Articles on: Transcripts & Chapters

How do I add chapters to my podcast episodes?

Chapters split an episode into sections, so listeners can see what's coming and skip to the part they want. Transistor embeds your chapters in the episode's audio file and lists them in your RSS feed, so podcast apps that support chapters can show them.


Add or edit chapters in Transistor


You can add or change an episode's chapters at any time, without re-uploading your audio:


  • Open the episode and find the Chapters section
  • Click Edit chapters
  • Enter one chapter per line, starting with its start time, like 00:00 Intro
  • Click Save chapters


Transistor updates the chapters in your audio file for you. To remove all of an episode's chapters, clear the box and save.


This works for any chapters, including ones you added with another tool before uploading.


Use chapters from your audio file


If your audio file already has chapters, added with a tool like one of these, Transistor picks them up when you upload it:



When you upload the file, choose Use the chapters embedded in the audio file (if any). To type them in Transistor instead, choose Create chapters manually.



Show your chapters in your show notes


Add the {{chapters}} placeholder tag to your show notes, and Transistor fills in your chapter list, in podcast apps and on your Transistor podcast website. It's the best way to make chapters visible in apps that don't have a chapters view.


Adding the Chapters tag into the Show Notes field


Chapters or timestamps?


You can also type timestamps straight into your show notes, like 12:30 Our guest's first book. Many podcast apps, and your Transistor website, turn them into links that jump to that point in the episode.


The difference: chapters live in your audio file and RSS feed, so apps can show them in a dedicated chapters view. Timestamps are just text in your show notes. Using the {{chapters}} tag gives you both.


You can also link straight to a moment in an episode: see Link to a specific part of your podcast.


Apple Podcasts and Spotify can create their own chapters


Apple Podcasts and Spotify can generate chapters for your episodes automatically. You can choose how this works for your podcast in Apple Podcasts Connect and Spotify for Creators. You'll need to claim your podcast there first:



Chapters and Campaigns


If you use Campaigns to insert ads, Transistor moves your chapter start times to match, so they still line up with your content. Campaigns is included on Professional plans and above.


See How do I set up dynamic ads with Campaigns?


To see how chapters appear in different apps, see Which podcast apps support Chapters?


If you have additional questions please reach out to us:


Updated on: 02/11/2026

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