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Timestamp Generator
YouTube Timestamp Generator
Create chapter timestamps for your YouTube videos. Paste into your description for automatic chapters.
Format chapter markers for a finished edit
Best for
YouTube creators who already know where each topic starts and want clean chapter text for a video description.
What it does
Enter or import chapter titles and start times, reorder them, then copy or download the generated timestamp list.
Before you rely on it
This tool formats the times you provide; it does not watch the video or choose chapter boundaries. Check the 0:00 start, ordering, and YouTube's current chapter rules before publishing.
Get a captioned video's transcript
Check a media file's runtime
Make Discord timestamps
Chapters
Add timestamps and chapter titles
Add Chapter
Import from text (one chapter per line)
Generated Timestamps
Copy and paste into your YouTube description
Copy Timestamps
Requirements for YouTube chapters:
- First timestamp must start at 0:00
- At least 3 timestamps, in ascending order
- Each chapter must be at least 10 seconds
- Timestamps in description, not comments
Skip writing chapters by hand
Transcribe the video in Libraryminds to get a timestamped transcript with AI chapter markers you can review, then search the whole video by what was said.
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What are YouTube Chapters?
YouTube chapters allow viewers to navigate to specific sections of your video by clicking on timestamps in the progress bar. This improves viewer experience and can boost watch time.
How to Add Chapters to Your Video
- Generate your timestamps using this tool
- Copy the formatted timestamps
- Paste them into your YouTube video description
- Save - YouTube will automatically detect the chapters
Best Practices
- Keep chapter titles short and descriptive
- Use consistent naming conventions
- Break content into logical segments
- Include relevant keywords in chapter titles for SEO
Example Chapter List
A 12-minute tutorial might use chapters like these. Each line is a time, a space, then the title:
0:00 Introduction 0:45 What you need before you start 2:10 Setting up the project 5:30 Building the first feature 9:15 Common mistakes to avoid 11:20 Summary and next steps
Times use minutes and seconds (5:30). For videos over an hour, add hours in front (1:05:30).
Importing an Outline
Paste an outline into the import box, one chapter per line, then click outside the box. Lines that start with a time keep it. Lines without a time are placed one minute after the previous chapter, so you can import plain titles and then adjust each time.
When Chapters Don't Appear
- The first timestamp isn't 0:00.
- There are fewer than three timestamps, or they aren't in ascending order.
- A chapter is shorter than 10 seconds.
- The timestamps are in a comment or pinned comment instead of the video description.
- YouTube doesn't offer chapters on channels with an active strike or on videos that may be inappropriate for some viewers.
Your Chapters Stay in Your Browser
The list is built on your device. Nothing is uploaded, and you can copy the result or download it as a text file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the timestamp generator free?
Yes, with no account and no limit on how many chapter lists you make.
Can it find chapters in my video automatically?
This tool formats chapters you write. To get a timestamped transcript with AI chapter markers you can review, transcribe the video in a free Libraryminds account.
Where do I get the times for each chapter?
Scrub through the video and note when each section starts, or read them from a transcript. The free YouTube transcriber shows a video's captions with timestamps.
Do chapters work for videos longer than an hour?
Yes. Write those times with hours, for example 1:05:30.
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