Examples: 0:00 Intro, 1:02:03 Q&A, 95 Demo. Titles are optional for links.
How to use
01
Paste the video link
Enter a watch, youtu.be, Shorts or live link, or the 11-character video ID, in the YouTube video link field. Try a sample fills in an example list.
02
Type your timestamps
Add one time per line, with or without a title: 0:00 Intro, 12:45 Demo, 1:02:03 Q&A or 95. Times can also sit at the end of a line, as in Demo - 12:45.
03
Copy links or chapters
Choose youtube.com/watch or youtu.be links and copy any row. Use the tabs for chapters, Markdown, HTML or plain links, and Download CSV for a spreadsheet.
Why YouTube Timestamp Link Generator
- Turns a list of times into YouTube links that start at each moment.
- Reads 1:23, 01:02:03, 95 or 1m23s, with or without a title on the line.
- Formats chapters for the description and checks them against YouTube's chapter rules.
- Exports chapters, Markdown, HTML, plain links or CSV.
YouTube chapter rules the generator checks
YouTube turns timestamps in a description into chapters only when the list follows a few rules. The tool checks each one as you type, and the Chapters tab always outputs a sorted list with a consistent time format.
| Rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| First timestamp is 0:00 | Chapters must cover the video from the very start |
| At least 3 timestamps | Fewer than three and YouTube ignores the list |
| Each chapter at least 10 seconds | Very short chapters make the list invalid |
| Listed in ascending order | Out-of-order times break the chapter bar |
| Every timestamp has a title | Untitled chapters show as blank labels |
Link formats the generator can make
Both link styles open the same moment in the same video. Pick the one that suits where you are posting.
- youtube.com/watch?v=ID&t=95s is the full form and is the clearest when people read the link.
- youtu.be/ID?t=95 is shorter, which helps in tweets, texts and printed material.
- 0:00 needs no t= at all, so the first chapter links to the plain video.
- Videos over an hour show times as 1:02:03 in every row, so the list lines up.
- Embedded players use start= instead; the YouTube Embed Code Generator handles that.
Common questions
How do I link to a specific time in a YouTube video?
Add t= and the number of seconds to the link: youtube.com/watch?v=ID&t=90s or youtu.be/ID?t=90 both start at 1:30. The YouTube Timestamp Link Generator does the conversion for you, so you can type 1:30 instead of working out seconds.
What time formats does the YouTube timestamp link generator accept?
Minutes and seconds (1:23), hours, minutes and seconds (1:02:03), plain seconds (83), and the h, m and s style (1m23s). The time can start or end the line, and anything else on the line becomes the title.
How do I add chapters to a YouTube video?
Paste a list of timestamps with titles into the video description in YouTube Studio. The Chapters tab in this tool gives you that list, sorted and formatted. YouTube then splits the progress bar into sections, as long as the list meets its rules and automatic chapters don't override it.
Why are my YouTube chapters not showing?
Usually one of the rules is broken: the first timestamp must be 0:00, there must be at least three, and each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. The chapter check in the tool marks each rule as Pass or Fix. YouTube also needs a little time after you save, and some accounts can't use chapters until they meet YouTube's eligibility rules.
Can the YouTube timestamp link generator sort my times?
Yes. Every output is sorted by time, even if you typed the lines out of order, and the chapter check tells you when the original order was wrong. Duplicate times stay in, so remove them if you only want one link per moment.
Do YouTube timestamp links work on phones?
Yes. Both youtube.com and youtu.be links with t= open at the right moment in the YouTube app and in mobile browsers. Some chat apps show a preview that starts at 0:00, but tapping through to the video jumps to the time.
Can I use timestamp links in show notes or a blog post?
Yes. The Markdown tab gives a linked list for READMEs, Notion and Reddit, and the HTML tab gives a ul list for a blog post or podcast show notes. Each item shows the time as the link text, followed by its title.
Does a YouTube timestamp link work for Shorts or live streams?
Paste the Shorts or live link and the tool builds normal watch links from its video ID. Timestamps work on live stream replays. Shorts are usually so short that a start time rarely helps, but the link still opens the video.
What is the difference between t= and start= in YouTube links?
t= is used on watch and youtu.be links, and accepts 90 or 1m30s. start= is the parameter for embedded players and only takes seconds. To embed from a time, use the YouTube Embed Code Generator, which writes start= and an optional end= for you.