To add tags to a YouTube video, open it in YouTube Studio, click Details, then Show more, and type your tags into the Tags box, pressing Enter or a comma after each. Save. YouTube says tags play a minimal role in discovery, so use them mainly for common misspellings of your topic.
Tags used to be treated as a secret ranking lever, and plenty of tools still sell them that way. YouTube's own help is much plainer: tags matter far less than your title, thumbnail and description. They're still worth a minute of your time for one specific job, and it isn't the one most people expect. Here's how to add them, what YouTube says they're for, and the tagging habit that can break its spam rules.
Steps to add tags in YouTube Studio
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Open the video, or start a new upload.
- In Details, click Show more (also called More options).
- Find the Tags box.
- Type a tag and press Enter or add a comma, then repeat.
- Click Save (or carry on with the upload).
YouTube says you can also edit tags on mobile, though Studio on a computer is quicker if you're tagging several videos.
What YouTube says tags are for
This is the insight most tag tools leave out. YouTube describes tags as descriptive keywords, and says the title, thumbnail and description are more important for discovery. It adds that tags can be useful if your video's content is commonly misspelled, and otherwise play a minimal role in your video's discovery.
| Metadata | How much it matters for discovery |
|---|---|
| Title | High |
| Thumbnail | High |
| Description | High |
| Tags | Minimal, useful for common misspellings |
Good tags to add
- Common misspellings of your topic or brand name.
- Your channel or brand name.
- One or two plain descriptions of the topic, in the words people use.
- Alternative names for the same thing, such as a product's old name.
Tags to avoid
YouTube says adding excessive tags to your video description is against its policies on spam, deceptive practices and scams. Stuffing dozens of keywords into the description, or using unrelated popular terms to catch traffic, can get a video removed. Keep tags in the Tags box, keep them relevant, and keep them few.
Tags versus hashtags
The hashtag is a different tool. They appear on your video and are clickable, so viewers can find other videos with the same hashtag. YouTube says that if a video has more than 60 hashtags, it ignores every hashtag on that video, and that the more you add, the less relevant they become for people searching. A handful of relevant hashtags beats a long list, and three is plenty for most videos.
Tagging Shorts
Short videos go through the same upload flow, so you can add tags to a Short in YouTube Studio in the same Details section. The same advice applies: a few relevant tags, mainly for misspellings and your brand name. For Shorts, the title and the first seconds of the video do far more for discovery than any tag.
Editing tags on old videos
You can add or change tags on videos you uploaded long ago. Open the video in YouTube Studio, go to Details, click Show more and edit the Tags box, then save. It's worth doing for older videos whose topic is often misspelled, but don't expect tags alone to revive a video that's stopped getting views; a better title or thumbnail is usually the bigger lever.
Do tag generators help?
Tag generator tools list dozens of keywords for a topic. Given YouTube says tags play a minimal role, a long generated list adds little, and pasting it into your description can cross into the excessive tagging YouTube treats as spam. If you use a generator, pick two or three relevant suggestions and leave the rest.
Where your effort is better spent
- A clear title that matches what people search for.
- A thumbnail that's readable on a small phone screen.
- A description whose first lines explain what the video covers.
- Chapters, so viewers and search engines can see the structure.
Spend five minutes on those for every one minute on tags, and you'll be using your time the way YouTube's own guidance suggests.
Once your video's live, see my guides to seeing who subscribed to your channel and a YouTube upload stuck processing if it takes a while to appear.
My verdict
Add a few tags in YouTube Studio under Details, Show more, mainly for misspellings and your brand name. Don't stuff the description with keywords, because YouTube treats that as spam. Your title, thumbnail and description do the real work, so put your energy there. A great title with no tags will beat a weak title with perfect tags every time.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I add tags to a YouTube video?
In YouTube Studio, open the video, click Details, then Show more, and type tags into the Tags box. Save.
Do YouTube tags help with views?
YouTube says tags play a minimal role in discovery, except for commonly misspelled topics.
How many tags should I use on YouTube?
A few relevant ones. Excessive tags in the description break YouTube's spam policies.
Can I add tags on my phone?
YouTube says tags can be edited on mobile, though Studio on a computer is quicker.
What's the difference between tags and hashtags?
Tags are hidden keywords. Hashtags are visible and clickable, and YouTube ignores them all if there are more than 60.
Can I add tags to YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Shorts use the same upload flow, so add tags in YouTube Studio under Details, Show more.
Can I change tags on an old video?
Yes. Open it in YouTube Studio, go to Details, Show more, edit the tags and save.
Are YouTube tag generators worth using?
Use them sparingly. YouTube says tags play a minimal role, and excessive tags in descriptions break its spam rules.
What matters more than tags?
YouTube says the title, thumbnail and description are more important for discovery.
