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Hunter Library
Research Guides
Western Carolina University

Zotero

Zotero is free, easy to use software for collecting, organizing, and citing print and electronic resources for research.

Syncing

If you're regularly using more than one computer (or multiple browsers on one computer) in your research, Zotero settings for syncing, login screenZotero's sync feature can keep your library up to date on all of them.  Zotero can store a copy of your library on the Zotero.org server and check it for updates whenever you open your library on a different computer.  All your computers must be running the same version of Zotero.

Login to your (free) Zotero.org user account. Then:

  • Open Zotero File > Settings and select the Sync tab. 
  • Enter your Zotero user name and password. 
  • Check the "sync automatically" box.
  • Check both boxes under File Syncing and choose Zotero storage for My Library. This will sync your PDF attachments as well as citations (more info).
  • Click the circular arrow button at the top right corner of the Zotero window. sync icon
  • Zotero will upload your library to the server.

Zotero settings for syncing

 

Repeat this configuration on each of your computers.  Any updates you make on one of your computers will be reflected on the others.  This even works to synchronize your library among Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

   

For more details and help troubleshooting sync problems, check the Zotero site.

Export Your Library

If you're working on a Hunter Library public computer, there's another easy option for taking your Zotero library with you.

On your own computer, open Zotero, then File > Export Library, and save the file to a USB drive. On the Hunter Library public computer, open Zotero, choose Import, and find your Zotero file to load it.

After making any changes to your library, be sure to export the new version and import the file on your USB drive. The library's computers will erase your data when you log off.