How to cite a YouTube video in APA 7th edition
Quick answer
To cite a YouTube video in APA 7, write: Channel or Person. (Year, Month Day). Title of video in italics [Video]. YouTube. URL. The author is whoever created the video: a person if you can identify them, otherwise the channel or organization.
How do you write the reference?
Andes Cycling. (2024, June 12). Riding through Mérida in one day [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exampleThe title is in italics. Channel, date and link are fictional.
What elements does it have?
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | Channel or person who posted the video |
| Date | Year, month and day of upload |
| Title | In italics, followed by [Video] |
| Platform | YouTube |
| Link | Video URL |
How do I cite the video in the text?
- Parenthetical: The route takes one day by bike (Andes Cycling, 2024).
- Narrative: Andes Cycling (2024) shows the full route by bike.
- With timestamp: (Andes Cycling, 2024, 3:15).
What about a recorded lecture or a documentary?
A lecture's author is the speaker. A documentary's author is the director or production company. Use the same pattern and change the bracketed label, for example [Documentary] or [Lecture].
Checklist
- Author identified
- Upload date
- Italic title followed by [Video]
- Platform name
- Full URL
Frequently asked questions
How do you cite a YouTube video in APA?
Use Author. (Date). Title [Video]. YouTube. URL. In the text, use the author and year, and add the timestamp if you cite a specific moment: (Andes Cycling, 2024, 3:15). The title goes in italics.
Who is the author of a YouTube video?
The person or group that made it, usually the channel name. If the creator is named, use Last name, F. M. [Channel name]. If you cannot identify a person, use the channel name.
Do I include the video's length?
No. The length of the video is not part of the reference. Add a timestamp only in the in-text citation when you refer to a specific moment, such as a quotation or a demonstration in the middle.