YouTube’s latest update brings “Share at Timestamp” to mobile, while quietly discontinuing Clips in the process.

YouTube is tweaking how videos are shared on its platform. The update might seem small at first glance, but it could have an impact on how content is discovered and shared.

Timestamp sharing comes to mobile

Sharing a video from a specific moment is nothing new to YouTube. Desktop users have been able to do it for years. But now, that same “Share at Timestamp” feature is rolling out to mobile. That makes it far easier to share precise moments when you’re on the go.

The process to link to a specific part of the video is easy. Simply scroll to the exact part of the video you want, tap the share button, and toggle the option to start the video from that timestamp. 

YouTube Clips comes to an end

Alongside the update, YouTube is phasing out its Clips feature in the process. Clips is a tool introduced in 2021 that allowed users to create short, shareable segments of videos. 

Despite recognizing that “community clipping is an important way for creators to reach new audiences”, YouTube now sees timestamp sharing as an alternative that covers much of the same ground. The platform also points to plenty of third-party clipping tools for those who want more control. 

With that being said, users will no longer be able to set an end time or add context to their shared Clip. Existing Clips will remain viewable, but creating new ones is being retired. 

YouTube are testing a new ‘Clips’ feature to help you share small segments of videos

Why this matters for the music industry

For music fans, sharing timestamps from mobile removes some of the friction behind sharing highlights from songs. That means fans can now point to the exact beat drop, chorus, or lyric that they want to share. For artists, that opens up new potential for tracks and moments to spread organically.

It also aligns with the rise of short-form content. Clipping and sharing highlights from longer content is a key source of discovery for any creator, with many hoping a clip will go viral to reach new audiences. With these changes, YouTube is perhaps making it easier to share those exact moments.

What’s next?

YouTube isn’t abandoning clipping altogether. The platform plans to launch new clipping tools later this year, including features that will help creators identify their most shareable moments automatically.

There are also plans to roll out Video Clips to Shorts, and I’m sure more will be revealed with time.

For now though, YouTube is making it easier to share specific moments from videos, making it easier for fans to engage, react, and spread content.

Make every moment count with RouteNote

If your music is being used in YouTube videos or YouTube Shorts, you’ll want to make sure you’re earning every time. 

RouteNote offers free access to YouTube Content ID, helping you earn revenue whenever your music is used across the platform. Plus, unlimited free distribution to platforms worldwide, so you can get your music onto YouTube Shorts’ music library. Find out more here.