On August 9, 2024, Zotero 7 was released.

Upgrade to Zotero 7

1. Click Help inside your Zotero
2. Click Check for Updates…

See more at Zotero 7.

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research.

Zotero is compatible with:

• Windows, Mac, Linux computers
• Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browsers
• Microsoft Word, Google Docs, other word processors (see Zotero - word processors)

The DU Library supports Zotero over Refworks as DU's preferred APA research management system (see Zotero Benefits).

Steps

1. Select Download Zotero
2. Download Zotero 7
3. Install the Zotero Connector extension
4. Check that:
   • You can open the Zotero app from your computer
   • You see the Zotero Connector extension icon in your web browser
   • You see the Zotero tab in your word processor (see Zotero - word processors)
     

For additional download help, see Zotero's Documentation or contact the DU Library.

Steps

After downloading Zotero:

Create A Research Folder

1. Within the Zotero application, click the grey outline of a manila folder and plus sign (the New Collection icon, top left corner)
2. Enter a name for your research assignment
3. Save your research assignment resources within this folder to keep them organized

Save Resources You'll Reference

Save Resources With One-Click

1. Within your browser, open the resource you want to cite (e.g. open it from DU Library Search, Worldcat, Google Scholar, etc.)
2. Click the Zotero connector extension icon within your browser
   • Books
   • Journal Articles
   • Videos
   • Folder (multiple resources at once)
   • Websites
   • Magazine Articles
   • Encyclopedia Articles
   • Newspaper Articles

Save Resources Manually

1. Within the Zotero application, click the document icon with a plus sign (the New Item icon in center pane)
2. Choose your resource's material type
3. Enter your resource's information in Zotero's resource information window pane (on the right)

Modify Your Resources

• Within the Zotero application, click on your resource (in center pane) to select it
• Use Zotero's resource information window pane (on the right) to enter/change the resource's information
  1. Click the Notes tab to write personal notes about this resource
  2. Click the Tags tab to add tags by which you can sort and find specific resources later
• To add documents (such as a PDF of your article) to the resource, click and drag those directly into the resource (in center pane) you want to attach it to

Steps

Generate APA Reference List

1. Within the Zotero application, select the resources (in center pane) you want within your APA reference list
   1. On PC: press Ctrl when clicking to add additional resources one-by-one
   2. Press Shift when clicking the first and last resource within a range to select the entire range
2. Right-click your selection of resources
3. Select Create Bibliography from Items...
4. Choose American Psychological Association 7th edition
5. Choose your output preferences
6. Paste your reference list wherever you want it (bonus: it will automatically be alphabetized, too)

Generate APA In-Text Citations With Reference List

1. Within your word processor, place your cursor where you wish to add an in-text citation
2. Choose the Zotero tab within your word processor
3. Select Add/Edit Citation
4. Choose American Psychological Association 6th edition
5. In the Zotero search box , type a title, author, etc. to find your resource
   • Or select the Z with dropdown arrow , and choose Classic View to manually find your resource
6. Hit Enter to insert the APA in-text citation of your resource within your document
7. To add page numbers or other information to your in-text citation:
   1. select your in-text citation within your document (one click should highlight the entire thing)
   2. within the Zotero tab of your word processor, select Add/Edit Citation
   3. click once on your resource within the Zotero search box that pops up
   4. add your info to your in-text citation
   5. Hit Enter
   6. Hit Enter again
8. Repeat this process to add all in-text citations to your document
9. Place your cursor where you want to add your complete reference list (also called, bibliography)
10. Within the Zotero tab of your word processor, select Add/Edit Bibliography
    1. This should display an alphabetized APA reference list of every in-text citation you added via Zotero within your document
    2. This reference list will automatically update as in-text citations are added/changed
11. To adjust the Zotero in-text or reference list information within your document, you need to change the resource's information within the Zotero app itself (outside of your word processor). Then hit refresh in the Zotero tab of your Word Processor to instantly see the change.

• add notes to your references (stand alone or attached)
• sync annotated PDFs
• no limit on attachment or file size (if total storage exceeds 300MB, contact the DU Library)
• auto-complete data entry
• ability to collaborate and share
• creates APA reference page and in-text citations in word processor
• direct export from online databases
• detects/removes duplicates
• searches by field
• searches full-text PDFs
• 3rd party iOS and Android apps
• 38 pre-defined reference types
• can share as read-only
• retrieves citation information from PDFs
• supports RSS feeds
• takes screenshots of saved resources
• unlimited records within a library

List based on University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries, Comparison Chart