What exactly does a timestamp link do?
It's a standard YouTube URL with ?t=seconds tacked onto the end. When someone clicks it, YouTube skips directly to that second in the video instead of starting from 0:00. This works in every browser and in the YouTube app.
Which YouTube URL formats work?
All of them. Paste a long youtube.com/watch?v= link, a short youtu.be/ link, a Shorts URL, a live stream, or an embed link — the tool extracts the video ID automatically.
What time formats can I type?
Three formats are supported: M:SS (like 1:23 for one minute and 23 seconds), H:MM:SS (like 1:23:45 for longer videos), or plain seconds (like 83). The tool converts whichever format you use.
Does the link work on phones?
Yes. The YouTube app on both iOS and Android respects the ?t= parameter and jumps to the correct second when the link is opened.
Does it work with YouTube Shorts?
No. YouTube Shorts always start from the beginning regardless of any timestamp parameter — that's a YouTube limitation, not this tool's.
Why does my link sometimes start from 0:00 anyway?
This can happen when the link is opened inside certain apps (like some email clients or social media in-app browsers) that strip URL parameters. Opening the link directly in a browser or the YouTube app is always reliable.
