Check your YouTube title, description, hashtags and chapters before you hit publish. See a preview of how your video will look in search, plus a checklist of quick fixes.
- Free to use
- No sign-up needed
- Works on phone and desktop
YouTube changes how much text it shows depending on the device, so treat the preview as a close guide rather than an exact copy.
How to use the YouTube title checker
- Enter the main keyword you want the video to be found for (optional).
- Paste your draft title and description.
- Read the preview and work through any amber or red items in the checklist.
- Copy your improved title and description back into YouTube Studio.
What makes a good YouTube title?
- Front-load the keyword: put the topic people search for in the first few words.
- Keep it under about 70 characters so it isn’t cut off in search and suggested videos. YouTube allows up to 100.
- Be specific and honest: say what the viewer will get, and make sure the video delivers it.
Description, hashtags and chapters
- The first line or two show before “more”, so summarise the video and use your keyword early.
- Use a few relevant hashtags. The first three can appear above your title, and if you use more than 15, YouTube ignores them all.
- Chapters appear on the timeline when your timestamps start at 0:00, there are at least three, and each is at least 10 seconds long.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a YouTube title be?
Up to 100 characters, but only around the first 70 usually show in search results and suggestions, so put the important words first.
Do YouTube tags still matter?
Much less than your title, thumbnail and description. YouTube says tags mainly help with common misspellings, so spend your time on the title and first lines of the description.
Why aren’t my chapters showing?
Check that the first timestamp is 0:00, that there are at least three timestamps in order, and that each section is at least 10 seconds long. The checker flags all three.
Is my text saved?
No. Everything is checked in your browser and nothing is sent to our server.