PlaylistTime / Upload time
YouTube upload time checker
Find out exactly when a YouTube video was uploaded: the date and time it went public, to the second, in your own time zone.
YouTube shows when a video was posted only as a date or as "3 days ago". This YouTube upload time checker reads the exact publish time from YouTube's official data and shows it to the second, in your time zone, in UTC, as an ISO date and as a Unix timestamp. Paste any watch, youtu.be, Shorts or live link.
How to see when a YouTube video was uploaded
- On YouTube: on a computer, the date sits in the description box under the title; click "more" if it shows only "3 days ago". In the app, tap the description. Either way you get the day, not the time.
- For the exact time: paste the video link above and press Check. You get the date and the hour, minute and second it went public.
Upload date, publish date and premiere time
The time shown is when the video became public. A video uploaded as private or scheduled and published later shows the moment it went public, not when the file was uploaded. For live streams and premieres, the actual start time of the broadcast is shown too when YouTube provides it.
Why YouTube hides the exact time
YouTube rounds publish times to "2 hours ago" or a date. The exact second is still part of the video's public data, and PlaylistTime reads it through YouTube's official API. It is handy for proving who posted first, timing giveaways and contests, checking when a clip was really published, and studying when creators publish.
Best time to upload on YouTube? Check what works in your niche
There is no single best YouTube upload time: it depends on when your viewers are online. A quick way to learn what works in your niche is to check the upload time of recent videos from a few successful channels like yours. Paste each link above and note the day and hour. Most channels publish on a steady schedule, and the UTC time makes it easy to compare channels in different countries. For your own channel, the "When your viewers are on YouTube" report in YouTube Studio shows when your audience is online.
Time zones
The main time is shown in your own time zone, and the UTC time below it is the same for everyone. If a friend sees a different time, compare the UTC line.
Questions
How do I see the exact time a YouTube video was uploaded?
YouTube shows only the date or "3 days ago". Paste the video link above to see the exact upload time to the second, in your time zone and in UTC.
When was this YouTube video uploaded?
Paste its link into the YouTube upload date checker above. It shows the full date and time it was published, plus how long ago that was.
Is it the upload time or the publish time?
It is the time the video became public. A video uploaded as private or scheduled and published later shows the moment it went public.
Can I check the upload date of a Short or a live stream?
Yes. Shorts, live and youtu.be links all work. For live streams the actual start time of the broadcast is shown too, when YouTube provides it.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. In the YouTube app tap Share, then Copy link, and paste the link here in your phone's browser.
Why is the time different from what my friend sees?
Times are shown in each viewer's own time zone. The UTC time is the same for everyone.
What is the best time to upload on YouTube?
It depends on when your audience watches. Check the upload times of recent videos from successful channels in your niche with this tool, and look at the "When your viewers are on YouTube" report in YouTube Studio for your own channel.