YouTube Chapter Maker
Turn rough notes into clean YouTube-ready chapters.
1. Your video
Paste a link to validate it and enable the preview.
Used to name your downloads.
2. Chapters
Suggestions
- Row 1: chapter title is empty.
- YouTube needs at least 3 chapters before they become clickable.
Start from an example
Paste existing timestamps
3. Copy or download
YouTube description
Markdown
CSV
JSON
Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server, and saved projects stay on this device only.
What are YouTube chapters?
Chapters split your video's progress bar into named, clickable segments. When a viewer hovers over the timeline, they see the title of each part and can tap to jump there instantly. Chapters are built from a simple list of times and titles placed in your video description. They turn one long upload into a navigable outline, which is exactly what people expect from tutorials, reviews, interviews and recorded talks.
YouTube chapter requirements (the official rules)
For chapters to appear, your list must satisfy three conditions at the same
time. First, the opening chapter has to begin at 00:00. Second,
you need a minimum of three chapters. Third, every chapter must run for at
least ten seconds; two chapters closer together than that will disable the
whole feature. Times must also be in order from earliest to latest. This maker
checks all of these for you and shows a red error the moment a rule is broken,
so you never publish a list that silently fails.
How to add chapters to a video
Build your list above, making sure the errors panel is empty. Then copy the YouTube description output and open your video in YouTube Studio. Paste the list anywhere in the description box, keeping each chapter on its own line, and save. The chapter markers usually appear on the progress bar within a couple of minutes. If they do not show up, return here and confirm the first time is 00:00, you have three or more entries, and none are under ten seconds apart.
Chapter ideas by video type
Different formats call for different chapter structures. A product review might use unboxing, build quality, performance and verdict. A coding tutorial could follow the project step by step. An interview works well split by question or theme, while a recorded webinar can mirror its agenda slides. A gaming or stream recording often uses match numbers or highlights. Pick the breakdown your audience would naturally look for, and name each chapter with the words they would scan for.
Common chapter mistakes
The mistakes that break chapters are nearly always one of a few things: the first line is not 00:00, there are only one or two chapters, or two times sit less than ten seconds apart. Other slip-ups hurt usability without breaking the feature, such as vague titles like "Part 3", times listed out of order, or so many tiny chapters that the bar becomes cluttered. Fix the red errors first, then tidy the warnings, and your chapters will be both valid and genuinely helpful.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules for YouTube chapters?
Three rules must all be met: the first chapter must start at 00:00, there must be at least three chapters in total, and every chapter must last 10 seconds or more. If any rule is broken, YouTube quietly ignores the chapters. This maker flags each issue as you type.
Why are my chapters not showing up on my video?
The most common reasons are a first chapter that does not start at 00:00, fewer than three chapters, or a chapter shorter than 10 seconds. A stray typo in a time can also break the whole list. Check that the warnings panel here is clear before you paste the list into your description.
How many chapters should a video have?
There is no maximum that matters in practice, but the minimum is three. Beyond that, match the count to your content: a short tutorial might have four or five clear sections, while a long stream could have a dozen. Favour meaningful sections over splitting hairs.
Do chapters work on YouTube Shorts?
No. Chapters are a feature of regular long-form videos shown on the progress bar. Shorts use a different vertical player without a chapter bar, so adding times to a Short's description will not create clickable sections.
Are YouTube chapters good for SEO?
They help indirectly. Clear chapter titles describe your content to both viewers and YouTube, can surface as key moments in Google search results, and tend to improve watch time because people find what they want. Write descriptive titles using the words your audience would search for.