Timestamps from the transcript
Chapters are placed using the transcript’s own timing, so each one lines up with the moment the topic actually changes in the video.
Free · No sign-up · Starts at 0:00
YouTube Chapters Generator
This YouTube chapters generator reads the video transcript and proposes chapter timestamps in YouTube’s own format, starting at 0:00. Copy the list, paste it into your description, and your video gets chapters on the progress bar.
- YouTube chapter format
- Starts at 0:00
- Copy and paste into the description
Ready-to-paste format
Every line looks like “0:00 Introduction”, in ascending order, which is exactly what YouTube needs to turn a description into chapters.
Works on long videos
Because nothing is re-transcribed, an hour-long tutorial or podcast is processed in seconds, and you get a full chapter list to refine.
How to add chapters to a YouTube video
YouTube creates chapters from timestamps in the video description. With this free YouTube chapters generator the whole process takes a couple of minutes:
- Paste your video link into the box above and press Generate Chapters.
- Copy the chapter list from the result screen. Rename any chapter titles so they describe each section clearly.
- Open YouTube Studio, choose Content, then click the video to open its Details page.
- Paste the list into the Description field, on its own lines, and click Save.
- Open the video on YouTube. The progress bar is now split into chapters, and the titles appear when you hover or scrub.
YouTube’s chapter rules
YouTube only shows chapters when the timestamps in the description follow a few rules. If chapters are not appearing, check these first:
- The first timestamp must be 0:00.
- There must be at least three timestamps, listed in ascending order.
- Each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long.
- Each timestamp starts its own line, followed by the chapter title, for example “2:15 Setting up the project”.
- Use minutes and seconds (4:05) or hours, minutes and seconds (1:04:05) for longer videos.
A free YouTube timestamp generator
The same list doubles as a YouTube timestamp generator: the timestamps are clickable in the description, so viewers can jump straight to the part they need. They also show up in Google results for some videos as “key moments”.
The chapter points are picked statistically from the transcript, not by an AI model, so read them through. Merge chapters that are too short, split ones that cover two topics, and give every chapter a title a viewer would understand at a glance.
How to add chapters to a YouTube video manually
You can always write chapters by hand: play the video, note the time each new section starts, and type lines like “0:00 Intro” into the description. The transcript makes this much faster, because you can scan the text and its timestamps instead of scrubbing through the video.
Get the full transcript with timestamps, search it for the phrases where you change topic, and copy those times into your list.
How to add chapters to a YouTube video on mobile
In the YouTube Studio app, open Content, tap the video, tap the pencil (Edit) icon and paste the chapter list into the description. This page works in any phone browser, so you can generate the list, copy it and paste it without a computer.
Automatic chapters vs. your own chapters
YouTube can add automatic chapters to some videos when the “Allow automatic chapters” option is on in the video’s settings. Chapters you write in the description always take priority over the automatic ones, and they let you choose the wording and the break points yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add chapters to my YouTube video?
Add a list of timestamps to the video description in YouTube Studio, starting with 0:00, with at least three entries in ascending order and each chapter at least 10 seconds long. Save, and YouTube turns them into chapters.
Is this YouTube chapters generator free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no limit to register for. Paste the link and the chapter timestamps appear instantly.
Why are my YouTube chapters not showing?
Usually the list does not start at 0:00, has fewer than three timestamps, has a chapter shorter than 10 seconds, or the times are out of order. Fix the list and save again; it can take a little while to update.
Is this an AI YouTube timestamp generator?
No. The chapter points come from the transcript’s timing and a statistical look at the text, not from an AI model. Review the titles before you publish them.
How do I add chapters in the YouTube video description?
Put each timestamp at the start of its own line followed by a title, for example “0:00 Introduction”, “1:45 Main idea”. The list can sit anywhere in the description.
Can I add chapters to someone else’s video?
No. Only the channel that owns the video can edit its description. You can share a link to a specific moment instead, using the YouTube timestamp link tool.
Does it work for videos without captions?
No. The chapters are built from the captions YouTube publishes. If a video has no captions at all, there is no transcript to work from.