Cómo añadir capítulos a los vídeos de YouTube

To add chapters to YouTube videos, simply include a list of timestamps and titles in your video description. Start with “0:00” followed by the chapter name, then add subsequent times for different sections. YouTube detects these automatically and displays clickable chapters on your video’s progress bar — helping viewers navigate quickly to the parts that interest them most.

If you want to transcribe a YouTube video into text, you can try VOMO. Just paste the URL, and you'll get the transcript in a few seconds.

Step 1: Understand What YouTube Chapters Are

YouTube chapters are time markers embedded in your video’s timeline. They divide your video into labeled sections, just like chapters in a book. Each chapter appears under your video’s scrub bar, allowing viewers to jump to specific topics instantly.

🎥 This boosts watch time, viewer satisfaction, and SEO — since chapters often surface in Google video snippets.

Step 2: Format Your Chapters Properly

To activate chapters, follow this exact format in your video description:

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0:00 Introduction 0:45 Step 1 — Set Up Your Video 1:30 Step 2 — Add Timestamps 2:15 Step 3 — Edit Chapter Titles 3:00 Conclusion

✅ Requirements for chapters to appear:

• The first timestampmust start at 0:00.
• You must includeat least three timestamps.
• Chapters must increase evenly (no overlapping times).

✨ Good formatting ensures YouTube automatically picks up your chapters.

Step 3: Add Chapters Using YouTube Studio

Here’s how to do it manually in YouTube Studio:

1. Go toYouTube Studio → Content → Select Your Video.
2. Scroll down to theDescription box.
3. Add timestamps as shown above.
4. Save changes.
5. Preview your video — you’ll see clickable chapter markers along the timeline.

You can even update chapters later without re-uploading the video, making maintenance simple for long tutorials or podcast episodes.

Step 4: Use Chapters Strategically to Improve Engagement

YouTube’s chapter feature isn’t just organizational — it improves performance metrics:

• Increasesaverage watch durationby helping viewers find the best parts.
• Encouragesrepeat views(people return to specific sections).
• Boostssearch rankingssince chapters appear in Google’s video results.

💡 Label chapters clearly with keywords (e.g., “Editing Setup Tips” or “Audio Balancing Guide”) for SEO advantage.

Step 5: Enhance Accessibility and Captions

Your chapters can also support accessibility features. Add closed captions or textual summaries under each section to help all viewers follow along easily.

For creators focusing on educational or spoken content, audio to text tools can automatically convert dialogue from your video into text — perfect for captions, scripts, or detailed summaries that complement your chapters.

📝 Clear text-based chapter descriptions enhance accessibility and user experience.

Step 6: Create Chapter Visuals or Transcripts

If your video involves multiple demonstrations or tutorials, adding visual dividers (like title screens or transitions) helps viewers recognize chapter breaks even while watching.

You can also repurpose your structured video content using video to text conversion — turning your segmented video into a written article or blog post.
Each chapter becomes its own section, making your content searchable and multi-platform friendly.

🚀 Repurposing video chapters into text can improve SEO and reach wider audiences.

Step 7: Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting the 0:00 timestamp — chapters won’t display.
2. Adding fewer than three timestamps — invalid format.
3. Using inconsistent spacing — YouTube may not detect all sections.
4. Including symbols or emojis before timestamps — formatting errors.
5. Leaving timestamps in the comments instead of the description.

⚠️ Small formatting mistakes can prevent your chapters from appearing at all.

Step 8: Optimize Chapter Titles for Search and Engagement

Use descriptive, keyword-rich titles for each timestamp:

• Instead of “Part 2,” write “Part 2 — How to Edit Thumbnails.”
• Keep each title short (under 40 characters).
• Add relevant keywords naturally to improve discoverability.

🎯 Good labels communicate relevance so viewers and algorithms know your content’s context instantly.

Bonus: Smart Uses of Chapters

Chapters are not limited to tutorials — creators use them in:

• Podcasts and interviews (each topic as a timestamp).
• Music mixes (timestamp per track).
• Product reviews (timestamp per feature).
• Educational content (timestamp per lesson).

📖 Chapters turn long videos into intuitive, searchable learning experiences.

✅ Key Takeaway

Adding chapters to YouTube videos is simple yet powerful.
Just format your timestamps properly in the video description starting from 0:00, keep titles clear, and update them strategically for SEO. Combine this structure with audio to text captions and video to text repurposing methods — and you’ll maximize engagement, accessibility, and long-term value across platforms in 2025.