How to Share a YouTube Video at a Specific Time (Desktop and Mobile)

YouTube lets you share a video starting from any timestamp. On desktop, right-click → “Copy video URL at current time.” On mobile, the YouTube app’s share button has a “Start at” option. Or build the link manually by adding &t= followed by the seconds. Here’s how to do it on every device.

The URL format

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=120s

That starts the video at 120 seconds (2 minutes). The s is optional but explicit. You can also use:

  • &t=2m — 2 minutes
  • &t=1h2m30s — 1 hour, 2 minutes, 30 seconds
  • &t=120 — 120 seconds (no unit)

Desktop method (every browser)

  1. Play the video and pause at the moment you want to share.
  2. Right-click on the video.
  3. Choose “Copy video URL at current time.”
  4. Paste — done. The link includes &t= with the timestamp.

Desktop method (using Share button)

  1. Click “Share” below the video.
  2. Check “Start at [timestamp].” YouTube prefills the current playback time.
  3. Adjust if needed.
  4. Copy the link.

iPhone YouTube app

  1. Open the video in the YouTube app.
  2. Tap “Share” below the video.
  3. The share sheet opens — but the timestamp option isn’t always there.
  4. Workaround: pause at the moment, switch to the YouTube website in Safari, then right-click and copy URL at current time. Or use the manual format.

Pro tip: long-press the share button after pausing — on some iOS versions, this exposes a “Start at…” submenu.

Android YouTube app

  1. Open the video.
  2. Tap “Share” → look for “Start at…” option.
  3. If it’s missing (depends on Android version and YouTube app version), use the manual format.

Manual: build the link by hand

If the app’s UI doesn’t expose the timestamp option, build it manually:

  1. Note the timestamp you want (e.g., 3:45).
  2. Convert to seconds: 3 × 60 + 45 = 225.
  3. Take the video URL and append &t=225:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ&t=225

Or use the YouTube timestamp link generator — paste the URL, type the time, copy the result.

For YouTube Shorts

Shorts URLs use a different pattern (youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID) and the t parameter doesn’t apply — Shorts are too short. The link starts from 0 always.

For embedded videos

Embed iframes use a slightly different parameter:

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID?start=120"></iframe>

Note the ?start= instead of &t=. The unit is always seconds (no s suffix needed).

End time too

The embed format also supports end=:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID?start=120&end=180

That plays from 2:00 to 3:00, then stops. Useful for tutorials, podcasts, and clip-sharing without third-party tools. The watch URL doesn’t support end= reliably — use it inside an iframe.

Real use cases

  • Sending a friend the funny part. No more “skip to 4:32.”
  • Video documentation. Linking to “watch how to set up X starting here.”
  • Podcasts and interviews. Reference a specific question or quote.
  • Tutorials and product demos. Jump to the relevant feature.
  • Course content. Reference a specific lesson moment in chat.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting the &. If the URL has no other parameters yet, use ?t=. With existing parameters, use &t=.
  • Using start= on watch URLs. That only works in embeds. Use t= on watch links.
  • Sharing a Premiere or live stream timestamp before it ends. The timestamp resets after the live ends.
  • Linking to a specific time in a video that’s been edited. If the creator re-uploads, your link breaks.

FAQ

Does this work for unlisted videos?

Yes, as long as the recipient has the link. Privacy-restricted videos (private) won’t open even with a timestamp.

Does the timestamp work on YouTube Music?

Yes, same parameter. Useful for sharing a specific moment in a long album upload.

Can I link to a range, not just a start time?

Only in embedded iframes via start= and end=. Watch URLs only support a start time.

What if the video has chapters?

Chapter timestamps in the description are basically the same format. Click any chapter and you get a watch URL with &t= already built in.

Do timestamps survive URL shorteners?

Yes — the shortener redirects to the full URL with the timestamp intact.

Generate the link instantly

The YouTube timestamp link generator takes any video URL and a timestamp (in seconds, minutes:seconds, or hours:minutes:seconds) and outputs the share-ready link. Pair with the UTM link generator to track clicks from your blog or newsletter.