> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.overleaf.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.overleaf.com/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/readcube.md).

# ReadCube

{% hint style="info" %}
ReadCube is the enterprise version of Papers and ReadCube subscribers should follow the same procedure listed below to connect a library to an Overleaf account. If you have questions or issues, please contact your ReadCube account manager.
{% endhint %}

This page shows how to link [ReadCube](http://readcube.com/) to your Overleaf account and use it to [add references to your project](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md).

Reference manager 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.

{% hint style="success" %}
If you don’t have a paid Overleaf subscription, you can always export `.bib` data from ReadCube or other reference manager software, and upload the resulting `.bib` file to your Overleaf project.
{% endhint %}

## How to link ReadCube to your Overleaf account

1. From your [projects page](https://admin.overleaf.com/project), on the bottom left hand side click on the icon of a person, then **Account Settings**:

   <figure><img src="https://3502988919-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVetOkhFZmAC8QCQK0Pi7%2Fuploads%2FO2H4aXG8NXo1MrMaPQm9%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=82937ad2-07d4-4e65-9714-53f05e9e52ad" alt="Account settings option in Profile menu"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
2. Scroll down the list of account settings to the **Reference Managers** section and locate the **ReadCube Integration** option.

<figure><img src="https://3502988919-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVetOkhFZmAC8QCQK0Pi7%2Fuploads%2FktOCYXterkfaxy7c9ANp%2FReadCube4.jfif?alt=media&amp;token=0a2078b1-587d-4f2a-8ca6-c04f9e2fb0e1" alt="Account setting to link ReadCube to your Overleaf account"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. Select the **Link** button. If you are currently logged in to your ReadCube account, the linking process will complete seamlessly. Otherwise you will need to log into ReadCube to complete linking it to your Overleaf account.
4. Your Overleaf Account Settings will be updated to confirm your ReadCube account has been linked to your Overleaf account. Note that you can unlink your ReadCube account at any time.

<figure><img src="https://3502988919-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVetOkhFZmAC8QCQK0Pi7%2Fuploads%2FErWxkU3UXT1XLH97tUCK%2FReadCube5.jfif?alt=media&amp;token=f5c63d80-70cd-4e9c-8a21-3f3c9df177dc" alt="Account setting to unlink ReadCube from your Overleaf account"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## How to add references to your Overleaf project using ReadCube

After linking ReadCube to your Overleaf account, you can add references to your project in two ways.

1. You can import reference collections from your ReadCube libraries. This process creates a *read-only* `.bib` file in your Overleaf project, which can be refreshed to keep it synched with your ReadCube account. Watch the [video below](#importing-papers-references-into-an-overleaf-project) for a step-by-step demonstration of importing references from ReadCube.
2. You can import *individual* references from your ReadCube account by [configuring advanced reference search](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-papers) to look for references in ReadCube. Any reference found in ReadCube, and subsequently cited, is added to an *editable* `.bib` file contained in your Overleaf project.

This article focuses on option 1, *bulk import* of references to create a *non-editable* `.bib` file. To learn about importing *individual references* into *editable* `.bib` files, see [Configuring advanced reference search to use ReadCube](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-papers)

## Importing ReadCube references into an Overleaf project

The following video demonstrates Overleaf’s integration with ReadCube, showing how to import references to create a new *read-only* (non-editable) `.bib` file called `references.bib`.

{% embed url="<https://videos.ctfassets.net/nrgyaltdicpt/7FQPS6gE0giUK14n7eWwqa/b758a9c5433d1cd4c25e25409e29a523/Papers.mp4>" %}

## Updating project `.bib` files produced by reference managers

Reference managers, including ReadCube, 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 `.bib` file preview. Refreshing imported `.bib` files is demonstrated in the [video above](#importing-papers-references-into-an-overleaf-project).
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 Mendeley to your Overleaf account](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/mendeley.md)
* [How to link Zotero to your Overleaf account](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/zotero.md)
* [How to search for references in an Overleaf project](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md)