> 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/zotero.md).
# Zotero
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Overleaf's Zotero 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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Overleaf offers three ways to bring Zotero references into your work.
| Method | What it does | Where it lives |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**Zotero Sync**](#zotero-sync-keep-your-library-up-to-date-automatically) | Automatically, one-way, keeps your account-level [Library](/citing-and-references/library.md) up to date with one or more Zotero collections you choose. | Your Overleaf Library – usable across all your projects. |
| [**Zotero-linked .bib file**](#zotero-linked-.bib-file-import-a-whole-library-or-group-into-a-project) | Bulk-imports an entire Zotero library or group as a static, read-only `.bib` file. | A single Overleaf project. |
| [**Advanced reference search**](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references/configuring-advanced-reference-search.md) (Write and Cite) | Looks up and imports individual references one at a time via the `\cite{}` autocomplete menu, into an editable `.bib` file. | A single Overleaf project. |
This page explains how to link Zotero to your Overleaf account and use it to [add references to your project](#how-to-add-references-to-your-overleaf-project-using-zotero). For more details on advanced reference searching, see [Configuring advanced reference search](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references/configuring-advanced-reference-search.md).
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If you don’t have a paid Overleaf subscription you can always export `.bib` data from Zotero, or other reference manager software, and upload the resultant `.bib` file into your Overleaf project.
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## How to link Zotero to your Overleaf account
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This account connection step is shared by both Zotero Sync and the Zotero linked bib file integration below – you only need to do it once.
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Visit your [Overleaf Account Settings](https://www.overleaf.com/user/settings) page.
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Scroll down the list of Account Settings to the **Reference Managers** section, then select the link for **Zotero Integration**.
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You will be prompted to log into your Zotero account if you have not already done so. If you are *not* logged into Zotero, continue to log in. You will be presented with the New Key screen:
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Select **Accept Defaults** to complete the process of linking Zotero to your Overleaf account.
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If you *are* logged into Zotero, select the **Link** button for Zotero Integration to take you directly to the New Key screen shown above. Select **Accept Defaults** to complete the process of linking Zotero to your Overleaf account.
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Upon successfully linking Zotero, your Overleaf Account Settings will be updated to confirm your Zotero account has been linked to your Overleaf account. Note that you can unlink your Zotero account at any time.
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## Zotero Sync: keep your Library up to date automatically
Zotero Sync connects your Zotero account and keeps your Overleaf [**Library**](/citing-and-references/library.md) – the account-level collection of references you can reuse across all your projects – automatically up to date with one or more Zotero collections you choose.
At present, sync is strictly one-way, from Zotero into your Library:
* Items you add or change in a synced collection appear or update in your Library the next time sync runs.
* Deleting an item in Zotero, removing it from a synced collection, or unselecting a synced collection removes the matching entry from your Library on the next sync.
* Nothing you do in your Overleaf Library – including trying to delete a synced entry – is currently written back to, or deleted from, Zotero.
* Synced entries are read-only in Overleaf**.** To change any field, edit it at the source, in Zotero.
{% hint style="info" %}
This is a different integration from the [**Zotero-linked .bib file**](#zotero-linked-.bib-file-import-a-whole-library-or-group-into-a-project) method described further below. Zotero Sync keeps your account-level Library current with specific *collections*; the linked bib file bulk-imports an entire library into one *project*. Both work independently, and you can use either or both.
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### Connecting your Zotero account for sync
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Go to your Overleaf **Library**, open **Sync settings**, and select **Zotero sync**.
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If you haven't linked Zotero before, you'll be taken through the same Zotero account connection flow used elsewhere in Overleaf (see [#how-to-link-zotero-to-your-overleaf-account](#how-to-link-zotero-to-your-overleaf-account "mention")). If you're already connected, you'll go straight to choosing what to sync.
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### Choosing what to sync
Once connected, select one or more collections to sync. Sync is scoped to exactly the collections you select; nothing else in your Zotero account is touched.
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There's a limit to how many collections/items you can sync at once. If you hit it, you'll see a message asking you to select fewer collections.
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### Keeping your Library in sync
Once set up, your Library shows the connected collections and their sync status (**Connected**, **Syncing**, or **Issue detected**). You can trigger a sync manually at any time.
* **Items added or changed** in a synced collection appear or update in your Library on the next sync.
* **Items removed** in Zotero, removed from a synced collection, or the whole collection unselected from sync are removed from your Library on the next sync.
{% hint style="info" %}
Deleting a synced entry directly in your Overleaf Library isn't currently supported. To remove a reference, delete it (or remove it from the synced collection) in Zotero instead, and then sync your Library.
{% endhint %}
## Zotero-linked .bib file: import a whole library or group into a project
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This is the original Zotero integration, distinct from **Zotero Sync** above. It bulk-imports an entire personal or group library into a single project as a read-only `.bib` file – it doesn't let you pick specific collections, and it doesn't update your account-level Library. Both integrations work independently; you don't need to choose only one.
{% endhint %}
After linking Zotero to your Overleaf account, you can add references to your project in two ways.
1. You can import Zotero’s My Library or individual Group Libraries to create a *read-only* (non-editable) `.bib` file which can be synched with your Zotero account. If you update reference data in Zotero, you can instruct Overleaf to update (refresh) the `.bib` file to synch it with the changes made in Zotero. Watch the video below for a demonstration of importing references from Zotero.
2. You can import individual references from your Zotero account by [configuring advanced reference search](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-zotero) to look for references in Zotero. Any reference found in Zotero, and subsequently cited, is added to an *editable* `.bib` file contained in your project.
This section 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 Zotero.](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md#configuring-advanced-reference-search-to-use-zotero)
### Importing Zotero references into an Overleaf project
Overleaf’s integration with Zotero supports importing references from My Library and individual Group Libraries but you cannot select a specific folder within a library. All references within a particular Zotero library, and any folders it might contain, are imported as a flat list.
The following video demonstrates importing references from two Zotero Group Libraries to create two new *read-only* (non-editable) `.bib` files: `articles.bib` and `books.bib`.
#### **A video to demonstrate importing Zotero references into an Overleaf project**
The video below uses two pre-prepared Group Libraries listed in Zotero:
* TeX/LaTeX articles
* TeX/LaTeX books
These are shown in the following graphic together with the equivalent drop-down list presented by Overleaf:
{% embed url="" %}
## 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. Reference data brought in via the linked bib file integration is a direct copy of what the API provides, incorporated "as provided" into the `.bib` file. Reference data brought in via Zotero Sync is likewise a direct copy, incorporated "as provided" into your Library.
### 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 Zotero’s web API and subsequently replace it by uploading a `.bib` file created by direct export processes, you may need to check for variations in generated citation keys that cause previously-working citations to fail.
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Updates to the Zotero platform sometimes cause citation keys to change, in which case, you may need to manually update citations already imported into Overleaf to match the new citation keys from Zotero.
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### Updating project .bib files produced by reference managers
Reference managers, including Zotero, 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. Refreshing imported `.bib` files is demonstrated in the [video above](#a-video-to-demonstrate-importing-zotero-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.
Zotero Sync updates your Library automatically, on its own sync schedule or when triggered from the Library. It doesn't use the project-level **Refresh** button described above, which applies only to the linked bib file method. For details on how to add a reference from the Library into your project `.bib` file, see [Library](/citing-and-references/library.md#using-the-library-in-projects).
### Notes on permissions
Occasionally, you might see the following error message—for example, after linking Zotero to your Overleaf account and subsequently using Zotero to change permissions of existing groups or adding new groups that Overleaf doesn’t have permission to access:
As the error message states, select the button **Re-link your account** to reestablish the permissions Overleaf needs to access references in your Zotero groups.
---
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