Add timestamps to your video descriptions
Create chapter markers that actually work:
MM:SS - Description. The dash separator and description are both required — a bare timestamp with no label won't create a chapter.When you paste timestamps into a video description, YouTube automatically converts them into clickable chapters:
MM:SS or HH:MM:SS become clickable links in the description. Viewers can jump directly to that moment.Paste the generated timestamps into your video description. Viewers can click timestamps to jump to that point.
0:00 - Introduction\n1:30 - Main Topic\n5:45 - Conclusion
Yes. Timestamps help YouTube understand your video structure, which can improve search rankings. They also increase viewer retention by making it easier to navigate to relevant sections.
Yes. You can update your video description at any time. Changes to timestamps take effect immediately — viewers will see the updated chapters after refreshing the page.
Check that: (1) your first timestamp is 0:00, (2) you have at least 3 chapters, (3) each chapter is at least 10 seconds long, and (4) all timestamps are in ascending order.
Chapters don't appear on YouTube Shorts (vertical videos under 3 minutes). However, you can still add timestamps to the description — they'll be clickable links in the description text.
For a 10-minute video, 5-8 timestamps work well. That's roughly one chapter every 1-2 minutes. Don't overdo it — too many short chapters can feel overwhelming to viewers.
YouTube accepts two timestamp formats in video descriptions:
Our tool generates MM:SS format by default. For videos over 1 hour, manually adjust the output to HH:MM:SS format.
Pro Tip: You can also link directly to a timestamp using YouTube's URL format: https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID?t=90 (jumps to 1:30).
Timestamps aren't just a viewer convenience — they actively help your channel grow:
Once you've mastered the basics, try these advanced strategies:
Yes! Chapters appear on mobile in the YouTube app. Viewers can tap chapter names to jump to that section. Timestamps in the description are also tappable on mobile.
Yes, you can edit your video description at any time to add, remove, or correct timestamps. Changes take effect immediately (no re-upload needed).
Yes, positively. YouTube indexes timestamped sections separately, making your video searchable for more keywords. This can increase your video's visibility in search results.
"Timestamps" are the time markers you add to your description. "Chapters" are the clickable segments that appear in the video player (only if you meet YouTube's chapter requirements). All chapters use timestamps, but not all timestamps become chapters.
You can't add timestamps during a live stream, but you can add them to the description after the stream ends (when it becomes a regular video). This helps viewers navigate the recorded stream.
Type the timestamp in MM:SS format (e.g., 2:30) in your comment. YouTube automatically converts it to a clickable link that jumps to that time in the video.
Your timestamps don't meet YouTube's chapter requirements. Check: (1) first timestamp is 0:00, (2) at least 3 timestamps, (3) each segment ≥10 seconds, (4) all timestamps in order.
Yes! You can include timestamps in Community post text. They'll be clickable links that open the video at that time. Great for highlighting key moments.
No. You can manually type timestamps in your description. This tool just makes it faster and ensures correct formatting. YouTube recognizes any correctly formatted timestamp.
No. Only the video creator can disable chapters (in YouTube Studio settings). Viewers can't turn them off. If you don't want chapters, either don't add timestamps or disable the feature in Studio.
Timestamps are just one way to improve your YouTube videos. Here are additional strategies to grow your channel:
Our free online tools include additional resources for content creators, writers, and developers.