How to Add YouTube Chapters to Your Videos

Learn to create YouTube chapters with timestamps in descriptions or upload custom chapter markers to improve video navigation and viewer experience.

1. Format timestamps in your video description. Add timestamps to your video description using the format 0:00 Chapter Title. Start with 0:00 for the introduction, then list subsequent chapters with their start times. Each timestamp must be on its own line and include a space between the timestamp and chapter title.
2. Meet the minimum requirements. Include at least three chapters with the first starting at 0:00. Each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. Your video must be longer than 3 minutes total for chapters to activate automatically.
3. Upload or update your video. Upload your video normally through YouTube Studio or edit an existing video's description. Paste your formatted timestamps into the description field and click Save Changes. YouTube processes chapters within a few minutes of saving.
4. Use YouTube Studio for advanced chapter editing. Navigate to YouTube Studio > Content and select your video. Click the Editor tab, then Chapters. Add, remove, or edit chapter titles and timestamps directly in the interface without touching the description.
5. Verify chapters are working. Check your video's watch page for chapter markers on the progress bar. Hover over the bar to see chapter titles appear as tooltips. The description should show clickable timestamps that jump to specific sections when clicked.
6. Optimize chapter titles for discovery. Use descriptive, keyword-rich chapter titles that match what viewers search for. Include relevant terms in chapter names since YouTube indexes these for search results and suggested videos.