How to Use Kopernio

Getting started with Kopernio

In this guide, you'll learn how to quickly set up Kopernio, a browser extension that allows you to access full-text research papers with just one click. By the end, you'll be able to streamline your academic research process and save time finding PDFs.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Kopernio's website.
2. Click on the “Get Kopernio” button on the homepage.
3. Choose your browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) and click the respective link to install the extension.
4. Once installed, click the Kopernio icon in your browser’s toolbar to create an account.
5. Sign up using your email or link your existing Mendeley account for easier access.

Step 2: Your first paper

1. Navigate to a research paper's abstract on a publisher's site or a scholarly search engine like Google Scholar.
2. Look for the Kopernio icon in the browser toolbar; it will light up if a full-text PDF is available.
3. Click the Kopernio icon. It will search for the best PDF version across various sources.
4. Once found, select the desired PDF from the options presented, and it will open in a new tab for you to read or download.

Step 3: Get better results

• To enhance your experience, make sure to log into your institutional account (if available) by clicking on the “Settings” icon in the Kopernio dropdown menu, then select “Institutional Login” and follow the prompts.
• Adjust the “PDF Sources” settings to include or exclude specific databases to tailor your search results.

Pro tip

Most beginners overlook checking their institutional access. By linking your university account, Kopernio can automatically find PDFs that are usually behind paywalls, saving you time and hassle.

Common mistake to avoid

A common mistake is not refreshing the page after installing the extension. If the Kopernio icon does not appear, try refreshing the webpage or restarting your browser to ensure the extension is active.