How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA, MLA, Chicago and Harvard

What makes video citations different

A video on a platform like YouTube has features that books and articles do not. It may be uploaded by a channel rather than a single author. The person speaking may differ from the account that posted it. The title can be long and informal. There is a precise upload date, and often a running time. And the video can be removed or edited at any time. All of this affects how you cite it.

Before you cite, think about why you are using the video. If it is a recorded lecture, a documentary clip, or a news report, you may be better off citing the original source if you can find it. If the video is an interview or a primary source in its own right, citing the platform version is fine. Some instructors have specific views on whether online videos are acceptable sources, so ask if you are unsure. The patterns below are general; check the current manual for your style, and follow your instructor's guidance where it differs.

Collecting the information

Open the video page and write down the following. First, the creator or uploader: look at the channel name under the video. If an individual is clearly the author or presenter and also owns the channel, many styles let you use their real name where known, with the channel as the site name. If the channel belongs to an organization, that organization may be the author. Second, the upload date, shown below the video title. Third, the exact title, copied as written. Fourth, the platform name. Fifth, the link, taken from the address bar or the share button.

Also note the running time if your style asks for it, and note timestamps for any specific moment you refer to in your text. A time like 12:30 helps a reader find the exact passage and works as a locator in many styles, similar to a page number. If the video is a livestream recording or a premiere, record the date shown on the page, and use the same date consistently.

If the page shows captions or a transcript and you quote from it, make sure the words match what is said in the video, since automatically generated captions can contain errors.

General patterns across styles

In APA 7, a generic video entry is Author or Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Platform Name. link. The title is italicized, and a bracketed description helps readers know the format. The in-text citation uses the author and year, with a timestamp where you point to a specific moment.

In MLA 9, a generic form is Author or Uploader. Title of Video. Platform Name, uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, link. The title is in quotation marks when the video is part of a larger site, which is the usual case for platform videos. In-text citations often use a timestamp range in place of a page number.

In Chicago, a note can give the author or channel, the title, the platform, the date, and the link. Many instructors accept citing video in a note without adding it to the bibliography, though some want both. In Harvard, common variants use Author or Channel (Year) Title of video [Video]. Available at: link followed by an access date in some versions. These are sketches rather than rules, and the details of italics and brackets vary. Use your manual or institutional guide for the final form.

Edge cases and ethics

Sometimes you cannot tell who made a video. In that case, many styles let the channel name stand in for the author, or move the title to the author position. Do not guess at identities. If the channel name is a username that is not a real name, use it as shown.

Re-uploaded content is common. A clip of a television show or a lecture might be posted by someone who did not create it. If you can find the original, cite the original and mention the platform if that helps readers find the version you saw. If you cannot, cite the version you watched and say who uploaded it.

Also think about reliability. Videos may contain claims that are not sourced. If you rely on a factual claim from a video, check it against a reliable source if you can, and cite that source as well. Remember that a polished production style is not evidence of accuracy. And respect copyright and community rules when you embed or share videos in your own work, which is a separate matter from citation.

Final checks

Before you finish, play the link in a fresh browser window and confirm that the video loads and matches the entry. Check that the title is copied precisely and the date matches the upload date on the page. Confirm that your timestamps match the moments you describe.

Make sure the in-text cue connects to the reference list entry, and that the style's punctuation and italics are consistent with your other entries. If your style requires an access date for web content, add it. If you used a citation generator, review each field for errors, since platform metadata can be incomplete.

Finally, keep a note of the date you watched the video and, if the content is central to your argument, consider keeping a transcript or a screenshot as a personal record. Videos can be removed or edited, and a record helps if you are ever asked to show what you saw. Above all, rely on your current manual or your instructor for the definitive format.

Frequently asked questions