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Add chapters to each source video in YouTube Studio by putting timestamp-and-title lines in its description. Start with 00:00, add at least three timestamps in ascending order, and make each chapter at least 10 seconds long. Save the video, then check its public watch page. These chapters are for the source video; YouTube’s guidance does not establish that they carry over to a separate 24/7 live broadcast or its replay.
Add chapters to a source video
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and open Content.
- Select the source video you want to edit.
- In Description, add one timestamp and descriptive title per line. The first timestamp must be
00:00. Include at least three timestamps in ascending order, and ensure each chapter lasts at least 10 seconds. - Save the video.
- Open the public watch page and confirm that the chapter divisions appear as expected. Viewers can navigate using the player or the chapter entries in the description.
For example, the format can look like this; replace the sample titles and times with points that match the video:
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00:00 Opening
01:12 Topic one
03:40 DemonstrationThe first title should describe what actually begins at 00:00. YouTube describes chapters as sections of an individual video. YouTube Help: Video chapters
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Manual and automatic chapters
| Type | How it works | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Manual | You enter timestamps and titles in the video description. Manual chapters override automatic chapters. | Use the timestamp rules above and verify the saved result on the watch page. |
| Automatic | YouTube may identify chapter sections automatically; availability depends on the video. | Not all videos are eligible. YouTube lists active channel strikes and potentially inappropriate content among limitations. Automatic chapters can be enabled or disabled in a video’s advanced settings. |
See YouTube Help: Upload YouTube videos – Computer for the upload and video settings guidance.
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What viewers see
Chapters divide a video into sections with individual previews. Viewers can select chapter points in the player or find chapter titles in the description. YouTube Help: Use chapters, mentioned people and places, & seeking features
What chapters mean for a 24/7 stream
Keep the source video, the continuous live broadcast that plays it, and any replay or archive made from that broadcast distinct. The chapter instructions apply to an individual video. YouTube’s live-stream guidance does not establish that chapter metadata from a source video appears as markers on a separate broadcast or its replay. Add and verify chapters on the source video itself; check the replay separately if YouTube creates one. Do not assume chapter information propagates through a particular playout service unless that service documents it or you verify it directly. See YouTube live streaming tips – Computer and Learn about live streams.
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Troubleshoot missing chapters
- Chapters do not appear: Confirm the description begins with
00:00, contains at least three timestamps in ascending order, and gives each chapter at least 10 seconds. Save the edit and check the public watch page. - The chapter titles or boundaries look wrong: Recheck each timestamp against the actual source video and make the title accurately describe what starts at that point.
- You expected source chapters on the live stream or replay: The reviewed YouTube guidance does not confirm that they carry over. Inspect the resulting replay independently, and consult documentation for the playout service if you need to know how it handles chapter metadata.
- Automatic chapters are absent: Eligibility is not universal. Check the video’s advanced settings and YouTube’s stated limitations; manually entered chapters take precedence when present.
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