How to fix YouTube chapters before publishing
YouTube chapters turn a long video description into a useful navigation aid. A small timestamp mistake can stop chapters from appearing, so this validator gives creators a quick private check before they publish.
The important chapter rules
Use at least three timestamps, put the first one at 00:00, keep timestamps in ascending order, and leave at least 10 seconds between chapter starts. Every line also needs a readable title. The optional duration check catches a chapter that starts after the video ends.
A practical workflow
Paste the list copied from your description, enter the duration when you know it, and select Validate and format. The tool sorts entries, normalizes values such as 0:0, reports problems, and gives you a clean block to paste back into YouTube.
Common reasons chapters do not appear
The most common causes are a missing 00:00 line, fewer than three timestamps, a chapter that is too short, duplicate times, or a title accidentally placed on a separate line. Check the finished description after publishing because YouTube may take a moment to process changes.
FAQ
This tool does not connect to YouTube or change your video. It only reads the text you paste into it, which makes it suitable for private drafts, client work, and recurring description templates.