How to Add Timestamps to YouTube Videos
Timestamps (also called YouTube chapters) make your videos easier to navigate, keep viewers watching longer, and help your content rank higher in search. Here's how to add them in seconds — for free.
Start Adding Timestamps Now — It's FreeWhy YouTube Timestamps Matter for Your Channel
If you've ever watched a long YouTube video and wished you could jump straight to the part you needed, you already understand the value of timestamps. But timestamps aren't just a convenience for your viewers — they're one of the most underused tools for growing a YouTube channel.
When you add timestamps to your video description, YouTube automatically creates interactive chapters across your video's progress bar. Viewers can click directly to the section they want, which means they're more likely to stay on your video — and the YouTube algorithm rewards that with more reach.
Beyond watch time, timestamps help your video appear in Google search results for specific topics within the video. A 30-minute tutorial on video editing, for example, might rank individually for "how to colour grade in Premiere Pro" if that section is clearly timestamped. That's free, targeted traffic you'd otherwise miss.
More Watch Time
Viewers find what they want and stay engaged longerBetter SEO
Individual chapters can rank in Google search resultsMore Shares
People share links to specific moments they lovedHow to Add Timestamps to a YouTube Video (Step by Step)
YouTube requires timestamps to be added manually in your video description. There's no built-in button in YouTube Studio to auto-generate them — you have to write them yourself, or use a tool like StampMyVid to create them from your transcript in seconds.
Get your video transcript
Copy your script, or grab the auto-generated captions from YouTube Studio. Premium users can paste a YouTube URL and StampMyVid fetches the transcript automatically.
Paste it into StampMyVid
Drop your transcript into the tool and choose how often you want timestamps — every 30 seconds, 1 minute, or a custom interval. Hit Generate.
Copy your timestamps
Your formatted timestamps are ready instantly. Copy them directly and paste into your YouTube video description.
Paste into your YouTube description and publish
Open YouTube Studio, go to your video's description, paste the timestamps, and save. YouTube will automatically create chapters on your video within a few minutes.
0:00, and you need at least three timestamps for YouTube to show chapters on the progress bar.
Tips for Writing Great YouTube Timestamps
The format of your timestamps matters. Here's what works best:
- Keep chapter titles short — aim for 3–5 words. "How to colour grade footage" is better than "In this section I'll be showing you how to colour grade your footage".
- Use your main keyword in at least one chapter — this helps that section appear in Google search results.
- Don't make every chapter 30 seconds long — group related content together. Natural breaks work better than mechanical intervals.
- The first timestamp must be 0:00 — YouTube requires this for chapters to activate.
- Add a "Conclusion" or "Summary" chapter at the end — viewers who skip to the end are more likely to subscribe if there's a clear wrap-up.
Ready to Add Timestamps to Your Video?
Stop doing it manually. Paste your transcript, get your timestamps in seconds — completely free.
Start Adding Timestamps Now — It's Free