Template Issues

How to Update Microsoft Word from APA 6 to APA 7

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to update their Microsoft Word citation and bibliography style from the default APA 6th edition to the newer APA 7th edition.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting academic papers, citations, and bibliographies using the current APA 7th edition citation style.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word lacks an official, built-in APA 7th edition style update, leaving users with only the older APA 6th edition available in the References tab.

Before you start

Ensure Microsoft Word is completely closed before installing any custom style files, and verify that your institution accepts community-created APA 7 formatting.

Solution 1Recommended

Install a Community-Created APA 7 Style File

Since Microsoft has not released an official APA 7 update, you can manually install user-created XML style files shared within the Microsoft community.

Although there is no official update from Microsoft, trusted community members have created custom XML files that add the APA 7th edition style directly to your Word References tab.

Access the Microsoft Community Forum

Navigate to the Microsoft Community discussion thread addressing the APA 7th edition in MS Word to find the trusted file link.

Download the Custom Style File

Locate the GitHub link provided in the first post of the forum thread and download the APA 7 XML style file to your computer.

Place the File in the Word Directory

Copy the downloaded XML file and paste it into the Word Bibliography Styles folder on your computer (typically located in your user AppData folder under Microsoft\Bibliography\Style).

Restart Word and Select APA 7

Open Microsoft Word, navigate to the 'References' tab, click the 'Style' dropdown menu in the Citations & Bibliography group, and select the newly added 'APA Seventh Edition'.

Verification Required: Always double-check the generated citations and references against your institution's official APA 7 guidelines, as community-created files may occasionally have minor formatting inaccuracies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Microsoft release an official APA 7 update for Word?

As of now, Microsoft has not published an official timeline for a built-in APA 7th edition update for Microsoft Word. Users must rely on manual formatting or third-party community-created XML style files to achieve automated APA 7 citations.

Where do I place the APA 7 XML file on a Mac?

On macOS, the style file typically needs to be placed within the Microsoft Word application package contents. You can access this by going to Applications, right-clicking Microsoft Word, selecting 'Show Package Contents', and navigating to Contents > Resources > Style.

Why are my citations still showing as APA 6 after installing the file?

You may need to completely close and restart Microsoft Word for the new XML style file to be recognized by the software. After restarting, ensure you actively select the newly installed 'APA 7th Edition' style from the 'Style' dropdown menu located in the 'References' tab.

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