APA 7th Edition — YouTube & Video Citations

APA YouTube Video Citation Generator

Cite YouTube videos, TED talks, and online lectures in APA 7th edition format. Get the reference and in-text citation ready to copy.

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How to cite a youtube video in APA

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Paste a DOI, URL, ISBN, title, or author name to find the exact source record.

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Verify author, year, title, container, and publication details before copying the final citation.

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Get the complete APA citation plus the matching in-text citation or footnote format.

APA YouTube Citation Format

YouTube Video:

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

TED Talk (TED.com):

Speaker, A. (Year, Month). Title of talk [Video]. TED Conferences. URL

In-Text Citation:

(Channel Name, Year) — or with timestamp: (Channel Name, Year, 3:45)

APA YouTube Citation Examples

YouTube Video (Channel Name as Author)

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. (2023, June 10). The immune system explained [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/example

In-text: (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, 2023)

YouTube Video (Real Name Known)

Sproul, R. C. (2019, March 15). What is reformed theology? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/example

In-text: (Sproul, 2019)

TED Talk (TED.com)

Brown, B. (2010, June). The power of vulnerability [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability

In-text: (Brown, 2010)

TED Talk (on YouTube)

TED. (2010, January 3). Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o

In-text: (TED, 2010)

Online Lecture / Educational Video

Harvard University. (2024, January 20). Introduction to machine learning [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/example

In-text: (Harvard University, 2024)

Examples formatted in APA style

Use the generator for this source type

Paste the YouTube or TED URL into the APA generator, or use the URL citation tool when you need to recover page metadata first.

APA citation generator URL citation generator

Using Timestamps in APA Video Citations

When you quote or discuss a specific moment, add a timestamp to the in-text citation. Use minutes and seconds for shorter videos, such as (Channel Name, 2024, 3:45), or hours, minutes, and seconds for longer videos, such as (Channel Name, 2024, 1:23:45). Timestamps belong only in the in-text citation, not in the reference-list entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a YouTube video in APA 7th edition?

Format: Author/Channel. (Year, Month Day). *Title of video* [Video]. YouTube. URL Example: Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. (2023, June 10). *The immune system explained* [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/example

Do I use the channel name or the real name for APA YouTube citations?

Use the real name if you can identify it. If only the channel name is available, use it directly as the author — without brackets. Example: "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell" as the author, not "[Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell]".

How do I cite a TED talk in APA?

For TED.com: Speaker, A. (Year, Month). *Title of talk* [Video]. TED Conferences. URL For a TED talk on YouTube, use the YouTube format with the YouTube URL.

What is the in-text citation for a YouTube video in APA?

Use author and year in parentheses: (Channel Name, Year). Example: (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, 2023). If citing a specific moment, add a timestamp: (Channel Name, Year, 3:45).

How do I cite a YouTube video with no upload date?

Use "n.d." (no date) if the upload date is not available: Channel. (n.d.). *Title* [Video]. YouTube. URL. However, YouTube always shows the upload date, so check the video description.