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Using Zotero

Use Zotero to save and organize your citations. Collaborate with other users and generate bibliographies.

Get to know the desktop app

You can also access your Zotero library online, but the Zotero desktop app is required in order to integrate with Microsoft Word. See the image below to understand its main features.

Zotero desktop app with three areas selected (description in text below)

Left pane: Libraries and collections

You can create collections (folders) within your Zotero library by clicking the folder with a plus sign at the top of the left pane. This left side of the app lists your collections, which can be nested.

Center pane: Items in a collection

The center pane lists the items in the collection you have selected on the left. You can use the icons at the top of this pane to add items manually, but more efficient methods are recommended later in this guide. You can also search through your items using the search bar. 

Right pane: Information about an item

The information about a selected item is displayed in the right pane. All the information here can be changed by clicking on it and editing the text. You can also use the icons along the right to view or add notes, tags, attachments, and links.