Easy Tech TutsHow to Cite in Google Docs Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Google Docs has a built-in citation manager that removes the need for a separate bibliography generator. This guide covers opening the Citations sidebar, choosing your required style guide, adding source details, and generating a properly formatted Works Cited or References page automatically as you write.
01Open the Citations sidebar
Go to the Tools menu and select Citations to launch the built-in sidebar panel.
02Select your citation style
Choose your required style guide from the dropdown, including APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, or Chicago manual of style.
03Add a new source
Open the source wizard and choose the medium type, such as book, website, journal article, or online video.
04Fill in source details
Enter author names, publication years, titles, and publisher information into the corresponding data fields.
05Insert in-text citations
Place your cursor where a citation belongs in your paragraph and insert the parenthetical reference with a single click.
06Generate your Works Cited page
Use the automated bibliography builder to append a complete References or Works Cited page with proper hanging indents.
Frequently asked questions
Which citation styles does Google Docs support?
The built-in Citations tool supports APA, MLA, and Chicago style, covering the most common academic and professional formats.
Does the bibliography update automatically as I add more sources?
Yes, the built-in bibliography engine regenerates your Works Cited or References page as you add or edit sources.
Can I cite a website using the Citations tool?
Yes, the source wizard includes website URLs as a medium type alongside books, journal articles, and videos.
Do I still need to alphabetize my sources manually?
No, the automated bibliography builder handles alphabetical sorting and proper hanging indents for you.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
