Why a single checklist beats memory
YouTube Studio splits an upload into four steps: Details, Video elements, Checks and Visibility. [1] Most mistakes happen because a field sits behind Show more or a step gets skipped when the video is published in a hurry. This checklist follows Studio's order so you can tick it off on screen.
Upload as Private or with a scheduled date, never straight to Public. Scheduled videos stay private until the publish time, which gives you a window to fix a typo, a wrong thumbnail or a missing end screen without anyone seeing it. [1]
| Step in Studio | What to set | Hard limit or rule |
|---|---|---|
| Details | Title, description, thumbnail, playlist, audience | Title 100 characters; description 5,000 characters |
| Details, Show more | Disclosures, automatic chapters setting, tags, language, comments | Made-for-kids answer required |
| Video elements | Subtitles, end screen, cards | End screen needs a video of at least 25 seconds |
| Checks | Copyright check results | Results are not final and can change later |
| Visibility | Private, Unlisted, Public or Schedule | Scheduled videos stay private until publish time |
Details: title, description, audience and disclosures
The title is limited to 100 characters and the description to 5,000. [1] Put the specific outcome early in the title rather than spending the first words on the channel name, and use the first lines of the description for the summary a viewer sees before expanding.
Audience is not optional: you must state whether the video is made for kids. [1] The setting has consequences beyond compliance, because end screens and cards are not available on videos set as made for kids. [7][8]
Under Show more, review the branded content disclosure and the altered or synthetic content disclosure. YouTube requires disclosure for realistic AI-generated or altered content, such as making a real person appear to say something they did not, while beauty filters, colour correction, captions and cloning your own voice for voiceovers are listed as not requiring it. [9] YouTube describes tags as playing a minor role in discovery, so add a few for common misspellings and move on. [1]
- Title written, under 100 characters, outcome first
- Description summary in the first two lines; links and credits below
- Made for kids answered
- Branded content and altered or synthetic content disclosures reviewed
- Playlist chosen
- Category and video language set
- Comments setting chosen
Chapters and captions
Manual chapters go in the description as timestamps with titles. The first must be 00:00, there must be at least three in ascending order, and each chapter must be at least 10 seconds long. Manual chapters replace automatic ones, and channels with active strikes do not get chapters. [2] Write them from the final exported file, not the script.
For captions, upload a file, use auto-sync with a transcript, or type them in Studio under Subtitles. YouTube does not recommend auto-sync for videos over an hour or with poor audio. [3] SubRip (.srt) and SubViewer (.sbv) are the formats YouTube suggests for beginners, and they must be plain UTF-8. [4] Automatic captions are free but may not be ready at upload and can misrepresent speech, so review them after processing. [5]
- Chapters start at 00:00, at least three, each 10 seconds or longer
- Caption file is UTF-8 SRT or SBV, checked against the final cut
- Caption language matches the video language
- Automatic captions reviewed in Studio once processed
Thumbnail, end screen and cards
Custom thumbnails need a verified account. YouTube recommends 3840 by 2160 pixels for videos with a minimum width of 640, in JPG or PNG at 16:9; desktop uploads accept up to 50 MB and mobile uploads up to 2 MB. [6]
End screens can be added to the last 5 to 20 seconds of a video that is at least 25 seconds long, with up to four elements on a standard 16:9 video. Link elements are for Partner Program members only, and card teasers and watermarks are suppressed while the end screen shows. [7] Leave the last 20 seconds of your edit visually quiet so elements do not cover anything important.
You can add up to 5 cards to a video. Link cards are Partner Program only, YouTube lists cards as a feature for viewers on computers, and cards will not show on made-for-kids videos or when a Content ID claimant has set up a campaign. [8]
- Thumbnail uploaded, readable at small size
- End screen placed in the final 5 to 20 seconds with up to four elements
- Cards placed at the moments they are mentioned, five or fewer
Checks and visibility
The Checks step scans for copyrighted content. Results are not final and can change later, and you can publish while checks are still running. [1] Waiting for the result costs a few minutes; publishing first and receiving a claim later can cost a re-edit after viewers have already seen the video.
For visibility, choose Private, Unlisted or Public, or schedule a date. A public video can also be set as an instant Premiere. [1] Scheduling a day ahead gives you time to watch the processed version at full quality and check captions and chapters in the player.
- Copyright check complete, any claims reviewed
- Visibility set to Schedule or Private, not Public
- Processed video watched once in the player at full resolution
- Each chapter clicked and lands on the right moment
- Scheduled time confirmed in your time zone
Questions before you decide
What is the character limit for a YouTube title and description?
YouTube Help lists a 100-character limit for titles and a 5,000-character limit for descriptions in the upload Details step.
Why can't I add an end screen or cards to my video?
End screens need a video at least 25 seconds long, and neither end screens nor cards are available on videos set as made for kids. Link elements on either require Partner Program membership.
What caption file format should I upload to YouTube?
YouTube suggests SubRip (.srt) or SubViewer (.sbv) for people new to caption files, saved as plain UTF-8. It also accepts advanced formats such as WebVTT and TTML and broadcast formats such as SCC.
Do I need to disclose AI voiceover when uploading?
YouTube requires disclosure for realistic altered or synthetic content that could mislead viewers. It lists cloning your own voice for a voiceover as a change that does not need disclosure.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- YouTube Help: Upload YouTube videos Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Video chapters Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Add subtitles and captions Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Supported subtitle and closed caption files Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Use automatic captioning Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Add custom thumbnails Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Add end screens to videos Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Add cards to videos Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Disclosing use of altered or synthetic content Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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