YouTube Chapters Validator
Paste your timestamps and find out instantly whether YouTube will turn them into chapters — and exactly which rule is broken if it won't. Free, no login.
YouTube will show 5 chapters.
- Add your video's total length to check the final chapter is at least 10 seconds.
| Start | Chapter | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Intro | 45s |
| 0:45 | Why chapters matter | 105s |
| 2:30 | Setting them up | 160s |
| 5:10 | Common mistakes | 170s |
| 8:00 | Recap | — |
YouTube chapters fail silently. Get one rule wrong and your timestamps just stay as plain text — no error, no warning, no chapters. This validator applies YouTube's exact rules to your description and tells you precisely what's wrong, so you're not guessing why the progress bar won't segment.
The four rules chapters must pass
The first chapter has to start at 0:00; you need at least 3 timestamps; they must be in ascending order; and each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. This tool parses your timestamps the same way YouTube does — reading only lines that begin with a time — and flags the first rule that fails.
Once your chapters work
Chapters are one piece of a video's metadata. Make sure the rest is pulling its weight with the Video SEO Checker, and keep your title inside the visible limit with the Title Length Checker.
Frequently asked questions
Why aren't my YouTube chapters showing up?+
Chapters only appear when your description meets all of YouTube's rules: the first timestamp is 0:00, there are at least three timestamps, they're in ascending order, and each chapter is at least 10 seconds long. Break any one and YouTube silently shows no chapters at all. Paste your description above and this tool tells you exactly which rule is failing.
What are the rules for YouTube chapters?+
Four of them: (1) the first chapter must start at 0:00; (2) at least 3 chapters; (3) timestamps listed in ascending order; (4) each chapter at least 10 seconds long. Each timestamp goes on its own line, followed by the chapter title.
What's the correct format for chapter timestamps?+
One per line, timestamp first, then the title — for example “0:00 Intro”, “2:30 The setup”, “5:10 Demo”. Use m:ss or h:mm:ss. A separator like a dash after the time is fine; this tool reads the same formats YouTube does.
Do I need to enter my video length?+
Only to check the final chapter. Every rule except the last chapter's minimum length can be checked from the timestamps alone; add your total video length and the validator also confirms the last chapter is at least 10 seconds.
Do chapters help my video rank?+
They help viewers and can earn 'key moments' links in search, which improves the experience and click-through. They're one signal, not a ranking cheat code — the bigger win is covering the topic better than the videos already ranking, which is what the full VidHalo analysis maps out.
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