The APA 7th edition is widely recognized as the standard for academic writing, valued for its emphasis on clarity, precision, and consistency—especially when citing digital sources like YouTube videos. However, referencing YouTube content can be challenging due to its nontraditional structure. Elements such as channel names, screen names, varying upload dates, and the frequent absence of a clearly identifiable author can make proper citation confusing and error-prone. This raises a common question among students, researchers, and writers: how can one accurately cite a YouTube video in APA 7 style, particularly when critical information is missing or unclear? This guide will explain this.
Part 1: Basics of Citing a YouTube Video in APA 7
In today’s academic landscape, YouTube has become an increasingly valuable source for lectures, documentaries, interviews, and expert discussions. While it offers a wealth of credible and engaging content, citing it correctly is essential to maintaining academic integrity and following APA 7 guidelines. Unlike traditional print or peer-reviewed sources, YouTube videos come with unique citation elements such as screen names, upload dates, and dynamic URLs—which can often be confusing for students or researchers unfamiliar with APA formatting rules.
Standard APA Format for a YouTube Video
Author, A. A. [Screen name]. (Year, Month, Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL
APA Format for a YouTube Video
If the uploader's real name is known, include it first, followed by the screen name in brackets.
If only the screen name is available, list it as the author.
Example Citation:
TED. (2021, June 2). Yuko Munakata: The science behind how ai is going to change the world in 2025 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evw0h1kg-j4
This example shows a well-formatted APA citation with the organization (TED) as the author, the full upload date, a correctly capitalized video title in italic sentence case, and a working URL.
In-Text Citations:
Paraphrasing Example: (TED, 2021)
Direct Quote with Timestamp: (TED, 2021, 2:44)
Use timestamps when quoting specific moments in the video. This helps readers locate the exact portion being referenced.
Tips for Citing YouTube Videos Accurately in APA 7:
Use the uploader’s name or screen name as the author. For individuals, try to find their real name; for organizations or branded channels, use the channel name.
Italicize the title of the video, but use sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized).
Include the exact URL where the video can be accessed—don’t use shortened links unless that's all that's available.
Double-check the upload date and channel name directly from the YouTube video page to ensure accuracy.
If the uploader is unknown and no author is credited, cite the title of the video in the author position.
By mastering the basics of APA 7 YouTube citations, you’ll ensure your references are properly structured, academically credible, and easy for your readers to locate.
Part 2: Handling Special Cases When Citing a YouTube Video in APA
Not all YouTube videos are straightforward. Here's how to handle comments, channels, and missing authors.
Citing a YouTube Comment:
Format:
Commenter’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month, Day). Comment excerpt [Comment on the video “Video Title”]. YouTube. URL
Example:
Sharma, N. (2021, May 10). I love the quality of the content on this channel [Comment on the video “LEARN, EARN or QUIT Garry Tan’s Founders Journey Ep. 4”]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/eLelgy5zRv4
Citing a YouTube Comment
Citing an Entire YouTube Channel:
Format:
Channel Name. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
Citing an Entire YouTube Channel
Example:
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/@TheAPAVideo
Tips:
Use retrieval dates for channels.
Treat screen names as authors when necessary.
Quote comment text directly if it's short.
Part 3: Using Citation Generators to Cite a YouTube Video in APA
Creating accurate APA citations can be time-consuming—especially when dealing with non-traditional sources like YouTube videos. Fortunately, several trusted citation tools are available to automate this process and reduce the risk of formatting errors. Tools such as Scribbr, Citation Machine, and Zotero are widely used by students and academics for their ability to quickly generate citations that align with APA 7 guidelines. While these tools are incredibly helpful, it's important to know how to use them properly and double-check their output to maintain academic credibility.
Scribbr Citation Generator – Step-by-Step Guide
One of the most user-friendly tools for citing YouTube videos is Scribbr. Here’s how to use it:
Select Citation Style:
Choose APA 7th edition from the list of citation styles.
Select “YouTube Video” as the source type.
Enter the Required Information:
Author or Channel Name (e.g., AsapSCIENCE)
Upload Date (Year, Month Day)
Title of the Video (in sentence case)
URL (link to the YouTube video)
Generate and Copy the Citation:
Once the fields are filled out, Scribbr generates a correctly formatted citation.
Copy the citation and paste it directly into your reference list or bibliography.
Citation Generators to Cite a YouTube Video in APA
Example Output:
AsapSCIENCE. (2017, September 28). How to learn faster [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9SptdjpJBQ
This citation follows all APA 7 rules: the author is listed by channel name, the title is italicized and in sentence case, the format "[Video]" is included, and the full URL is present.
Tips for Using Citation Generators Effectively:
Always double-check the generated citation against the official APA 7 guidelines or trusted resources like Purdue OWL or the APA Style website.
Correct capitalization: Many generators don't automatically format the video title in sentence case, so you may need to adjust it manually.
Verify URLs: Ensure the link is accurate and leads directly to the video. Avoid using shortened links unless necessary.
Check the author name: If the uploader’s real name is available, include it before the screen name in brackets.
Using citation generators can significantly save time and reduce citation errors, but they should be seen as assistants—not replacements—for understanding APA rules. When used with attention to detail, they’re powerful tools for maintaining accuracy and efficiency in academic writing.
Part 4: After Citing a YouTube Video — Boost Productivity with WPS Office
Once your YouTube citations are polished and ready, the next step is streamlining the rest of your academic work—and that's where WPS Office comes in. This free, feature-rich office suite is tailored for students, researchers, and professionals who need reliable tools for writing, formatting, and organizing content in APA style and beyond. Whether you're drafting essays, compiling research notes, or presenting findings, WPS Office enhances your workflow with ease and precision.
WPS Office
Here’s how the WPS Office supports your academic productivity:
1. All-in-One Editing Suite
Includes WPS Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentation—fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats.
Format APA headers, citations, references, and tables with professional precision.
Supports built-in styles and templates perfect for essays, dissertations, and project reports.
2. Advanced PDF Tools
Open, annotate, and highlight PDF transcripts of YouTube videos or related research articles.
Convert documents between PDF and Word for easy citation insertion and editing.
Merge, split, or compress PDFs—ideal for submitting organized research files.
3. WPS AI for Academic Help
Use the WPS AI Assistant to:
Proofread APA citations for grammar and formatting accuracy
Rephrase complex or awkward sentences in your paper
Summarize YouTube videos or lecture transcripts quickly
Automatically format bibliographies in APA 7, MLA, or Chicago styles
With WPS Office and its AI capabilities, you're not just citing sources—you’re working smarter, faster, and more confidently across every stage of your academic journey.
FAQs
Q1: What does "n.d." mean in APA?
It stands for "no date"—used when no publication date is available.
Q2: How do I cite a specific part of a video?
Include a timestamp in the in-text citation, like (TED, 2021, 2:44).
Q3: Is a YouTube video a primary source?
Yes, if you're analyzing the video content itself.
Summary
This guide has provided you with a complete understanding of how to cite YouTube videos in APA 7 style. From standard video citations to more complex scenarios—such as citing comments, entire channels, or videos with missing authors—you now have the tools and examples needed to handle each situation with confidence.
To take your academic workflow even further, we introduced WPS Office and WPS AI—versatile tools that support citation formatting, document editing, PDF annotation, and AI-powered writing assistance. Together, they make managing sources and producing polished academic content easier than ever. In short, accurate citations equal academic credibility, and smart tools like WPS Office make research not only efficient but enjoyable.
