Office Settings & Configuration

How to Add APA 7th Edition Citations to Microsoft Word

Guest Writer Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to add APA 7th Edition citation formatting to Microsoft Word.

Choose APA, MLA, Chicago, or another citation style from the Word References tab.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Formatting academic citations and bibliographies using the APA 7th edition style in Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: APA 7th edition is missing from the default References tab styles in Microsoft Word.

Before you start

Ensure Microsoft Word is completely closed before adding new style files to the system folders. You will also need to download the APA 7th edition XSL style file from a trusted academic or Microsoft community source.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Install the APA 7th Edition XSL File

Download and place the appropriate style sheet into Microsoft Word's hidden Bibliography folder to enable the format.

Since Microsoft Word 2016 does not include APA 7 by default, you can manually add the style by placing its configuration file in your AppData directory.

Download the style file

Download the APASeventhEd.xsl file from the official Microsoft community or a trusted academic source to your computer.

Locate the Bibliography folder

Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\<your_login_name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Bibliography\Style (replace <your_login_name> with your actual Windows username).

Paste the file

Copy the downloaded APASeventhEd.xsl file and paste it into the Style folder.

Restart Microsoft Word

Launch Microsoft Word, navigate to the References tab on the ribbon, and select APA 7th edition from the Style dropdown menu.

Check Integration: Once the style is selected, confirm that your RefWorks integration supports the new APA 7th edition citation workflow.

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Try WPS Office for Seamless Academic Formatting

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free software suite.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing academic document without losing formatting.
3. Manage References: Use the built-in References tab to effortlessly manage your citations and footnotes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't the AppData folder showing up on my computer?

By default, Windows hides the AppData folder. To see it, open File Explorer, click on the 'View' tab at the top, and check the box next to 'Hidden items'.

Will this APA 7th edition style work with RefWorks?

Yes, once the APA 7 style is manually added to Microsoft Word, compatible citation managers like RefWorks that integrate with Word's built-in reference tools can utilize the new style.

What should I do if APA 7 still doesn't appear after restarting Word?

Double-check that the file extension is strictly .xsl and that it was placed in the exact Bibliography\Style folder for your active user profile. Also, ensure Word was fully closed (you can check Task Manager) before restarting.

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