour and 25 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=1h25m
Once you have added the timestamp to the URL, you can share it with others. When they click on the link, the video will start playing at the specified time.
Adding the “start” Parameter
To specify the starting point of a YouTube video, you can use the “start” parameter. This parameter takes a value in seconds, indicating the point in the video where you want playback to begin. For example, to start a video 1 minute and 30 seconds into the video, you would use the following URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&start=90
You can also pass the “start” parameter a value in the form of hours, minutes, and seconds. For example, to start a video at 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 20 seconds into the video, you would use the following URL:
In addition to the “start” parameter, YouTube also supports the “end” parameter, which allows you to specify the end point of a video. The “end” parameter takes a value in seconds, indicating the point in the video where you want playback to stop. For example, to end a video 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, you would use the following URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&end=150
Parameter
Description
Example
start
Specifies the starting point of the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&start=90
end
Specifies the end point of the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&end=150
Sharing a Specific Start and End Time
When you want to share a specific part of a YouTube video, you can use the “Share” button to generate a link that starts the video at a specific time and ends it at another specific time. Here’s how to do it:
Go to the YouTube video you want to share.
Click the “Share” button below the video player.
In the “Start at” and “End at” fields, enter the times you want the video to start and end at, respectively. You can use the format “hh:mm:ss” (hours:minutes:seconds) or “mm:ss” (minutes:seconds).
Click the “Copy link” button.
Paste the link into the social media post, email, or other platform where you want to share it.
Here is an example of a YouTube link with a specific start and end time:
Start Time
End Time
Link
00:00:00
00:30:00
https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?t=00m00s
Employing the “?t=” Function
6. Incorporating Timestamps with “?t=”
To specify a precise starting point within a YouTube video, you can utilize the “?t=” parameter followed by the desired timestamp. Here’s a breakdown of the syntax:
Parameter
Description
?t=
Indicates the start time.
[hh]:[mm]:[ss].sss
Specifies the time in hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds (optional).
For instance, if you want the link to start playing at 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, the “?t=” parameter would be used as follows:
Original Link:
Link with Timestamp:
When constructing the link with a timestamp, note the following:
The time should be denoted using the format [hh]:[mm]:[ss].sss, where “hh” represents hours, “mm” represents minutes, “ss” represents seconds, and “sss” represents milliseconds (optional).
If only minutes and seconds are specified (e.g., “?t=02:30”), the link will jump to that point in the video, regardless of the hours elapsed.
You can link to a specific timestamp in the future of the video by using negative values (e.g., “?t=-00:02:30” would start playing 2 minutes and 30 seconds before the end of the video).
Utilizing the “s” Parameter
The “s” parameter allows you to jump to a specific time in a YouTube video by specifying the time offset in seconds. To use this parameter, simply append “?s=[number of seconds]” to the end of the video’s URL. For instance, to start the video at the 2-minute mark, you would use the following URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[Video ID]&s=120
You can also specify multiple time offsets by separating them with commas. For example, to start the video at the 2-minute mark and skip to the 4-minute mark 30 seconds into the video, you would use the following URL:
The “s” parameter is a versatile tool that can be used to share specific moments in a YouTube video with others. It is especially useful for highlighting key points or discussing specific sections of a video in detail.
For example, to start the video at the 30-second mark, the URL would be:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[VIDEO_ID]&t=30s
You can also use minutes and seconds by adding an “m” after the number of minutes. For example, to start the video at the 2-minute, 30-second mark, the URL would be:
You can customize the format of the timestamp in the YouTube URL by adding a few extra characters to the end of the link. Here’s how:
1. Add a question mark (?) to the end of the URL.
2. Add the parameter “t=” followed by the desired time in seconds.
For example, to link to a video at the 10-minute mark, you would add “?t=600” to the end of the URL.
3. (Optional) Add modifiers to the timestamp.
You can use the following modifiers to further customize the timestamp format:
h for hours
m for minutes
s for seconds
For example, to link to a video at the 10-minute, 30-second mark, you would add “?t=10m30s” to the end of the URL.
4. (Optional) Add multiple timestamps.
You can specify multiple timestamps in the same URL by separating them with commas. For example, to link to a video at the 10-minute and 15-minute marks, you would add “?t=600,900” to the end of the URL.
5. (Optional) Specify the format for the timestamp.
You can specify the format for the timestamp using the “format=” parameter. The following formats are supported:
Format
Description
Timestamp in seconds
The default format. The timestamp is displayed as the number of seconds since the beginning of the video.
Minutes and seconds
The timestamp is displayed as the number of minutes and seconds since the beginning of the video. For example, “10m30s” represents 10 minutes and 30 seconds.
Hours, minutes, and seconds
The timestamp is displayed as the number of hours, minutes, and seconds since the beginning of the video. For example, “1h10m30s” represents 1 hour, 10 minutes, and 30 seconds.
To specify the format, add “&format=” followed by the desired format to the end of the URL. For example, to link to a video at the 10-minute, 30-second mark in the minutes and seconds format, you would add “?t=600&format=m%3As” to the end of the URL.
Adjusting for Different Time Zones
When sharing a YouTube link with a specific time, it’s important to consider the time zones of your recipients. To ensure that your link opens at the correct time for everyone, follow these steps:
1. Convert the Time to UTC
YouTube uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for its timestamps. Convert your desired start time to UTC using a time zone converter.
2. Adjust for Daylight Saving Time
DST can affect the UTC time, so adjust accordingly. Check if DST is in effect for your recipients’ locations.
3. Determine the Time Difference
Calculate the time difference between your local time and the time zone of your recipients.
4. Add Time Zone Offset
Add the time difference to your UTC time to get the correct time for your recipients. For example, if your local time is 1 PM PST and your recipient is in EST, you would add 3 hours to your UTC time.
5. Create the YouTube Link
Using the adjusted time, create the YouTube link using the following format:
Parameter
Value
v
Video ID
t
Time in seconds, e.g., 3m30s for 3 minutes and 30 seconds into the video
For example, a link to start a video at 3 minutes and 30 seconds in EST would be:
“`
https://youtu.be/videoid?t=1230&t=8343
“`
6. Include the Time in Your Message
When sharing the link, include the time and time zone it will open at for your recipients’ convenience.
How to Send a YouTube Link With a Specific Time
When you’re sharing a YouTube link, you can specify a starting time to jump directly to a particular moment in the video. This is useful for directing viewers to a specific topic or highlight within the content.
Open the YouTube video you want to share.
Pause the video at the desired start time.
Click the “Share” button below the video.
In the “Start at” field, enter the current time displayed in the video player. You can specify the time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Copy the generated link from the text field.
When someone clicks on the link, the video will start playing from the specified time.
People Also Ask
How to send a link to a YouTube video with a specific time on iPhone?
Follow these steps to send a link to a YouTube video with a specific time on iPhone:
Open the YouTube video you want to share.
Tap the “Share” button below the video.
Scroll down and tap the “Copy link at current time” option.
Paste the link into your preferred sharing method (e.g., text message, email).
How to send a link to a YouTube video with a specific time on Android?
Follow these steps to send a link to a YouTube video with a specific time on Android:
Open the YouTube video you want to share.
Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the video player.
Select the “Share” option.
In the “Start at” field, enter the current time displayed in the video player. You can specify the time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Tap the “Copy link” button.
Paste the link into your preferred sharing method (e.g., text message, email).
