Step 1. 

Sign into YouTube and go to My Videos. Note: You can only add annotations to video that you created and uploaded. 

Tip!

New to YouTube? Check out our how-to guide for uploading a video to the popular video-sharing site. 

Step 2. 

From your list of videos, find the particular video you want to add commentary to. Click on the Annotations button below the video. Alternatively, if you are watching one of your own videos, click “Annotations Editor” on the top right above your video. 

Play the video or drag your playhead to the point where you want to add an annotation.

Step 3. 

The editing window will be on the left-hand side of the screen, and your video will be on the right-hand side of the screen.

On the bottom left corner of the editing window, you will see three buttons you can choose from: Add speech bubble (for creating pop-up speech bubbles with text), add a note (for creating pop-up boxes containing text), and add spotlight (an invisible text box for highlighting areas in a video; when the user moves the mouse over these areas, the text you enter will appear). 

Click the button for the type of annotation you want to add.

Step 4. 

To add a speech bubble: Click on the speech bubble icon from the editing window. You’ll see a bubble appear in your video screen window. Enter the text you want to add on either screen. Use the round dots around the text box to change the size and shape of the bubble. You can also drag the text box to anywhere you want on the screen. 

On the video screen, the yellow line indicates the time. 

On the editing screen, below the text box, you’ll see the frame numbers for where you want your bubble to start and end. Changing the numbers affects the time your bubble will be displayed on your video. 

Set the frame numbers for precisely when you want your speech bubble to appear and disappear. 

Add a link to the speech bubble: Click on the URL text box under the frame numbers in the editing screen. Add your link. 

Click “Save” at the top of the editing screen, then click “Publish.”

Step 5. 

To add a note: Click on the note icon from the editing window. You’ll see a note appear in your video screen window. Enter the text you want to add on either screen. Use the round dots around the text box to change the size and shape of the note. You can also drag the text box to anywhere you want on the screen. 

On the video screen, the yellow line indicates the time. 

On the editing screen, below the text box, you’ll see the frame numbers for where you want your bubble to start and end. Changing the numbers affects the time your bubble will be displayed on your video. 

Set the frame numbers for precisely when you want your speech bubble to appear and disappear. 

Add a link to the speech bubble: Click on the URL text box under the frame numbers in the editing screen. Add your link. 

Click “Save” at the top of the editing screen, then click “Publish.”

Step 6. 

To add a spotlight: Click on the spotlight icon from the editing window. You’ll see an invisible text box appear in your video screen window. Enter the text you want to add on either screen. Use the round dots around the text box to change the size and shape of the note. You can also drag the text box to anywhere you want on the screen. 

On the video screen, the yellow line indicates the time. 

On the editing screen, below the text box, you’ll see the frame numbers for where you want your bubble to start and end. Changing the numbers affects the time your bubble will be displayed on your video. 

Set the frame numbers for precisely when you want your speech bubble to appear and disappear. 

Add a link to the speech bubble: Click on the URL text box under the frame numbers in the editing screen. Add your link. 

Click “Save” at the top of the editing screen, then click “Publish.”

Step 7. 

Adding a Call-To-Action overlay: If you're a YouTube nonprofit partner, adding a call-to-action overlay is easy. Just go to "Edit Video" and fill out the fields in the section marked "Call to Action Overlay." Then click "Save" and the overlay should appear on your video.

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