If you’ve seen a video timestamp mentioned in a YouTube comment, adding your own is much simpler than any special code — you just type the time.
How to Add a Clickable Timestamp
- Figure out the point in the video you want to reference (for example, 5 minutes 30 seconds in).
- In your comment, type it as 5:30 (minutes:seconds) or 1:23:45 (hours:minutes:seconds) for longer videos.
- Post the comment — YouTube automatically turns that text into a clickable link that jumps to that exact point in the video.
No special brackets, codes, or formatting are needed — YouTube detects the time format on its own.
Adding Multiple Timestamps
You can list several timestamps in one comment (common for “chapters” style comments), each on its own line:
0:00 Intro 2:15 Getting started 8:40 Main topic
Each line becomes its own clickable link.
Timestamps in Video Descriptions Work the Same Way
If you’re a creator, adding timestamps to your own video’s description in this same format automatically creates YouTube’s chapter markers on the video’s progress bar — genuinely useful for viewers navigating a longer video.
Related: See how to tag someone on YouTube and how to use emoji in comments.
nnFAQ
Do I need special characters to make a timestamp clickable?
No, just type the time like 5:30 or 1:23:45 and YouTube automatically links it.
Can I list multiple timestamps in one comment?
Yes, put each on its own line and YouTube links them individually.