How do I cite Microsoft Copilot in APA?

To cite Microsoft Copilot in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the APA format for Microsoft Copilot citation?

The APA format for Microsoft Copilot is: Microsoft. (Year). Microsoft Copilot [Large language model]. https://copilot.microsoft.com/

What does the in-text citation look like for Microsoft Copilot in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Microsoft, 2026)

How to Cite Microsoft Copilot in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite Microsoft Copilot chats and AI answers in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing Microsoft Copilot in your reference list:

Microsoft. (Year). Microsoft Copilot [Large language model]. https://copilot.microsoft.com/

APA Example for Microsoft Copilot

A complete APA reference for Microsoft Copilot, written by hand and checked against the official APA guidance for this source:

Microsoft. (2026). Microsoft Copilot [Large language model]. https://copilot.microsoft.com/

Matching in-text citation: I used Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft, 2026) to draft a two-sentence explanation of the difference between weather and climate, which I then checked against published sources.

APA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Microsoft, 2026)

Narrative

Microsoft (2026) makes Copilot, the assistant I used to draft the explanation below.

Key APA Formatting Rules

With no shareable chat, cite Copilot as a tool: Microsoft as author, the year the tool was last updated, the tool name in italics, [Large language model], and the tool’s URL.
Describe the prompt and what you did with Copilot’s answer in your text or Method; prompts do not go in the reference.
If Copilot gives you a public share link that opens in a signed-out browser, switch to APA’s shared-chat format: Microsoft, full date, chat title, [Generative AI chat], Copilot, and that link.
Copilot used inside Word or another Microsoft 365 app as an editing aid usually needs no reference under APA’s Part 2 post; say how you used it instead.
When Copilot led you to a web page or article, cite that published source rather than Copilot.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your Microsoft Copilot.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

the company that built the tool (Microsoft)
where you used Copilot (the Copilot app or site, Edge, Word, or another Microsoft 365 app)
the date of the conversation
the exact prompt you typed
the web pages Copilot linked in its answer
a public share link, if your version of Copilot offers one

Common metadata traps

Microsoft Copilot, the chat assistant, is not GitHub Copilot; code suggestions from GitHub Copilot are cited, if at all, as software or disclosed in your methods.
Copilot answers often point to Bing web results, so open each linked page, check it, and cite the page itself for any fact you use.
Copilot inside Word, Outlook, or Edge used to polish your own writing counts as AI built into ordinary software under APA’s Part 2 post: disclose it rather than writing a chat reference.

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite Microsoft Copilot in APA?: To cite Microsoft Copilot in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for Microsoft Copilot citation?: The APA format for Microsoft Copilot is: Microsoft. (Year). Microsoft Copilot [Large language model]. https://copilot.microsoft.com/
What does the in-text citation look like for Microsoft Copilot in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Microsoft, 2026)