YouTube’s automatic chapters feature helps viewers navigate your content easily by dividing your video into sections with timestamps and titles. It’s perfect for tutorials, reviews, and walkthroughs — and it improves both engagement and SEO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D7MfS94yjI

Here’s how to add chapters automatically (and manually, if needed):

1. Go to YouTube Studio
Visit studio.youtube.com and sign in.

2. Open the Video You Want to Edit
Click Content, then select the video by its title.

3. Scroll Down to the Description Box
YouTube detects timestamps formatted like this:

00:00 Introduction
00:45 Setting Up
02:30 Key Features
04:15 Final Thoughts

4. Start with “00:00”
This is crucial — YouTube uses it to recognize chapter formatting.

5. Enable Automatic Chapters (Optional)
In the Video Details panel, scroll to the Automatic Chapters section and ensure the option “Allow automatic chapters when available” is turned on.

6. Save and Check the Video
After saving, play your video — you’ll see the chapters appear as clickable segments in the progress bar.

Pro Tips:

  • Keep each chapter at least 10 seconds long.

  • Use clear, keyword-rich titles for better search visibility.

  • Add timestamps for all major topics or steps to make navigation intuitive.

Chapters make your content feel professional and well-organized, while also signaling to YouTube that your video is structured and valuable — boosting your discoverability.