Zotero
An open-source reference manager for collecting, organizing, reading, annotating and citing research materials, with browser capture, PDF and EPUB support, synchronization and word-processor plugins.
What Zotero manages
Zotero collects bibliographic metadata from websites and databases, organizes collections and tags, reads and annotates PDF or EPUB files, and inserts updateable citations into Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs. Automatic capture saves time, but authors, dates, editions, page numbers and document types still need a source check before publication.
Sync and backup boundaries
The desktop library is stored locally. Data sync covers items, notes and tags, while attachments use Zotero Storage, a supported WebDAV library or linked files. The active data directory should not be placed in ordinary real-time cloud-folder synchronization. A complete backup is made only after Zotero is closed and the full directory is copied.
Maintenance note
This page reviews Zotero 9.0.6, browser capture, PDF and EPUB workflows, word-processor integration, data directories, attachment synchronization, backups and plugin compatibility. Content review date: 2026-08-23.
Save to your cloud drive
Open the cloud drive to get the file directly, or save it for convenient access on another device.
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Zotero 9.0.6 literature capture, citation and backup guide
Install the desktop app and browser connector, save one public test item with an attachment, insert a citation and create a backup that does not corrupt the active database.
Before you start
- Confirm the supported Windows, macOS or Linux version and the current browser and word-processor compatibility.
- Prepare a public test article and avoid using unpublished research data during the first sync test.
- Decide whether attachments will use Zotero Storage, supported WebDAV or linked files before importing a large library.
Installation steps
- 01
Install the desktop app and connector
Install Zotero 9.0.6 and the matching browser connector, then check updates and confirm the Word or LibreOffice plugin is present.
- 02
Confirm the data directory
View the active data directory in advanced settings and confirm that zotero.sqlite and storage are present; keep the active directory out of ordinary cloud sync folders.
- 03
Choose the synchronization scope
Local use needs no account. For multiple devices, enable item-data sync first, then decide separately how attachments and linked files will be stored.
Quick start
- 01
Capture one complete reference
Click the connector on a publication page, choose a collection and verify title, author, date, DOI and attachment instead of trusting automatic metadata blindly.
- 02
Annotate and insert a test citation
Create one highlight and note in a PDF or EPUB, insert a citation in a test document, and check author, date, page and style output after changing the style.
- 03
Back up after closing Zotero
Quit Zotero completely, copy the full data directory to independent storage and check that the database and storage directory are present; an RIS export is not a full backup.
Usage tips
- Metadata can omit authors, versions, pages or document types, so return to the original source before formal writing.
- Word-processor citations remain editable fields; keep a working document and create an irreversible final copy only at the end.
- Plugins can read or modify library data. Back up before major upgrades and avoid extensions from unknown sources.
Troubleshooting and uninstall
Why is the Zotero toolbar missing from Word or LibreOffice?
Close the word processor, reinstall the integration from Zotero settings, check the template or startup directory and test in a blank document before opening a critical file.
What should I do when sync reports conflicts or missing attachments?
Pause other devices, back up the current data directory and identify whether the issue is item data, Zotero Storage, WebDAV or linked files before merging or restoring.
- Finish sync and preserve a complete backupWait for sync, quit Zotero, copy the database, storage, styles and translators, and confirm that offline or online-only attachments are accounted for.
- Remove clients and connectorsRemove the desktop app, browser connector and word-processor plugin separately. Keep the data backup until it has been restored successfully on a test device.
Frequently asked questions
Can Zotero be used without an account?
Yes. The local desktop library can collect, organize, read and cite items without sync. An account is used for selected data, attachments, groups and online library features.
Does Zotero sync automatically back up every attachment?
Not necessarily. Item data and attachments follow different storage rules, and online-only or linked files may not exist locally. Keep an independent backup.
Can the active Zotero data directory be placed in Dropbox or another normal cloud folder?
That pattern can corrupt the SQLite database while Zotero is running. Close Zotero for a complete backup, or use the supported attachment and sync options instead.