How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA (7th Edition)

If you're writing an essay or research paper, you may need to cite a YouTube video in APA format. APA 7th edition has a specific structure for online videos, and getting it right ensures your work is properly referenced.

This guide shows you exactly how, with copy-paste examples and a free generator.

APA Format for YouTube Videos

Reference list format

Author, A. A. [Channel Name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL

Example Citation

CrashCourse. (2019, May 16). The French Revolution: Crash Course World History #29 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTTvKwCylFY

In-Text Citation

NarrativeCrashCourse (2019) explains that…

Parenthetical(CrashCourse, 2019)

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author (channel name)

Use the name of the YouTube channel, not the real person — unless they are the channel.

Find the upload date

Include the full date: year, month, and day. It appears below the video title on YouTube.

Copy the video title

Use sentence case — only capitalise the first word and proper nouns.

Add the format descriptor

Write [Video] immediately after the title, in square brackets.

Add the source

Write YouTube as the platform name.

Include the URL

Paste the full video link at the end.

APA YouTube Citation Generator

Paste your YouTube link below. We'll auto-fill the channel name and title — you just add the upload date and copy.

Step 1 — Paste a YouTube URL

We'll auto-fill the channel name and title.

Want a dedicated page for the generator? YouTube APA citation generator

What If Information Is Missing?

No dateUse (n.d.) in place of the year.

No authorUse the channel name as the author.

Private videoOnly cite if the video is accessible to your readers.

FAQ

Do I need to include "YouTube" in the citation?

Yes — APA requires the platform name as part of the source information.

Should I italicise the title?

Yes — the video title should be italicised. When you copy from our generator it includes italic formatting automatically.

Can I cite a YouTube channel instead of a video?

Yes, but the format is slightly different. This page focuses on citing individual videos in APA 7th edition.

What is the difference between APA 6th and 7th edition for YouTube citations?

In APA 7th edition you no longer need to include "Retrieved from" before the URL. The format also adds [Video] as a descriptor after the title, which was not always required in 6th edition.

How do I cite a YouTube video with no author?

Use the channel name as the author. If the channel name is unavailable, move the title to the author position.