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GUIDE

How to Add Chapters to a YouTube Video

Add a clear timestamp list to your YouTube description and make it easier for viewers to navigate your video.

Short Answer

Open YouTube Studio, edit the video description, add timestamp-and-title lines starting at 0:00, keep them chronological, and save the video. Use at least three chapters with meaningful gaps.

Where Do You Add YouTube Chapters?

Manual chapters are added directly to the video description in YouTube Studio.

YouTube Studio
→ Content
→ Select a video
→ Description
→ Add timestamps and titles
→ Save

How to Add Chapters in YouTube Studio

01

Open YouTube Studio

Open Content, find the video, and select it.

02

Choose meaningful sections

Identify the places viewers may genuinely want to jump to.

03

Record each start time

Watch the video and note the actual start of every section.

04

Format the list

Use one timestamp and title per line.

05

Paste and save

Paste the finished list into the description and save the video.

A Simple Chapter List

0:00 Introduction
1:35 Setup
4:20 Main Tutorial
8:45 Common Problems
12:10 Final Tips

YouTube Chapter Requirements

  • Start the first chapter at 0:00.
  • Use at least three timestamps.
  • Keep timestamps in chronological order.
  • Make each chapter long enough to represent a meaningful section.
  • Use clear titles that describe the content.

Why Chapters May Not Appear

  • The first timestamp does not start at 0:00.
  • There are fewer than three timestamps.
  • Timestamps are out of order.
  • The list is not saved in the description.
  • The titles or timestamps do not match the video structure.

Review Chapters After Saving

Open the published video and check that each chapter begins where expected. Update the description if a timestamp is inaccurate or a title is unclear.

Related Tool

Use the matching tool to complete this task.

Create Chapters →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are YouTube chapters added?

Add them to the video description in YouTube Studio.

What timestamp must the first chapter use?

Start the first chapter at 0:00.

How many timestamps are required?

Use at least three timestamps for a chapter list.

Can I format chapters before opening YouTube Studio?

Yes. Use the Chapter Generator to review and copy the list first.

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