How to Use Zotero

Getting started with Zotero

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up Zotero for managing your research materials effectively. By the end, you'll be able to collect, organise, and cite your references with ease.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Zotero's website.
2. Click on the “Download” button at the top right. Choose the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
3. Install the software by following the installation prompts.
4. After installation, open Zotero. Create an account by clicking on “Register” in the top right corner. Fill in your details and confirm your email to activate your account.
5. If you want to use the browser extension, install the Zotero Connector for your preferred browser by clicking on the “Download” button again and selecting “Zotero Connector”.

Step 2: Your first reference

1. Open Zotero. Click on the green “+” button in the top left corner to add a new item.
2. Select “Website” or “Document” depending on what you are adding.
3. For a website, copy the URL, then click on the “Save to Zotero” button in your browser's toolbar. This will automatically save the webpage's citation and metadata to your library.
4. For a document, click “Add Item Manually” and fill out the fields (author, title, publication date, etc.). You can also drag and drop PDF files directly into Zotero, and it will attempt to extract the metadata.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Organise your references by creating folders. Right-click on “My Library” and select “New Collection”. Name your folder appropriately.
2. Use tags to further categorise your references. Click on an item and then click on the “Tags” tab in the right panel to add relevant tags.
3. For citations, install the Zotero citation plugin for your word processor. Open Word, go to the “Zotero” tab, and select “Add Citation”. Search for your reference and insert it into your document.

Pro tip

Use the “Quick Copy” feature to export citations quickly. Right-click on an item, select “Export Item”, choose your format (like APA or MLA), and copy it directly to your clipboard.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid manually entering citation details whenever possible. Use the browser extension to save references directly from websites, as this reduces errors and saves time on data entry.