Document Editing Problems

How to Add a Website Citation Source in Microsoft Word

Rana Garcia Oct 21, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to add a website as a citation source in Microsoft Word but cannot find the 'Website' option in the standard Source Manager list.

How to Add a Website Citation Source in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Writing academic or professional documents that require citing online sources, generating works cited lists, or creating bibliographies.
Observed behavior: The 'Website' source type appears to be missing from the 'Type of Source' dropdown menu, but it is actually located further down the list below the visible options.

Before you start

Gather the essential details of your website source, including the author, webpage title, publication date, and full URL, before opening the citation manager.

Solution 1Recommended

Locate and Add a Website Source using the Citation Manager

Access the Source Manager in Microsoft Word and scroll through the dropdown menu to reveal hidden options like 'Website' for your citations.

Microsoft Word provides a comprehensive list of citation source types, but not all of them are visible by default. The dropdown menu requires scrolling to view options located towards the bottom, such as websites, electronic sources, and art.

Navigate to the References Tab

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Click on the 'References' tab located on the top ribbon, then click on 'Insert Citation' in the Citations & Bibliography group.

Add a New Source

From the dropdown menu, select 'Add New Source'. This will open the Create Source dialog box where you can input your reference information.

Select the Website Source Type

Click the 'Type of Source' dropdown menu. Use your mouse wheel or the scroll bar on the right side of the menu to scroll down past the 'Report' option until you see 'Website'. Select it.

Enter Source Details

Fill in the required bibliography fields, such as Author, Name of Web Page, URL, and Year. Click 'OK' to insert the citation into your document and save it to your source list.

Reuse Sources with Source Manager

To edit or reuse this website source later, click 'Manage Sources' on the References tab. This allows you to copy sources from your Master List to your Current List for easy bibliography generation.

Locate and Add a Website Source using the Citation Manager

Source Saved Automatically: Once added, Word saves the source information so it can be easily reused across multiple documents using the Source Manager.

WPS Office Reference Tools

Easily Manage Citations and Bibliographies in WPS Writer

If you are looking for a simpler and highly compatible word processor, WPS Writer offers intuitive tools for adding citations, footnotes, and generating bibliographies effortlessly.

1. Open Your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your text document where you need to add references.
2. Go to the References Tab: Click on the 'References' tab on the top menu bar to access all academic formatting tools.
3. Insert Citations or Footnotes: Use the 'Insert Footnote' or citation tools to add your website source details directly into your text.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) document formatsBuilt-in reference tools for footnotes, endnotes, and citationsFree to use with a clean, familiar user interfaceLightweight application that runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, and Linux

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Website' option not showing in my Word source type list?

The 'Type of Source' dropdown list only displays the first few options by default. You need to click the dropdown arrow and use the scroll bar to scroll down past 'Report' to find 'Website' and other electronic sources.

How do I create a bibliography after adding my website sources?

Once you have added your website sources to the document, go to the 'References' tab, click on the 'Bibliography' button, and choose a format (such as Bibliography or Works Cited) to automatically generate the list at the end of your document.

Can I use a website citation I created in a different Word document?

Yes. Microsoft Word saves all your entered sources into a Master List. To use a website citation in a new document, go to 'References', click 'Manage Sources', select the desired website from the Master List on the left, and click 'Copy' to add it to your Current List.

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