Seamlessly Add YouTube Chapters from DaVinci Resolve 17
With DaVinci Resolve’s latest winter update, the process of adding YouTube chapters has been streamlined into a single, efficient workflow. Whether you’re a vlogger, educator, or corporate content creator, this feature saves you time and improves viewer engagement.
Why YouTube Chapters Matter
Chapters break a video into clearly labeled segments that appear in the YouTube progress bar. Viewers can jump directly to the parts that interest them, increasing watch time and lowering bounce rates. Adding chapters is simple—just insert correctly formatted timestamps in the description. Resolve now automates that step.
Prerequisites
- You must be running DaVinci Resolve 17 or later.
- Your YouTube account must be linked to Resolve.
- The video must start with a timestamp at 00:00, contain at least three ascending timestamps, and be at least ten seconds long.
- Channels with active strikes or content flagged as potentially inappropriate will not qualify for automatic chapters.
Step‑by‑Step Guide
- Mark the Timeline
Place markers (pressM) at every point where a new chapter should begin. The first marker must start at00:00. Give each marker a descriptive name (e.g., “Intro”, “Key Takeaways”, “Q&A”). All markers should share the same color so Resolve can identify them later. - Set Marker Color (Optional)
If you want to add markers early in the edit, change the default marker color in Preferences → Edit → Marker. Resolve will pull chapter data only from markers of this selected color. - Open the Deliver Page
Navigate to the Deliver tab, select the YouTube render preset, and configure your upload settings. - Enable Chapters
Before adding to the render queue, click Chapters from Markers. Resolve will automatically generate the timestamp list for the video description. - Render and Upload
Add the job to the render queue and click Start Render. Resolve will upload the finished file directly to YouTube, complete with chapter metadata.
After the upload finishes, review the video’s description on YouTube to confirm that the chapter list appears correctly. If you need to adjust chapter names or timing, simply tweak the markers and re‑upload.
When to Use This Feature
While I personally prefer previewing my exports before sharing, the direct upload workflow is ideal for:
- Rapid‑fire content creators who publish multiple short videos daily.
- Tutorial or course creators who segment lessons into distinct chapters.
- Live‑stream re‑uploads where precise timestamps improve navigation.
If you’re new to Resolve or need a refresher, explore these resources: