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How to Add Chapters (Timestamps) to a YouTube Video

Follow these steps in order.

  1. Open the video's description in YouTube Studio

    In YouTube Studio, select the video you want to add chapters to and go to the description field in the editor.

  2. Enter timestamps starting from 00:00

    In the description, type a time and a title on each line, like "00:00 Intro" and "02:15 Main topic starts."

  3. Make sure the first line starts at 00:00

    YouTube needs at least three timestamps to recognize chapters, and the very first one must start at 0 seconds.

  4. Save, then check the video's progress bar

    After saving, play the video back and the chapter titles will appear divided along the progress bar underneath the player.

When a video is too long to scrub through

In a one-hour lecture or vlog, finding one specific moment used to mean rewinding over and over. Adding chapters shows section titles right under the progress bar, so viewers can jump straight to the part they want.

A minimum of three sections is required

A single timestamp or even two isn't enough β€” YouTube only turns the list into a chapter bar once there are at least three, each starting on its own line and in ascending time order.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many timestamps are needed at minimum for chapters to appear?

YouTube requires at least three timestamps, including one starting at 00:00, before it will recognize and display them as chapters.

Is there a character limit for each chapter title?

Yes β€” each title can get cut off if it's too long, so it's best to keep chapter titles short and easy to scan at a glance.