Most of this guide is based on a guide from University of Oregon Libraries and has a Creative Commons BY-NC License.
Zotero is a free, open source desktop application that allows you to collect, organize, cite, and share research. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. This guide has information on how to get started with using Zotero, from installing the application and its plugins, to adding sources to your library, to generating in-text citations and reference lists.
Go to www.zotero.org, click on "Log in," and register for a free account.
Go to www.zotero.org/download to download the Zotero desktop application AND browser extension (Zotero Connector) for your Internet browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).
Once you have the Zotero desktop application downloaded to your computer, you can set up syncing by signing in using your Zotero username and password. Syncing allows you to access your Zotero library from any computer. Zotero provides you with 300 MB of free storage. You can purchase additional storage space on the Zotero website.
1. Click on Preferences under the Edit menu:
2. Click Sync and enter your Zotero username and password, and click Set Up Syncing:
3. Click on the "Sync with zotero.org" icon in the upper right-hand corner to sync your Zotero library:
