In this article 7 sections
  1. Step 1: Install Zotero and the Connector
  2. Step 2: Save sources as you research
  3. Step 3: Organize with collections
  4. Step 4: Cite while you write
  5. Step 5: Check before you submit
  6. Storage
  7. Frequently asked questions

Keeping track of sources is one of the most tedious parts of writing a research paper. Zotero takes most of that work off your hands. It is free, open source and developed by a nonprofit, the Corporation for Digital Scholarship, so there is no premium version holding back the features students need.

Step 1: Install Zotero and the Connector

  1. Download Zotero for Windows, Mac or Linux from zotero.org/download.
  2. From the same page, install the Zotero Connector for your browser.
  3. Open the Zotero app. Keep it running while you save sources.

We also recommend creating a free Zotero account and signing in to it in the Sync section of Zotero’s settings. That backs up your library and lets you reach it from other devices and on the web.

Step 2: Save sources as you research

When you find a useful source — a journal article in a database, a book in your library catalog, a news article — click the Zotero Connector button in your browser’s toolbar. Zotero saves the citation details and, where it can, the PDF.

There are other ways to add sources, too:

  • By identifier: use Zotero’s “Add Item by Identifier” button and paste a DOI, ISBN or PubMed ID.
  • From a PDF: drag a PDF into Zotero, and it will usually find the citation details for you.
  • By hand: for anything unusual, use the New Item button and fill in the fields yourself.

Step 3: Organize with collections

Create a collection — similar to a folder — for each course or assignment: right-click “My Library” and choose “New Collection”. Then drag sources into it. A source can belong to several collections at once without being duplicated.

You can also add tags and notes to any item. They’re useful for recording why a source matters or which quotes you plan to use.

Step 4: Cite while you write

Zotero’s plugins for Microsoft Word and LibreOffice are installed along with the desktop app. If yours doesn’t appear, check the Cite section of Zotero’s settings. For Google Docs, the Zotero Connector adds a Zotero menu to documents in supported browsers.

Then:

  1. Place your cursor where the citation should go and choose Add/Edit Citation from the Zotero tab, toolbar or menu.
  2. The first time, choose your citation style — APA, MLA, Chicago or whatever your instructor requires.
  3. Type an author’s name or a word from the title, select the source and confirm. You can add a page number before confirming.
  4. When you’re ready, choose Add/Edit Bibliography to insert a reference list. It updates itself as you add or remove citations.

If you need a different style later, open Document Preferences and choose a new one. Every citation in the document updates at once.

Step 5: Check before you submit

Zotero is only as accurate as the information it imports. Before you hand in your work, read through your bibliography and look for:

  • Capitalization problems. Styles capitalize titles differently, and imported titles are sometimes in all capitals or the wrong case.
  • Missing details, such as page ranges, issue numbers or publishers.
  • Sources saved as the wrong type — a journal article saved as a generic web page will be formatted incorrectly.
  • Duplicates, which you can merge in Zotero’s “Duplicate Items” view.

Fix errors in Zotero itself, not in your document. Manual edits to citations in your document can be overwritten the next time Zotero refreshes them, while a fix in Zotero carries through to every citation of that source.

Storage

A free Zotero account syncs your library’s citation data with no limit, plus up to 300 MB of attached files such as PDFs. If you save a lot of PDFs, you can buy more storage or set Zotero to sync citation data only.

For a quick overview of how APA, MLA and Chicago differ, see our guide to the three main citation styles.

Frequently asked questions

Does Zotero work with Google Docs?

Yes. With the Zotero Connector installed in a supported browser, a Zotero menu appears in Google Docs so you can insert citations and a bibliography.

Does Zotero support APA, MLA and Chicago?

Yes. Zotero supports APA, MLA, Chicago and thousands of other citation styles. You choose a style the first time you cite in a document and can switch at any time in Document Preferences.

Are Zotero citations always correct?

Not always. Zotero formats whatever details it imported, which can include wrong capitalization, missing page numbers or the wrong item type. Check your bibliography before you submit, and fix errors in Zotero rather than in your document.

How much storage does a free Zotero account include?

Citation data syncs without limit. A free account includes 300 MB of storage for attached files such as PDFs, and more storage can be bought.