# Configuring advanced reference search
{% hint style="info" %}
Advanced reference search is a [premium feature](/getting-started/free-and-premium-plans/premium-features.md). Overleaf premium features are available to participants in [Overleaf Commons](https://www.overleaf.com/for/universities), members of group [subscriptions](https://www.overleaf.com/for/groups), and owners of individual [subscriptions](https://www.overleaf.com/user/subscription/plans).
{% endhint %}
## How to configure advanced reference search
1. Select the Overleaf Menu, and browse to the Reference search option.
2. Select **Settings** to display the **Reference search settings** window.
3. From the **Reference search style** drop-down menu, select **Advanced reference search** to display its configuration options.
Any reference managers linked to your account are listed with an option to include them in your reference searches. For convenience, we are showing [Mendeley](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/mendeley.md), [Papers](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/papers.md), and [Zotero](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/zotero.md), but most users will have only one of these.
4. Select the reference manager(s) you want to include in your search. Some reference managers will have additional configuration options. At present, Mendeley doesn’t but Papers and Zotero do.
* To use Mendeley, go to the [next section](#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-mendeley).
* To use Zotero, go to [Configuring advanced reference search to use Zotero](#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-zotero).
* To use Papers, go to [Configuring advanced reference search to use Papers](#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-papers).
{% hint style="info" %}
To learn how to link reference managers to your Overleaf account, read the pages on [Mendeley](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/mendeley.md), [Zotero](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/zotero.md), and [Papers](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/papers.md).
{% endhint %}
### Configuring advanced reference search to use Mendeley
1. Select [Include results from your Mendeley account](#how-to-configure-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature).
2. You need to select the **Main bibliography file for this project**, an *editable* `.bib` file that Overleaf will update with any references you cite from Mendeley.
Depending on the number of editable `.bib` files in your project, Overleaf will handle this selection in one of three ways:
1. **Projects *****without***** an editable `.bib` file:** When you first cite a reference contained in a linked reference manager, including Mendeley, Overleaf will create a `.bib` file called `references.bib`. You’ll see that file name used in the notification message displayed each time a new reference is added to it.
2. **Projects with a single editable `.bib` file:** Overleaf will automatically select this file for you.
3. **Projects with multiple editable `.bib` files:** Overleaf will display a drop-down menu, allowing you to select one. If your project contains editable `.bib` files but you don’t select one, then Overleaf will select one for you.
{% hint style="success" %}
Overleaf will notify you each time a new reference is added to the `.bib` file chosen to contain references pulled-in from a linked reference manager.
{% endhint %}
3. Select **Close** to complete the setup for **advanced reference search** using the Mendeley reference manager.
{% hint style="danger" %}
Overleaf's advanced reference search option cannot bring in individual references from a Mendeley group. If you need to use references from a Mendeley group, the entire group library can be imported as a read-only .bib file as described [here](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/mendeley.md#groups-and-folders).
{% endhint %}
### Configuring advanced reference search to use Zotero
1. Select [Include results from your Zotero account](#how-to-configure-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature).
2. Overleaf provides a drop-down list of the libraries in your Zotero account.
**Note:** The following graphic shows how libraries are named and listed in Zotero and Overleaf’s drop-down menu.
3. Select the Zotero libraries you want to include in your reference searches.
4. You need to select the **Main bibliography file for this project**, an *editable* `.bib` file that Overleaf will update with any references you cite from Zotero.
Depending on the number of editable `.bib` files in your project, Overleaf will handle this selection in one of three ways:
1. **Projects *****without***** an editable `.bib` file:** When you first cite a reference contained in a linked reference manager, including Zotero, Overleaf will create a `.bib` file called `references.bib`. You’ll see that file name used in the notification message displayed each time a new reference is added to it.
2. **Projects with a single editable `.bib` file:** Overleaf will automatically select this file for you.
3. **Projects with multiple editable `.bib` files:** Overleaf will display a drop-down menu, allowing you to select one. If your project contains editable `.bib` files but you don’t select one, then Overleaf will select one for you.
**Note:** Overleaf will notify you each time a new reference is added to the `.bib` file chosen to contain references pulled-in from a linked reference manager
5. Select **Close** to complete the setup for **advanced reference search** using the Zotero reference manager.
### Configuring advanced reference search to use Papers
1. Select [Include results from your Papers account](#how-to-configure-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature).
2. Overleaf provides a drop-down list of the libraries in your Papers account.
3. Select the Papers libraries you want to include in your reference searches.
4. You need to select the **Main bibliography file for this project**, an *editable* `.bib` file that Overleaf will update with any references you cite from Papers.
Depending on the number of editable `.bib` files in your project, Overleaf will handle this selection in one of three ways:
1. **Projects *****without***** an editable `.bib` file:** When you first cite a reference contained in a linked reference manager, including Papers, Overleaf will create a `.bib` file called `references.bib`. You’ll see that file name used in the notification message displayed each time a new reference is added to it.
2. **Projects with a single editable `.bib` file:** Overleaf will automatically select this file for you.
3. **Projects with multiple editable `.bib` files:** Overleaf will display a drop-down menu, allowing you to select one. If your project contains editable `.bib` files but you don’t select one, then Overleaf will select one for you.
**Note:** Overleaf will notify you each time a new reference is added to the `.bib` file chosen to contain references pulled-in from a linked reference manager.
5. Select Close to complete the setup for **advanced reference search** using the Papers reference manager.
---
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