A free YouTube timestamp generator that writes chapters for any video from what's said in it, checked against YouTube's rules.
Paste the link to a public or unlisted YouTube video. You get chapters for its description, checked against YouTube's rules, plus a summary and the transcript.
Paste the video's link
This free YouTube timestamp generator writes the chapters for any public YouTube video, ready to paste into its description.
It reads what's said in the video, finds where each topic starts, and checks the list against YouTube's own chapter rules before you copy it.
Here's what YouTube timestamps are, how to make them, and how to add them to your video.
What is a YouTube timestamp generator?
A YouTube timestamp generator is a tool that writes a list of times and titles for a video, like 0:00 Intro and 2:15 The setup. Pasted into a video's description, the list becomes YouTube chapters.
This one writes the chapters from the video's transcript, so each one starts where the topic really starts.
How to make timestamps for a YouTube video
Your video has to be public or unlisted for the tool to read it.
How to add timestamps to your YouTube video
YouTube turns the list into chapters, with a title on each part of the progress bar.
YouTube's rules for chapters
YouTube shows chapters only when the list follows 3 rules, from its help page on video chapters (read September 26, 2026):
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
 Starts at 0:00 | The first timestamp has to be 0:00 |
| At least 3 | The list needs 3 or more timestamps, in order |
| 10 seconds or longer | Every chapter is at least 10 seconds long |
The generator checks all 3 and tells you if a list would fail. A video under 30 seconds can't have 3 chapters that long, so short Shorts go without.
Why chapters are worth adding
Chapters let viewers jump to the part they came for instead of leaving.
They also show what the video covers before anyone presses play, and each chapter's title is written in words people search for.
More than timestamps
The same page gives you a summary of the video with its key points, and the full transcript. Open the Summary and Transcript tabs.
For a full summary first, use the YouTube video summarizer.
Who is the YouTube timestamp generator for?
It's for YouTubers adding chapters to their videos:
- YouTube character counter – people keeping the description under 5,000
- YouTube video summarizer – anyone who wants the key points too
- Podcast transcript generator – podcasters on YouTube
- Video caption generator – creators adding subtitles
Every other tool is on my free tools page.
YouTube Timestamp Generator FAQs
Questions about YouTube timestamps and chapters? Here's what to know.
A YouTube timestamp generator is a tool that writes a list of times and titles for a video, which YouTube turns into chapters when it's pasted into the description.
This one writes the chapters from the video's transcript and checks them against YouTube's rules.
To add timestamps to a YouTube video, paste the list into the video's description in YouTube Studio and press Save.
The first timestamp has to be 0:00.
YouTube chapters show only when the list starts at 0:00, has at least 3 timestamps in order, and every chapter is at least 10 seconds long.
YouTube also needs your channel to have access to its advanced features.
Yes, the YouTube timestamp generator is free, with no sign-up and no card.
Each person can make chapters for 5 new videos a day here.
Yes, and when a video already has chapters from its creator, the tool shows those.
For your own video without chapters, it writes new ones from the transcript.
Timestamps are the times and titles you write in the description.
Chapters are what YouTube makes from them: the titled parts of the progress bar.
The YouTube timestamp generator is for creators who want chapters on their videos without scrubbing through them by hand.
It also helps viewers who want a table of contents for a long video.
For a summary with key points, use the YouTube video summarizer.
For every word, use the YouTube transcript generator.
For titles and descriptions, the YouTube character counter shows YouTube's limits.
I did. I'm Navid Moazzez, and I made the YouTube timestamp generator as one of my free tools on navid.me.
More about me.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
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