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Zotero: Getting Started

Learn how to use Zotero, a citation management tool to organize and cite your references with ease!

Video tutorial

Creating an account

1. In the top-right corner of the Zotero website, click Register.

2. Fill out the form with your desired username, email address, and password. Complete the Captcha, then click Register.

3. Follow the prompts to verify your email address and log in to your account.

Downloading and installing Zotero

1. Access the Zotero download page.

Zotero 6 download and Zotero connector download images

2. Click the button on the left to download the Zotero desktop client. Open the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to install the program.

3. Click the button on the right to install the Zotero Connector extension for your browser (available for Firefox and Chrome, the two browsers you should use at Wabash because they work with Canvas). If prompted, confirm that you would like to install the extension.

Logging in to Zotero Desktop

1. Open the Zotero desktop app.

2. On a Windows computer, open the Edit menu and choose Preferences. On a Mac, click Zotero and choose Preferences.

3. Click the Sync tab.

4. Enter your username and password, and click Set Up Syncing.

5. Each time you use the Zotero app, click the green sync icon in the upper-right corner to sync the app to your account before closing.

Installing citation plugins

Note: this should happen automatically. If not, follow the steps below. You may need to exit and restart Microsoft Word, especially if you had it open when you installed Zotero.

1. Open the Zotero preferences.

2. Click the Cite tab, then click Word Processors.

3. Click the Install buttons to install the Zotero plugin for Microsoft Word and/or LibreOffice.

Go to:

Zotero is free and open source. It is run by a nonprofit who does not mine your data. Learn more about why Zotero is awesome here: https://www.zotero.org/why

Lilly Library is a founding member of PALNI, ALI, and The Oberlin Group


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