YouTube Timestamp Link Generator & Chapters Checker

Legitimate Use Cases

Key Features of YouTube Timestamp Link Generator

• Reads every link format

  Pulls the 11-character video ID out of watch, youtu.be, Shorts, embed, live, m.youtube.com and YouTube Music links, and ignores tracking parameters such as si=.

• Share and embed outputs

  Builds a youtu.be link with t=, a watch link with t=…s, and an embed URL with start= and an optional end=, plus a ready iframe snippet and a privacy-enhanced youtube-nocookie.com option.

• Flexible time input

  Accepts h:mm:ss, mm:ss, plain seconds and 1m30s-style times, and shows the total in seconds so you can double-check it.

• Chapters rule check

  Tests the four requirements YouTube Help lists for chapters (first timestamp at 0:00, at least three timestamps, ascending order, each chapter at least 10 seconds) and names the line that breaks each one.

• Auto-fix

  Sorts the lines, removes duplicate times and times past the end of the video, starts the list at 00:00, folds chapters shorter than 10 seconds into their neighbour, and prints one clean line per chapter.

• Per-chapter links

  Add the video link and every chapter gets its own timestamp link for replies, show notes or a pinned comment.

About YouTube Timestamp Link Generator

ToolsWebPro YouTube Timestamp Link Generator does two related jobs. The first is building links that open a video at a chosen moment. YouTube's own Share button can do this on a computer (tick "Start at"), but it only uses the position the player is currently at, and it doesn't give you embed code. Here you paste any YouTube link, type the time, and get a youtu.be link with t=, a full watch link, and an embed URL that uses the player's start and end parameters. Those embed parameters are whole seconds counted from the beginning of the video, which is why the tool converts 2:30 to 150 for you. The second job is chapters. YouTube builds chapters from timestamps in your description, but only when the list follows its rules: the first timestamp is 0:00, there are at least three, they go up in order, and no chapter is shorter than 10 seconds. One mistyped line is enough to make the whole set disappear, and YouTube doesn't tell you which line it was. The checker marks the failing line and writes a fixed list you can paste back. It also lists the account-level reasons chapters stay hidden even with a perfect list, as documented by YouTube. For the full walkthrough, read why YouTube chapters don't show and how to fix them. Before you publish, check the title with the YouTube SEO checker, preview the thumbnail with the YouTube thumbnail tester, and if you have caption files, the SRT to VTT converter can turn them into a plain-text transcript that makes picking chapter titles quicker. More creator tools are on the YouTube tools page.

ToolsWebPro provides this utility 100% free with no account creation. Our client-side tools run locally inside your browser memory so your uploaded files are never saved or transferred to third-party servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a YouTube link that starts at a certain time?

Paste the video link here, type the time (for example 2:30) and copy the short link it builds, such as youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=150. On a computer you can also click Share under the video, tick Start at and enter the time. To edit a link by hand, add ?t=150 to a youtu.be link or &t=150s to a watch link.

What is the difference between t= and start= in a YouTube link?

t= goes on share and watch links that open on YouTube or in the app. start= and end= are parameters for the embedded player, the iframe you put on your own site. Both use seconds, so 2:30 becomes 150. The end time is counted from the beginning of the video, not from the start time.

Why are my YouTube chapters not showing?

YouTube Help lists four rules for chapters in the description: the first timestamp must be 00:00, there must be at least three timestamps, they must be in ascending order, and each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. If one fails, no chapters show. If all four pass, the reason is usually the channel or video: you may need access to advanced features, chapters aren't available with active strikes or on videos that may be inappropriate for some viewers, and YouTube says not every video is eligible.

Does the first YouTube chapter have to start at 0:00?

Yes. YouTube Help says the first timestamp must start with 00:00. If your first line is 0:15, the auto-fix adds a 00:00 Intro line, or moves the first timestamp to 00:00 when it is less than 10 seconds in, so you don't end up with a chapter that is too short.

How long does each YouTube chapter need to be?

At least 10 seconds, according to YouTube Help. The checker measures the gap between each pair of timestamps, and if you enter the video length it also checks the last chapter. Chapters that are too short are folded into the chapter before them.

Can I make an embedded YouTube video stop at a certain time?

Yes. Fill in the Stop at field and the embed URL gets an end= value in seconds. This only works for embedded players; links shared to the YouTube app or site ignore it. YouTube notes that start= jumps to the nearest keyframe, so playback can begin up to about two seconds early.

Does it work with YouTube Shorts links?

It reads the video ID from a Shorts link and builds the standard youtu.be, watch and embed links from it, since those are the formats that carry a start time.

Is my video link or description sent anywhere?

No. The links and chapter checks are worked out in your browser. The tool doesn't contact YouTube, doesn't need your channel, and nothing you paste is stored.

Related YouTube Tools

More free tools on ToolsWebPro — including companions that pair well with YouTube Timestamp Link Generator.

• YouTube SEO CheckerCheck a YouTube title for SEO as you type: length, mobile cut-off and keyword position, plus a score for description and tags. Free, no extension.
• YouTube Thumbnail TesterPreview thumbnails and titles in a realistic YouTube home, search, sidebar and mobile feed — dark or light — and compare up to 3 A/B variants. No upload.
• SRT to VTT ConverterConvert SRT subtitles to WebVTT, VTT back to SRT, or either one to plain text. Paste or upload, then download — free and private in your browser.
• YouTube TagsGenerate optimized YouTube tags and hashtags from your video topic for better search and discoverability — free, no signup.
• YouTube Thumbnail DownloaderDownload high-resolution YouTube video and Shorts thumbnails in HD, 1080p, and 4K for free — no signup.