What timestamps do and how to add them

Timestamps are clickable links in your video description that jump viewers to specific moments in your video. When you add a timestamp, YouTube automatically converts it into a link — viewers can click it in the description, or the timestamp appears in the video progress bar so they can see what's coming. You add them by typing them directly into your video description in a specific format that YouTube recognizes.

Timestamps work on desktop, mobile, and the YouTube app. They're useful if your video has multiple topics, a long tutorial with distinct sections, or chapters you want viewers to skip to. YouTube also uses timestamps to create a chapters feature that displays in the progress bar, making navigation much easier for your audience.

Key Takeaways

  • Timestamps must be in the format 0:00, 1:23, or 12:45:30 (hours:minutes:seconds) and placed at the start of a line in your description.
  • The first timestamp should start at 0:00 to create a chapters feature that appears in the video progress bar.
  • Each timestamp needs a label after it — for example, "0:00 Introduction" — so viewers know what each section contains.
  • You can add timestamps when you first upload a video or edit them into the description of a video that's already published.
  • YouTube recognizes timestamps automatically; you don't need to format them as links or use any special code.

Adding timestamps when you upload a video

The easiest time to add timestamps is during upload, before your video goes live. Open YouTube Studio, click Create in the top left, and select Upload video. Choose your video file and let it upload while you fill in the title and description.

In the description box, type your timestamps at the start of each line. Use this format: 0:00 Chapter Name. For example, if your video has an introduction, a main section, and a conclusion, you might type:

0:00 Introduction 2:15 Main Topic 8:30 Conclusion

Make sure the first timestamp is 0:00 so YouTube creates the chapters feature. After you finish filling in the title, description, and other details, click Save or Publish. YouTube will recognize the timestamps automatically — you don't need to do anything else.

Editing timestamps into a video that's already published

If you've already published a video without timestamps, you can add them later. Go to YouTube Studio, click Videos on the left side, and find the video you want to edit. Click on the video title to open the details page.

Scroll down to the description box and click Show more to expand it. Place your cursor at the very beginning of the description and add your timestamps in the same format: 0:00 Chapter Name on separate lines. Make sure the first timestamp is 0:00. When you're done, click Save at the top right of the page.

YouTube processes the change within a few minutes. Viewers will then see the chapters in the progress bar and can click timestamps in the description to jump to those moments. If you edit timestamps later, the chapters update automatically — you don't need to re-upload the video.

Getting the timing right

The most common mistake is getting the timestamp wrong. To find the exact time for each section, play your video in YouTube Studio and watch the progress bar. When you reach the moment you want to mark, pause and look at the timestamp displayed in the player. Write down that time and use it in your description.

Timestamps must be in order from earliest to latest — YouTube won't recognize them if they jump around. If your video is 15 minutes long, don't add a timestamp for 20:00. Keep timestamps realistic: if you mark a section at 3:45 but the actual content doesn't start until 4:10, viewers will be confused.

For videos longer than an hour, use the format 1:23:45 (hours:minutes:seconds). For videos under an hour, you can use 5:30 (minutes:seconds) or 0:05:30 — YouTube recognizes both. Be consistent within the same video: if you use 0:05:30 for the first timestamp, use the same format for all of them.

What the chapters feature looks like to viewers

When you add timestamps starting with 0:00, YouTube creates a chapters feature that appears in the video progress bar. Viewers see small boxes with chapter names when they hover over the progress bar, and they can click to jump to that section. On mobile, the chapters appear as a list below the video description that viewers can tap.

The chapters feature only appears if your first timestamp is 0:00. If you start with 1:30 or any other time, YouTube won't create the chapters feature — the timestamps will still work as clickable links in the description, but they won't show in the progress bar. This is why starting with 0:00 is important even if your video has a short intro.

Timestamps in playlists and series

Timestamps work the same way in playlists and series as they do in standalone videos. Add them to the description using the same format, and YouTube will recognize them. If you're creating a multi-part series where each video has chapters, add timestamps to each video individually — timestamps don't carry over between videos.

If you have a long video that could be split into chapters, timestamps are a good way to help viewers navigate without actually cutting the video into separate uploads. This is especially useful for tutorials, podcasts, or livestream recordings where different topics are covered in one continuous file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to format timestamps as links or use special code?

No. YouTube recognizes timestamps automatically when they're in the correct format (0:00, 1:23, or 12:45:30) at the start of a line in your description. You type them as plain text — YouTube converts them to clickable links on its own.

What happens if I add a timestamp that's longer than my video?

YouTube will still recognize it, but clicking it won't work properly. The viewer will be taken to the end of the video or the timestamp will fail to load. Always double-check that your timestamps match actual moments in your video.

Can I add timestamps to someone else's video?

No. Only the video owner can edit the description and add timestamps. If you're not the channel owner, you can't modify the description, even if the video is public.

Do timestamps work on all devices?

Yes. Timestamps work on desktop YouTube, the mobile app, and mobile browsers. The chapters feature (the visual boxes in the progress bar) appears on all devices, though the layout looks slightly different on mobile.

Can I delete or change timestamps after publishing?

Yes. Go back to the video details page in YouTube Studio, edit the description to remove or change the timestamps, and click Save. The changes take effect within a few minutes.