You cite a video in APA by treating it as an audiovisual work: name the uploader, date, italicized title with [Video], platform, and URL, then use the uploader and year in-text.

How to Cite a Video in APA (Quick Scoop)

Basic APA Reference Format for a Video

For most online videos (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.), APA 7th uses this pattern:

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

Key points:

  • Author/uploader : Usually the person or organization who uploaded the video (not always the original creator).
  • Channel name in brackets if different from the real name.
  • Date : Full upload date in parentheses: (2023, June 14).
  • Title : In italics, sentence case (only first word and proper nouns capitalized), followed by [Video].
  • Platform : YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, etc.
  • URL : Direct link to the video (no period after the URL).

Example: Individual with channel name

Stevens, M. [Vsauce]. (2017, August 14). The napkin ring problem [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J51ncHP_BrY3]

Example: Organization as author

American Psychological Association. (2017, November 3). Promoting integrated primary care through interprofessional education [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pZ7dJA6c3Y6]

In-Text Citations for Videos

In-text citations follow the same pattern as other APA sources: author + year, and add a timestamp for a specific moment.

  • Paraphrase :
    • (Uploader, Year)
    • Example: (American Psychological Association, 2017).
  • Narrative :
    • Uploader (Year)
    • Example: American Psychological Association (2017) explains that…

When you quote or refer to a specific part of the video, include a timestamp :

  • Format: (Uploader, Year, minutes:seconds) or (Uploader, Year, hours:minutes:seconds).
  • Example:
    • …which was common during those historical times (Powerwatercat, 2019, 3:18).

Special Cases: How to Handle Tricky Videos

1. Only a username is known

If you only know the screen name, use it as the author.

Powerwatercat. (2019, August 2). A lecture about Maria Sklodowska [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ10]

In-text: (Powerwatercat, 2019).

2. Real name + username

If both real name and username are known, list the real name first and username in brackets.

Smith, J. [Terrifictulipteacher]. (2021, April 17). Tutorial on delicate plants [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SnxBvH-0Mc6]

In-text: (Smith, 2021).

3. Video by an organization

Treat the organization as the author.

Stanford. [Smart Screen]. (2010, March 29). Introduction to human behavioral biology [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNnIGh9g6fA6]

In-text: Stanford (2010) or (Stanford, 2010).

4. No date

If no date is visible, use (n.d.) instead of the year.

Channel Name. (n.d.). Title of video [Video]. Platform. URL

In-text: (Channel Name, n.d.).

Citing a Video vs. a Channel

If you are citing a channel page rather than a specific video, APA adjusts the format slightly.

Author, A. A. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Example:

University of Oxford. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved October 19, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/user/oxford

Use “Home,” “Videos,” or “Playlists” in the title field depending on which tab you’re citing.

Mini “How-To” Walkthrough

Imagine you’re watching an educational YouTube video you want to cite. You’d walk through it like this:

  1. Collect details
    • Uploader’s name (and channel name, if different).
    • Upload date (year, month, day).
    • Exact video title.
    • Platform (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
    • URL.
  1. Build the reference
    • Put the uploader in “author” position.
    • Add date in parentheses and a period.
    • Italicize the title, then add [Video].
    • Add platform name and URL.
  1. Add in-text citations
    • For general references: (Author, Year).
    • For specific moments: (Author, Year, 1:23).

Quick HTML Table for Reference Types

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Situation</th>
      <th>Reference Format</th>
      <th>In-Text Example</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Standard video, individual uploader</td>
      <td>Last name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). <i>Title of video</i> [Video]. Platform. URL[web:3][web:5][web:6]</td>
      <td>(Last name, Year)[web:3][web:6]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Real name + channel name</td>
      <td>Last name, Initials. [Channel name]. (Year, Month Day). <i>Title of video</i> [Video]. Platform. URL[web:3][web:5][web:6]</td>
      <td>(Last name, Year)[web:3][web:6]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Organization as author</td>
      <td>Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). <i>Title of video</i> [Video]. Platform. URL[web:5][web:6]</td>
      <td>(Organization Name, Year)[web:6]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>No date</td>
      <td>Author. (n.d.). <i>Title of video</i> [Video]. Platform. URL[web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>(Author, n.d.)[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Channel page</td>
      <td>Author. (n.d.). <i>Home</i> [YouTube channel]. Platform. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL[web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>(Author, n.d.)[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Quote from specific moment</td>
      <td>Use standard reference entry for the video.[web:3][web:9]</td>
      <td>(Author, Year, 1:23)[web:4][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

SEO-Friendly Meta Description

Learn how to cite a video in APA with clear templates, real examples, and special cases for YouTube channels, organizations, and timestamps, so your reference list and in-text citations stay accurate and polished.

TL;DR: Use uploader as author, include full date, italicized title + [Video], platform, and URL in the reference, and use author + year (plus timestamp if needed) in-text.

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