Ever stumbled upon a long YouTube video and wished you could jump straight to the part you need? That’s exactly what chapters make possible.
Adding chapters to your videos not only makes them easier to navigate, but also keeps viewers engaged and helps your content shine in search results. With just a few clicks — no fancy tools needed — you can transform your videos into more user-friendly, searchable, and enjoyable experiences.
What are YouTube Chapters?
YouTube Chapters are segments of your video. You can think of them as bookmarks that you add to a video by marking the timestamps where key points in your video structure are discussed.
Check out this video about Public Speaking Expert: This Speaking Mistake Makes People Ignore You. Notice how this video is divided into multiple segments and that the length is about 2hrs 26mins long. Can you imagine how difficult it would be if it were uploaded without marking the Chapters?
With key segments marked, a viewer can drag the cursor over the video timeline and be able to see the keypoints discussed in each of the segments. This example is a bit on the extreme side though, but if you make equally super long videos for your channel, it’s not impossible to end up with as many YouTube chapters as the ones here.
Step-by-Step: How to Add Chapters to a YouTube Video
Follow these simple steps to add chapters to your video.
Step 1: Upload Your Video
Start by uploading your video. Once done, you can edit your video to include chapters on the platform itself.
In case you already have a video published but want to add chapters to make it easier for your viewers to digest, you may still do so by editing the video description.
Step 2: Go to the Video Description
Open YouTube Studio and find your video. Go to YouTube Studio > Content. Look for the video you want to add timestamps to. Then, scroll down to the description box.
Step 3: Add Timestamps and Titles
You may do this step when you’re uploading your video. Or, you add it to live videos by editing the video description.
To properly format your timestamps, make sure to check out the example below and use it as your template. Take note that you should always start with 00:00, and that each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. YouTube requires this to make your chapters work. Keep working on the rest of your chapters using the same format.
00:00 – Introduction
00:15 – What are YouTube Chapters?
01:05 – Step 1: Upload Your Video
02:30 – Step 2: Go to the Video Description
03:45 – Step 3: Add Timestamps and Titles
05:10 – Step 4: Save and Publish
Step 4: Save and Publish
Once done, scroll down, and click Save.
You should be able to see your chapters appear on the video timeline. Hover your cursor over the timeline. You should be able to read the chapter titles you added.
Then, try to click each segment you created to make sure the correct video segment is displayed when clicked. If you need to make adjustments or add another chapter, you can do so by editing the video description.
Bonus: Automatic Chapters
You can also get your video divided into chapters automatically. Just go to YouTube Studio > Content > Details. Select ‘Automatic Chapters’ and check the box below it.
YouTube then automatically creates the chapters for you. While this technique speeds up the work, you get more control over what gets bookmarked by manually adding each chapter in the description box.
Growing Your Audience with YouTube Chapters
At the end of the day, great content and video quality are the heart of any successful YouTube channel. But if you want to give your videos an extra edge, both for your audience and search engines — chapters are a smart, simple way to do it.
By breaking your content into clear, clickable segments, you’re making it easier for viewers to find what they need and stay engaged. It’s a small tweak that can make a big impact.
Ready to make your videos more discoverable and user-friendly? Learn how to add YouTube chapters in just 4 easy steps; no fancy tools, no hassle.
For more helpful guides, see How to Edit Youtube Videos Like a Pro.
