---
url: https://superduperai.co/library/transcript-to-youtube-chapters-prompt/
title: Transcript to YouTube chapters: timestamps in the format the description needs
description: A prompt that turns a timestamped transcript into a chapter list for the YouTube description: first chapter at 0:00, at least three, each 10 seconds or more, titles that say what the viewer gets.
category: captions
platforms: [youtube]
works_with: [claude-code, claude, chatgpt, any-llm]
tags: [youtube, chapters, timestamps, transcript, description, seo]
difficulty: beginner
verified: false
created: 2026-11-01
skill: transcribe
---

# Transcript to YouTube chapters: timestamps in the format the description needs

A prompt that turns a timestamped transcript into a chapter list for the YouTube description: first chapter at 0:00, at least three, each 10 seconds or more, titles that say what the viewer gets.

## Prompt

```text
Turn the transcript below into YouTube chapters for the video description.

Format, one per line, nothing else:
M:SS Title
(H:MM:SS for videos over an hour; the first line must be 0:00)

Rules:
- The first chapter starts at 0:00; at least 3 chapters; no chapter shorter than 10 seconds. These are YouTube's stated requirements as of writing; treat them as parameters and check the current help page.
- A chapter starts where the topic changes, not every N minutes. Use the transcript's own words to find the boundary: 'next', 'now let's', a new question.
- Titles: 2-6 words, what the viewer gets ('Fixing the drift'), not what happens ('Section 3'). Sentence case. No emoji. Include the search term once if it fits naturally.
- Place each timestamp at the second where the new topic's first word starts, minus 1 second so the jump lands clean.
- Target {8-12} chapters for a {30}-minute video; fewer for shorter.

After the list, print it once more with each chapter's length in seconds and flag any under 10 s.

Transcript:
{paste transcript with timestamps}
```

## Steps

1. Use the transcript of the final rendered file, not the raw footage: cuts move every timestamp.
2. Paste the list into the description; chapters appear only when the format is exact and the first line is 0:00.
3. Check the chapter markers in the player once; if one lands mid-sentence, move it back one second.

## Tips

- Chapter titles are searched. A title that matches what people type ('export settings for Reels') does more than a clever one.
- The same list with timestamps removed is the outline for the pinned comment and the next video's description.

## Works with

- Claude Code: Runs as a skill or a prompt in the terminal; can read your files and write the result.
- Claude: Paste into claude.ai or the Claude app.
- ChatGPT: Paste into ChatGPT; works with any GPT model.
- Any LLM: Model-agnostic: Gemini, Mistral, a local model.