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How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA Format

By the APACitations Editorial Team · Updated August 2026

YouTube videos, TED Talks, and other online media are perfectly citable sources in APA — you just need the right combination of the uploader's name, the [Video] label, and the platform. Here is the exact format with examples.

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The basic APA format for a YouTube video

Uploader, A. A. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxx
Example
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. (2021, August 12). How the immune system actually works [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXfEK8G8CUI

The uploader of the video is credited as the author, even if someone else created the content — because the uploader is who readers will find at the link. If the uploader's real name is known, give it first and add the channel name in square brackets:

Sandlin, D. [SmarterEveryDay]. (2019, June 20). The sound illusion that makes Dunkirk so intense [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxx

In-text citations and timestamps

Cite the author name and year as usual: (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, 2021). For a direct quote, give a timestamp instead of a page number:

(Sandlin, 2019, 2:45)

TED Talks

If you watched on TED.com, the speaker is the author. If you watched on YouTube, TED (the uploader) is the author:

Brown, B. (2010, June). The power of vulnerability [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability
TED. (2011, January 3). The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

Podcasts, films, and other media

The same pattern extends to other audiovisual sources — only the bracketed label and source change: [Film], [TV series episode], [Audio podcast episode], [Song]. For example:

Nolan, C. (Director). (2010). Inception [Film]. Warner Bros.

Common mistakes

  • Crediting the person in the video instead of the uploader.
  • Forgetting the [Video] label after the title.
  • Writing "YouTube video" — the platform name "YouTube" goes in the source position, the label is just [Video].
  • Omitting the full date — videos have exact upload dates, so use (Year, Month Day).

Live streams, Shorts, and playlists

The same pattern covers every YouTube format — the bracketed label just gets more specific: [Video] works for all of them. For a livestream recording, cite the date it streamed. A whole channel is cited like a web page with a retrieval date, since channels change constantly:

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved August 8, 2026, from https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagt

Frequently asked questions

How do I quote a video in-text?
Use a timestamp in place of a page number, giving the point where the quote begins: (Sandlin, 2019, 2:45). For a range, 2:45–3:10 also works.
Who is the author if the video creator and channel differ?
Always credit the account that uploaded the video, because that's what readers find at the URL. If the person's real name is known, give it first with the channel name in brackets: Sandlin, D. [SmarterEveryDay].
Can I cite YouTube videos in academic papers at all?
Yes — audiovisual sources are fully citable in APA. Whether a given video is a credible source is a separate judgment: an official lecture or documentary carries more weight than an anonymous clip.