How to Add Timestamps and Chapters to YouTube Videos
The format YouTube requires
Chapters need at least three timestamps, each in ascending order, starting at 0:00, formatted as either MM:SS or HH:MM:SS, placed on their own lines in the description with a short label after each timestamp.
Placement matters
Timestamps must appear together as a consecutive block in the description for YouTube to recognize and render them as chapters in the player's progress bar; scattering them among other description text can prevent recognition.
Minimum spacing requirement
Each chapter needs to be at least 10 seconds long. Chapters spaced closer together than that won't render, since the interface segments would become too small to be usable.
Key takeaway
List at least three ascending timestamps starting at 0:00, each chapter at least 10 seconds apart, together as one consecutive block in the description.
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