YouTube Music is catching up with the much-needed feature, Timestamp Sharing. This addition allows users to share specific moments in a song, podcast or audio recording, a function already available in the main YouTube app. Here’s what this means and how you can use it.
Previously, sharing music and podcasts through the YouTube Music app meant that recipients had to start from the beginning. This often required a manual effort to guide them to the right moment. The new feature (as spotted by 9to5Google) eliminates this hassle by embedding the playback time directly into the link. It is particularly helpful for :
- Podcast listeners, who want to listen to/highlight specific segments from full-length episodes.
- Music lovers, who are eager to share favorite parts of a song or a memorable moment.
How This Feature Works
The feature works by adding a “t=xx” parameter to the URL, where the “XX” is the playback time in seconds. For example:
A link like https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=789E1uGvG5s&t=110 will start playing 1 minute and 50 seconds into the video.
Steps to Use Timestamp Sharing
- Play the content: Open YouTube Music and play the music you want to share
- Share: Tap the share icon below the player
- Enable Timestamp: Toggle the “Start at [timestamp]” option to add the current playback time to the link
- Share the Link: Copy or send the timestamped link directly
The feature is gradually rolling out on both Android and iOS as well as on the web app. If you don’t see it, make sure your YouTube app is updated. Also, you can clear the app’s cache to force an update.
With Google retiring Google Podcast and focusing on YouTube Music as its podcast hub, this feature is a welcome addition. While YouTube Music lacks some standard podcast features, timestamp sharing is a step in the right direction in improving the overall experience.
For podcast enthusiasts and music fans, the timestamp sharing feature simplifies how you highlight and share the best parts of your favorite audio content.
