Chapter Checker Why aren't my YouTube chapters showing?

Paste your video description. It checks every chapter rule, shows you exactly which line is the problem, and gives you a fixed version to copy back into YouTube. Nothing is uploaded.

Your description

0 / 5,000 characters

Optional. Add the video length (like 12:34 or 1:02:10) to check the last chapter and catch timestamps past the end.

Your description is kept in this browser so it's still here if you refresh.

Saved blocks

Keep the parts you paste into every description, like your links, gear list or sponsor line. Insert one wherever your cursor is.

    Result

    Paste a description to check it

    Or try the broken example to see what it catches.

    0Chapters
    0Problems
    0Under 10s

      Chapters as YouTube will read them

        Fixed description

          Write the chapters before you film

          Script Clock times your script as you'd read it out loud, so you know where each chapter lands before you record. It also has a teleprompter that records you and marks your retakes.

          Script your next video

          How YouTube chapters work

          YouTube builds chapters from the timestamps in your description. When the list breaks one of its rules, it quietly shows no chapters at all, with no error message. These are the rules your list has to follow:

          1. The first timestamp is 0:00. 00:00 works too.
          2. There are at least three timestamps.
          3. They go in order, from earliest to latest.
          4. Every chapter is at least 10 seconds long, including the last one.
          5. Each chapter sits on its own line, with the time followed by a title.

          Your description also has to stay under 5,000 characters, and YouTube won't save one that contains < or >.

          The mistakes that stop chapters showing

          Written asProblemFixed
          0:05 IntroThe first chapter doesn't start at 0:000:00 Intro
          1.30 SetupA full stop instead of a colon1:30 Setup
          2:10 Tip
          2:15 Demo          		"Tip" is only 5 seconds long2:10 Tip
          0:00 Intro 1:30 SetupTwo chapters on one line0:00 Intro
          1:30 Setup
          4:00 Results
          3:20 Build          		Out of order3:20 Build
          4:00 Results

          After you fix it

          Paste the fixed description into YouTube Studio and save. Chapters can take a little while to appear on the watch page.

          If the description passes every check and chapters still don't show, the cause is usually your channel, not the timestamps. YouTube only gives chapters to channels that have advanced features turned on, which you can do in YouTube Studio under Settings, Channel, Feature eligibility. Verifying your phone number is usually enough. Chapters are also switched off while a channel has an active strike, and on videos YouTube decides may not be suitable for all viewers.

          A video also needs to be at least 30 seconds long to fit three 10-second chapters.

          Questions creators ask

          Why are my YouTube chapters not showing?

          Usually one rule is broken: the first timestamp isn't 0:00, there are fewer than three, they're out of order, or one chapter is under 10 seconds. Paste your description above and it shows which one.

          Does the first chapter have to be 0:00?

          Yes. If the list starts anywhere else, YouTube shows no chapters. The fixed version adds a 0:00 Intro line, or moves a chapter that starts in the first few seconds back to 0:00.

          How short can a YouTube chapter be?

          At least 10 seconds. A single shorter chapter stops the whole list from working. The fixed version folds short chapters into the one before them.

          Do I need a certain number of subscribers for chapters?

          No. There's no subscriber minimum. Your channel needs advanced features turned on, which you can do in YouTube Studio under Settings, Channel, Feature eligibility, and it can't have an active strike.

          Can I put text before my chapter list?

          Yes. The chapters can sit anywhere in the description, and your intro, links and hashtags can go around them. The checker only rewrites the chapter lines.

          How long can a YouTube description be?

          5,000 characters. The counter under the box turns orange when you go over, because YouTube won't let you save it.

          Is my description uploaded anywhere?

          No. The checking happens in your browser. Your draft and saved blocks are stored on this device only.