How to Add Chapters and Timestamps to a YouTube Video

Updated November 3, 2026 · Summ team

Chapters split a YouTube video into labeled sections on the progress bar, so viewers can see what's coming and skip to the part they want. Timestamps are the clickable times (like 3:15) that jump to a moment in the video. The two are connected: on YouTube, you create chapters by writing a list of timestamps in the video description.

Short answer: edit your video's description and add a list of timestamps with a title on each line. Start with 0:00, use at least three timestamps in ascending order, and make every chapter at least 10 seconds long. Save, and YouTube shows the chapters on the progress bar.

Below: how chapters and timestamps differ, step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile, the rules, and what to check when chapters don't show up.

Chapters vs. timestamps

Timestamps in the description. Any time you write in a video's description, like 2:40, becomes a link that jumps to that moment. A list of them that follows YouTube's rules also becomes the video's chapters.
Chapters. The sections you see on the progress bar, each with its own title. Viewers can hover over or scrub the bar to see chapter names, and open a chapter list to jump between them.
Timestamps in comments. Anyone can write a time in a comment. It turns into a clickable link, but it doesn't create chapters.
Timestamp links. A video URL with a start time in it (for example ?t=95), so the video opens at that point when someone clicks the link.

What a chapter list looks like

Put each timestamp at the start of its own line, followed by a title:

0:00 Intro
1:25 What you need
4:10 Step 1: Prepare the base
9:48 Step 2: Assembly
15:30 Common mistakes
18:05 Final result

For videos over an hour, include hours, like 1:02:15. You can have other text in the description above or below the list. Keep titles short and specific so they're readable on the progress bar.

How to add chapters in YouTube Studio (desktop)

Sign in to YouTube Studio.
In the left menu, click Content, then click the video you want to edit.
In the Description box, add your list of timestamps and titles, starting with 0:00.
Click Save.
Open the video on YouTube and check the progress bar. You should see it split into sections with your chapter titles.

You can do the same while uploading a new video: write the chapter list in the description field before you publish. Chapters you add yourself override YouTube's automatic chapters.

How to add chapters on iPhone or Android

On mobile, you add chapters the same way: by editing the description. You can use the YouTube Studio app or the main YouTube app. Menu names shift a little between app versions, but the steps are roughly:

Open the YouTube Studio app and go to Content. In the YouTube app, go to You, then Your videos.
Find the video and tap it (in the YouTube app, tap the three-dot menu next to it and choose Edit).
Tap the description field and add your timestamps and titles, one per line, starting with 0:00.
Tap Save.

Typing a long list on a phone is fiddly. If you plan the chapter list on your computer first, you can paste it in on mobile.

YouTube's chapter rules

According to YouTube's help page on video chapters, your list needs to meet these requirements:

The first timestamp must be 00:00 (0:00 works too).
At least three timestamps, listed in ascending order.
Each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long.

YouTube's page also says that if you don't have access to chapters yet, you may need to apply for access to advanced features in YouTube Studio.

Automatic chapters

YouTube can also create chapters on its own. In YouTube Studio, each video has an Allow automatic chapters checkbox (under Show more on the video's details page), and it's checked by default on new uploads. Not every video is eligible, and not every eligible video gets automatic chapters.

To opt out for one video: open it in YouTube Studio, click Show more, uncheck Allow automatic chapters and click Save.
To opt out for all future uploads: in YouTube Studio go to Settings, then Upload defaults, then Advanced settings. Uncheck Allow automatic chapters (when available and eligible) and click Save.

If you write your own chapter list, it replaces the automatic chapters for that video.

YouTube chapters not working? Check these

The list doesn't start at 0:00. This is the most common mistake. Starting at 0:05 or 0:30 breaks the whole list.
Fewer than three timestamps. Two timestamps are clickable links, but they won't make chapters.
Timestamps out of order. Each one has to be later than the one before it.
A chapter shorter than 10 seconds. Check the gap between every pair of timestamps, including the last one and the end of the video.
Formatting problems. Put each timestamp on its own line and use colons (1:25, not 1.25 or 1m25s).
No access to the feature yet. YouTube says you may need to apply for access to advanced features.
Channel or content restrictions. YouTube's help page says the chapters feature isn't available if the channel has active strikes or if the content may be inappropriate for some viewers.
Changes haven't shown up yet. Refresh the video page or reopen the app after saving. The app may show an older copy for a while.

How to add timestamps to YouTube comments

Timestamps aren't only for creators. Anyone can add them in a comment, and they're a handy way to point other viewers to the best moment or to make a quick index of a long video.

Find the moment in the video and note the time shown on the player.
Write a comment that includes the time, for example: 12:05 the actual answer starts here.
Post the comment. YouTube turns the time into a link that jumps to that point.

You can put several timestamps in one comment, one per line. Comment timestamps don't create chapters on the progress bar, though. Only the creator can do that, through the description.

How to share a YouTube link that starts at a specific time

A timestamp link opens the video at the moment you choose, instead of at the beginning.

On desktop: pause the video at the right moment, click Share, tick Start at (it fills in the current time) and copy the link.
By hand: add t= with the time in seconds to the URL. For a youtu.be link that's https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=95. For a youtube.com/watch link, add &t=95 after the video ID. Formats like t=1m35s also work.
With our free tool: paste the video link into the YouTube Timestamp Link Generator, enter the time, and copy a link that starts right there. It's useful on mobile, where the share menu doesn't always offer a start time.

Draft a chapter list faster with Summ

Writing chapters for a long video means scrubbing through it and noting where each topic starts. If you'd like a head start, our app Summ (iPhone, iPad and Android) can help. Its summaries include chapter-by-chapter notes with timestamps, generated from the video's transcript.

Creators can use those notes as a rough first draft: copy the times and topics, then check each one against the video, fix the titles and adjust the times so the list meets YouTube's rules. Summ doesn't add anything to YouTube itself. You still paste the final list into your description.

For viewers, the same chapter notes are a quick way to find the part of a long video you actually need, even when the creator didn't add chapters. Share the video to Summ, skim the sections, and jump to the one that matters. See the YouTube Summarizer page or our guide on how to summarize a YouTube video. If you want the full text with a timestamp on every line instead, read how to get the transcript of a YouTube video.

Tips for good chapters

Name the content, not the order. "Choosing a lens" tells viewers more than "Part 2."
Keep titles short. Long titles get cut off on the progress bar, especially on phones.
Don't over-split. A chapter every few minutes is easier to use than one every 20 seconds.
Match what people search for. Clear chapter titles help viewers recognize the section they came for.
Update after edits. If you trim the video in YouTube Studio, check that your timestamps still line up.

FAQ

How do I add chapters to a YouTube video?

Edit the video's description and add a list of timestamps with titles, one per line. The first timestamp must be 0:00, you need at least three timestamps in ascending order, and each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. Save the description and YouTube turns the list into chapters.

How do I add timestamps to a YouTube video?

Type the time in minutes and seconds (for example 4:32) in the video's description or in a comment. YouTube turns it into a clickable link that jumps to that point in the video. For videos longer than an hour, use hours too, like 1:04:32.

Why are my YouTube chapters not working?

The most common reasons are a first timestamp that isn't 0:00, fewer than three timestamps, timestamps out of order, or a chapter shorter than 10 seconds. YouTube also notes that your channel may need access to advanced features, and that active strikes or content that may be inappropriate for some viewers can make the chapters feature unavailable.

How do I add timestamps to YouTube comments?

Write the time in the comment, like 12:05, and post it. YouTube links it automatically, so anyone reading the comment can tap it to jump to that moment. You can add several timestamps in one comment.

What are automatic chapters on YouTube?

YouTube can create chapters for some videos on its own. In YouTube Studio this is the "Allow automatic chapters" checkbox, which is on by default for new uploads. Chapters you write in the description override automatic ones, and you can turn the option off for one video or in your upload defaults.

How do I share a YouTube link that starts at a specific time?

On desktop, pause the video where you want it to start, click Share and tick "Start at" before copying the link. Or add a time parameter to the URL yourself, such as ?t=95 for 1 minute 35 seconds. Our free YouTube Timestamp Link Generator builds the link for you.