YouTube video titles have a limit of 100 characters, and descriptions have a limit of 5,000 characters, according to YouTube's own help page on video settings. Both also reject invalid characters. Playlist titles get a little more room, at 150 characters, with 5,000 for playlist descriptions.
If YouTube Studio has ever refused to save a title, you've probably hit one of two walls: the length limit or a character YouTube won't accept. Both are written down in YouTube's help centre, and once you know them you'll stop losing edits.
Here are the limits in one place, how to change a title after you've published, and how I'd use the space you've got.
Every YouTube text limit that matters
| Field | Limit | Where YouTube says it |
|---|---|---|
| Video title | 100 characters | Edit video settings |
| Video description | 5,000 characters | Edit video settings |
| Playlist title | 150 characters | Manage playlists in YouTube Studio |
| Playlist description | 5,000 characters | Manage playlists in YouTube Studio |
All four fields refuse invalid characters. YouTube's playlist page spells out which ones: the angle brackets "<" and ">", and an invisible line separator character that sometimes sneaks in when you paste text from another app. If a title won't save and it's under the limit, retype it rather than pasting it.
How to edit a title or description after publishing
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- From the left menu, select Content.
- Click the video's title or thumbnail.
- Change the title or description, then select Save.
The same screen holds the rest of your video settings, including thumbnail, playlist, audience and visibility.
Little-known description tools
Two features on that page are worth using. First, you can format description text: YouTube says to select bold, italic or strikethrough from the options at the bottom of the description box.
Second, there's a corrections feature. If you got something wrong in a video, add the word "Correction:" or "Corrections:" on its own line after any chapters, then the timestamp and an explanation on the next line. Viewers will see a View Corrections info card. YouTube says the word must be in English whatever language the video's in, and the feature isn't available if your channel has active strikes or the content may be inappropriate for some viewers.
If you use chapters, my YouTube description chapters template shows the layout.
What about tags?
YouTube's help page on tags is honest about them: your title, thumbnail and description are more important for discovery, and tags are mainly useful when your topic is commonly misspelled. Otherwise, it says, tags play a minimal role. Spend your effort on the title. I've covered how to add tags to a YouTube video if you still want them.
Title won't save? Check these first
- Count the characters. Anything over 100 in a video title won't save.
- Look for angle brackets. YouTube treats them as invalid characters.
- Retype anything you pasted from a document or another app, in case it carried an invisible line separator.
- If you're adding a correction note in the description and the View Corrections card doesn't appear, check whether your channel has an active strike, which switches that feature off.
What else lives on the same details page
The screen where you edit your title is also where most of a video's settings live. YouTube's help page lists them, and a few are easy to forget:
- Thumbnail: the image people see before choosing your video.
- Playlist: add the video to an existing playlist or create a new one.
- Audience: to comply with COPPA, you have to say whether a video is made for kids.
- Age restriction: limit videos that may not suit some viewers.
- Altered content: you're required to say if your content is altered or synthetic and seems real.
- Automatic chapters: chapters you add yourself override the automatic ones.
- Comments and ratings: choose whether viewers can comment and see likes.
- End screen: your video has to be 25 seconds or longer to add one.
Click Show more at the bottom of the details page to reach the advanced settings.
How I'd use the 100 characters
- Put the words people search for near the start, because the opening words are what people read first.
- Say what the viewer gets, not just what the video's about.
- Use the description for the detail, links to related videos and chapters, since you've got 5,000 characters there.
- Keep any correction notes after chapters so the info card works.
If you're stuck for wording, my ChatGPT prompts for YouTube video titles give you a starting list to edit down.
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Quick reference
If you only remember one line from this page, make it this: video title 100, description 5,000, playlist title 150, playlist description 5,000, and no angle brackets anywhere. Those four numbers cover almost every 'why won't this save' moment in YouTube Studio, and they come straight from YouTube's own help pages rather than a third-party list that may be out of date.
My verdict
Treat 100 characters as a ceiling, not a target. Write the title that makes the right viewer click, check it doesn't contain angle brackets or pasted junk, and put everything else in a description that has fifty times the room.
Frequently asked questions
What is the YouTube title character limit?
YouTube says video titles have a limit of 100 characters and can't include invalid characters.
How long can a YouTube description be?
Video descriptions have a limit of 5,000 characters.
What characters can't you use in a YouTube title?
YouTube's help pages name the angle brackets and an invisible line separator character as invalid. Retype pasted titles if they won't save.
Can I change a YouTube title after uploading?
Yes. In YouTube Studio, go to Content, click the video, edit the title and select Save.
How do I add bold text to a YouTube description?
Select bold, italic or strikethrough from the options at the bottom of the description box in YouTube Studio.
Do YouTube tags help videos get found?
YouTube says tags play a minimal role in discovery unless your topic is commonly misspelled. Titles, thumbnails and descriptions matter more.
Can I add a correction to a YouTube video after publishing?
Yes. Add Correction: or Corrections: in English after any chapters in the description, then the timestamp and explanation. Viewers see a View Corrections card.
What is the YouTube playlist title limit?
Playlist titles can be up to 150 characters, and playlist descriptions up to 5,000.
