# Mendeley
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Overleaf's Mendeley integration is a [premium feature](/getting-started/free-and-premium-plans/premium-features.md). Overleaf premium features are available to participants in Overleaf Commons, members of group subscriptions, and owners of individual subscriptions.
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This page explains how to link Mendeley to your Overleaf account and use it to [add references to your project](#how-to-add-references-to-your-overleaf-project-using-mendeley).
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Note: If you don’t have a paid Overleaf subscription, you can always export `.bib` data from Mendeley or other reference manager software, and upload the resultant `.bib` file into your Overleaf project.
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## How to link Mendeley to your Overleaf account
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Select **Account** located on the bottom left-hand side of your Projects dashboard and then **Account Settings** from the pop-up menu:
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Scroll down the list of Account Settings to the **Reference managers** section, then select "Link" for the **Mendeley integration**.
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If you are *not* logged into Mendeley, proceed to log in to complete the process of linking Mendeley to your Overleaf account. If you *are* logged into Mendeley you will be asked if you wish to proceed. Continue to complete the linking process.
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Upon successfully linking Mendeley, your Overleaf Account Settings will be updated to confirm your Mendeley account has been linked to your Overleaf account.
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Note that you can unlink your Mendeley account at any time by selecting "Unlink".
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## How to add references to your Overleaf project using Mendeley
After linking Mendeley to your Overleaf account, you can add references to your project in two ways: by [importing a library or group](#import-mendeley-library-or-group) or by [importing individual references](#import-individual-references-using-advanced-reference-search).
### Import Mendeley library or group
You can import the entire Mendeley library, or specific groups of references, to create a *read-only* (non-editable) `.bib` file that can be synced with your Mendeley account. If you update reference data in Mendeley, you can instruct Overleaf to update/refresh the `.bib` file to sync it with the changes made in Mendeley.
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In the Overleaf editor, go to **File** > **Upload file** to view the "Add files" modal.
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Select **From Mendeley**, update the file name, then select **Create**.
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After the import finishes, you can view the uploaded file in the **File tree**. The down-left arrow symbol next to the file name denotes that the file is imported:
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If you add any references to your Mendeley group or library that you wish to include, be sure to update the references list by selecting the **Refresh** button within the selected file:
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By default, the Mendeley import and syncing feature brings in your entire Mendeley library; however, you can import, and sync, a specific **group** associated with your Mendeley account. Overleaf does not support importing Mendeley **folders**.
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### Import individual references using Advanced Reference Search
You can import individual references from your Mendeley account by configuring advanced reference search to [look for references in Mendeley](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-mendeley). Any reference found in Mendeley and subsequently cited in your LaTeX document is automatically added to an *editable* `.bib` file contained in your Overleaf project. See [Configuring advanced reference search to use Mendeley](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-mendeley).
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Advanced Reference Search cannot bring in individual references from a Mendeley group. If you need to use references from a Mendeley group, the entire group can be imported as a read-only `.bib` file.
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## Notes on Overleaf’s integration with reference managers
Overleaf’s integration with external reference managers relies on the features and data provided by each platform’s web-based API (Application Programming Interface). Currently, Overleaf cannot control or modify the output generated by those APIs, nor do we apply any conversions to the data received. The reference data in the `.bib` file added to your Overleaf project is a direct copy of what the API provides, incorporated “as provided” into the `.bib` file.
### **Citation keys**
For a given set of references, the `.bib` data produced by a reference manager’s platform API may differ from the data produced by exporting those same references through other tools or services offered by that reference manager. This can cause issues if you switch between using web-based import via Overleaf’s integration and uploading `.bib` files manually exported from a reference manager’s equivalent desktop software or online libraries. For example, if you create a `.bib` file via Overleaf’s integration using Mendeley’s web API and subsequently replace it by uploading a `.bib` file created by manual export processes, you may need to check for variations in generated citation keys that cause previously-working citations to fail.
### Updating project .bib files produced by reference managers
Reference managers, including Mendeley, offer two ways to create `.bib` files in your project.
1. A *bulk import* of an entire reference library, or one of its reference groups.
* This method adds *read-only* (non-editable) `.bib` files to your Overleaf project. Any changes or updates to the read-only `.bib` files must be made in the reference manager and transferred to Overleaf by selecting the **Refresh** button at the top of the file preview.
2. Importing *individual references* from a reference manager using [advanced reference search](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md#how-to-use-advanced-reference-search-premium-feature).
* References added to a project `.bib` file using advanced reference search remain fully editable.
## Further reading
* [How to link Zotero to your Overleaf account](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/zotero.md)
* [How to link Papers to your Overleaf account](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/papers.md)
* [How to search for references in an Overleaf project](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md)
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