Word processor support
Word for Windows 2010-2024 or Microsoft 365 (not Starter). Word for Mac 2016-2024 or Microsoft 365. LibreOffice 5.2+ with a JRE/JDK as required by the suite.
Product capabilities
Features built for a working research library
From browser capture to Word citations and group libraries, each chapter below maps to how Zotero is actually used day to day.
01 · Collect
Capture sources while you browse
Zotero senses research on the web. Save journal articles, preprints, news stories, and books into your library with the Connector for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.
- Automatic metadata for many publisher pages
- Add by identifier (DOI, ISBN, PMID, and similar)
- Retrieve data for PDFs you drag in
- Proxy detection for institutional access (Connector)
Connector browsers
| Browser | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Chrome | Current Stable or Extended Stable |
| Edge | Current Stable or Extended Stable |
| Firefox | 115 or later |
| Safari | 16.6+ on macOS 11+ (bundled; Safari 18 features need macOS 13+) |
02 · Organize
Structure libraries your own way
Collections nest like project folders. Tags cut across collections. Saved searches refill as new items match your rules.
Zotero 10 adds multi-collection selection so you can view items from several collections or libraries together, plus batch editing and undo for many operations.
Library tipsIn the library pane
- Hierarchical collections for dissertations, courses, and projects
- Colorful tags for themes that cut across folders
- Saved searches that refill as you add work
- Notes and related items beside each record
03 · Cite
Citations inside the draft
Plugins for Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs insert citations and bibliographies. More than 9,000 CSL styles cover journals and style guides.
Zotero 10 citation dialog
Citation preview pane, add-all on + click in Library mode, locator typing guidance, and a resizable collections pane.
04 · Reader
PDF tools that feed your notes
Mark up PDFs, extract quotations into notes, and use Reading Mode in Zotero 10 for reflowable text with shared annotations. Read Aloud skips many citations, headers, and figures more carefully, and highlights sentences as they are read.
Also in 10.0
Redesigned advanced search with nested condition groups, accent-insensitive matching, faster full-text search, and new conditions for annotations and attachment storage.
05 · Sync
Optional sync across devices
Synchronize libraries so records, notes, and files stay current. Access a synced library from the web when needed. File storage quotas apply only to cloud file sync.
Zotero 10 encrypts API keys and WebDAV passwords using the OS keychain and renames the Sync settings pane to Account.
06 · Collaborate
Share libraries without per-person fees
Co-write a paper, distribute course materials, or build a collaborative bibliography. Share a library with as many people as you like at no cost for the group feature itself.
Groups FAQGroup library uses
- Seminar reading lists shared with a class
- Lab bibliographies maintained by multiple authors
- Coauthored papers with a common citation set
See the home page Collaborate freely chapter for more context.
Reference
Feature snapshot
| Area | Capability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | Connector + identifiers + PDF retrieve | Major browsers supported |
| Organization | Collections, tags, saved searches | Multi-select and batch edit in 10.0 |
| Citing | Word, LibreOffice, Google Docs | 9,000+ styles |
| PDFs | Reader, annotations, Reading Mode | Read Aloud improved in 10.0 |
| Sync | Optional cloud sync + web library | Local-first without account |
| Groups | Shared libraries | No per-seat charge for sharing |
| Platform | Windows, macOS, Linux | See download requirements |