How to Add a Timestamp to a YouTube Comment
To add a timestamp to a YouTube comment, type the video's time with a colon, such as 1:32, followed by your note. On a video where commenting is available, the posted time can become a link to that moment. You do not need to own the upload.
Write a time, then explain the moment
- Open the exact video you want to discuss. Pause at the moment and note the time shown by its player.
- Open the comment field. You need to be signed in, and the video's comments must be available.
- Type the time using a colon between minutes and seconds, then add a short explanation. For an hour-long recording, include hours when needed, such as
1:02:15. - Read the note before posting. After posting it yourself, select the time link and check that it reaches the intended moment.
The time is a position within that video. 1:32 means 92 seconds from the start. A decimal such as 1.32, a clock time or the time when the comment was posted is a different thing.
Give the next viewer enough context
An illustrative editing note
1:32 The explanation starts here. Keep the sentence before it for context.
This example was written for this guide. It is not a real user's comment or a posted Gling testimonial.
A useful note says what happens at the time and why it matters. For review feedback, name the issue you heard or saw instead of writing only “fix this.” Check whether the person needs one time or a range.
| Your purpose | A useful note |
|---|---|
| Point to an answer | 1:32 The explanation begins here. |
| Flag an editing issue | 1:32 Listen to the word immediately after the cut. |
| Describe a range | 1:32 to 1:45 covers the setup. Each time is a separate position; the note does not create a playable clip. |
If a time is not clickable, check the basics
- Use ordinary digits and colons. Include both minutes and seconds, even for a moment near the beginning.
- Keep the time within the video's duration and check that you are discussing the right upload.
- Check the actual posted comment, rather than assuming a draft field will render a link.
- If you cannot post at all, check sign-in and whether comments are enabled. Some comments can be held or removed by moderation.
- If you only need to send a starting point, use the video's Share timestamp control instead of posting a comment.
YouTube's comment guide explains comment availability and visibility. Its sharing guide explains the desktop Start at option.
A comment does not add chapters to the video
A viewer's timestamp links into an existing upload. Manual chapters belong in the creator's video description and have their own format and eligibility requirements. If you manage the upload, follow how to add chapters. If you want to navigate existing sections, use the viewer's chapter guide.
You may also see the age or date of a comment. That identifies when the comment was posted, rather than a position in the video. YouTube can use that displayed posting time to open a link highlighting the comment; it is a different link from a time written inside its text.
For the full choice between a description, comment and shared link, return to the YouTube timestamp guide.
Reviewing your own spoken video? Keep feedback tied to the version you are editing. After removing pauses or takes, check the final file before reusing old timestamps.
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