# Downloading a project

{% hint style="info" %}
Projects downloaded from Overleaf are provided as a `.zip` file. The `.zip` file will contain the source files *only.* It *does not* include the final typeset PDF, which must be [downloaded separately](#downloading-the-typeset-pdf-file) after successful compilation.
{% endhint %}

## Downloading the PDF file

There are two options for downloading the PDF file.

### Option 1

1. Select **File** in the upper-left of the editor window, and select **Download as PDF** within the dropdown:

<figure><img src="/files/N6kAR6GSEos8tGBylF3u" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. Depending on your browser and its configuration, the typeset PDF is saved to your **Downloads** folder. By default, the downloaded PDF will have the same name as your Overleaf project.

### Option 2

1. From within the PDF display window, select the **Download PDF** icon to the right of the **Recompile** button:

<figure><img src="/files/hFmUnsRFatUEBKVbcknJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Depending on your browser and its configuration, the typeset PDF is saved to your **Downloads** folder. By default, the downloaded PDF will have the same name as your Overleaf project.

## Downloading Overleaf projects

Here we show how to download your current project as a `.zip` file, or how to download multiple projects as a single `.zip` file inside of which there are further `.zip` files, one for each project.

#### Downloading your current project as a `.zip` file

1. Select **File** in the upper-left of the editor window, and select **Download as source (.zip)** within the dropdown:

<figure><img src="/files/Tl7EYF42FjEtDBvAePSM" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. The project source code will be downloaded as a `.zip` file which is usually, depending on your browser, saved to your **Downloads** folder. By default, the `.zip` file will have the same name as your Overleaf project.

## Downloading multiple projects as a `.zip` file

1. In the editor, select the **Back to your projects** icon (![](/files/C0HuFXvA8gzgghg9oGMN)):

![OLMenubacktoprojects.png](/files/YsuTfOsSUYdd6Amoe0bx)

2. From your list of projects, select those you wish to download. Next, choose the **Download icon** on the right to initiate download of the `.zip` file containing your projects:<br>

   <figure><img src="https://learn.overleaf.com/learn-scripts/images/5/50/OLMultiprojectdownload2.png" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Including a `.bbl` file (for journal submissions)

Some journal-submission processes ask for the LaTeX-generated `.bbl` file—an auxiliary file containing the formatted bibliography data—to be included with the article source files of LaTeX submissions. On Overleaf, `.bbl` files, and any other auxiliary files created during compilation, are “cached” but there are two ways to access the `.bbl` files:

* Option 1: Using the **Other logs and files** dropdown menu, or
* Option 2: Downloading via **Overleaf’s&#x20;*****arXiv*** submission process

<details>

<summary>Option 1: Using "Other logs and files"</summary>

Follow these steps to download just the `.bbl` file generated for your project:

1. Select the file icon (**Logs and output files**) next to the **Recompile** button:

![OLlogsandoutputs.png](/files/iRx3G9ofnbU9u0Q8skLA)

2. Within the *Logs and output files* view, select **Other logs and files** to access the `.bbl` file and any other generated files:

![OLgeneratedfiles.png](/files/1Lm0RPPgiX8107Jzc4dd)

3. Select the project’s `.bbl` file, called `output.bbl`, to download it.

![OLdownloadbbl.png](/files/Y5lXNHrU5QL9gCRCQm7w)

</details>

<details>

<summary>Option 2: via Overleaf’s arXiv submission process</summary>

The full project source files, including the `.bbl` file, can also be downloaded via the arXiv-submission process as shown in the following step-by-step guide.

1. Click on the project title and click on **Submit**:

<figure><img src="/files/Xr62UUmgAo5ArMJhIEdW" alt=""><figcaption><p>OLsubmitbutton.png</p></figcaption></figure>

2. Overleaf displays the **Submit** window which lists Overleaf’s publishing partners. Scroll down until you reach the **Online Repositories** section which contains arXiv:

![OLarxivorg2.png](/files/PvFEZ5wN1zUf5YUcauWB)

3. From within the arXiv section, select **Submit your paper to the arXiv**:

![OLarxivselectthis.png](/files/VKJIUMQKfINlQ0M5BNVX)

Don't worry, selecting this option this will *not* immediately send the project files to arXiv; instead, it displays another window which lets you download your article, complete with `.bbl` file, for onward submission to arXiv:

![OLarxivfinal.png](/files/Jdxy928P5xY5SmYZcqVy)

4. Finally, select **Download project ZIP with submission files (e.g. .bbl)** which will initiate the download process.

</details>


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