Can't find the tags field for your YouTube video? It's tucked into the extra settings on desktop, and you can also edit it through YouTube's mobile apps. Here's where to add your keywords during an upload or after publishing, plus how to add visible hashtags.
Add tags to an existing YouTube video
Sign in to YouTube Studio on your computer. You'll need permission to edit the channel's videos.
Navigate through Content → your video's title or thumbnail → SHOW MORE to reach the extra settings. Then enter or edit your keywords in Tags.
Click Save. YouTube says tags mainly help with misspellings and otherwise have little effect on discovery. Give your title, thumbnail, and description more attention.
If you cannot find tags during an upload
The Tags field sits in the extra settings at the bottom of the upload's Details screen, so start there if it seems to be missing. YouTube's help calls the button that opens them both SHOW MORE and MORE OPTIONS, so click whichever one your screen shows.
For a new upload, sign in to YouTube Studio on your computer. Open CREATE > Upload videos and select the video file you want to upload. At the bottom of the Details screen, click SHOW MORE, or MORE OPTIONS if that is the label you see.
Enter your keywords in Tags. Complete the remaining upload settings, then save or publish your video. You can return to its settings later to change the tags.
Use your phone to edit tags
You can edit tags in the YouTube Studio app on Android, iPhone, and iPad. Open the app to get started.
Tap Content and select the video you want to change. Tap Edit, the pencil icon, then edit the Tags field. Tap SAVE.
Prefer the main YouTube app? Open it on your Android phone, iPhone, or iPad.
Tap your profile picture, then open Your videos. Tap More beside the video and tap Edit. Change the Tags field, then tap Save. If you cannot reach Tags in the mobile app, use desktop YouTube Studio and follow the existing-video steps above.
Change several videos at once
Open Content in desktop YouTube Studio and check the boxes beside the videos whose tags you want to change. Click Edit and select Tags. Enter the tag change you want to apply, then click Update videos. Keep each shared tag relevant to every video you've selected.
For visible hashtags, edit the title or description
This adds visible hashtags without changing your video's metadata tags. Open your video's editing screen using one of the methods above.
In Title or Description, type # followed by your topic without spaces. Select a suggested hashtag or finish typing your own. Save or publish the video to keep the change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I automatically add the same tags to future uploads?
Yes. In desktop YouTube Studio, open Settings > Upload defaults. Configure your tag defaults, then select Save. Defaults apply to browser uploads through youtube.com/upload. They do not apply to uploads from mobile apps or video editors, and they do not update existing videos.
Should I paste a keyword list into my description too?
No. YouTube advises against putting ordinary keyword lists in descriptions. Enter those keywords in Tags.
Can I add tags to YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Eligible Shorts uploads support tags through the desktop upload workflow. You can also edit their tags afterward in the video's settings.
Where can I get the official YouTube Studio mobile app?
Open Google's Get the YouTube Studio app page, select Android or iPhone and iPad, and follow the official app-store link.