# Zotero

Import Zotero references as RIS, BibTeX or CSL JSON, or choose records from a configured personal library connection. Review the sources before adding them to a Citation document.

## Choose your import

Use a reference file for a selected set of sources. An optional library connection lets you browse records in your personal Zotero library when account access is configured in Citation. Both routes import reference metadata, then let you review and save it.

| Route | What you need | What it transfers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| File import | A .ris, .bib, .bibtex or CSL JSON .json file | Titles, authors, publication details and identifiers supported by the format |
| Personal library connection | Your Zotero user ID and a dedicated library read key | Metadata from a reference you select |

> Reference files must be no larger than 1 MB and contain at most 50 records. Split a larger collection into smaller exports. PDFs, attachments, notes and collection organization are not transferred.

## Export selected Zotero references

1. In Zotero, select the references you want in the items list. Open their context menu and choose Export Items. You can also export a collection from its context menu.
2. Choose RIS, BibTeX or CSL JSON. Save the reference file and keep your original Zotero library.
3. Sign in to Citation, open settings, then Integrations and Zotero. Choose Choose file for Zotero and select the exported file.
4. Read Review import and its warnings. Keep the references you want selected, choose the destination under Citation document, then use Add references. The button shows the number selected.
5. Open the saved document. Review each source in Cite, then insert its citation at the passage it supports.

If the document list is empty, create a document first and return to the integration. Importing a bibliography adds sources to that document; it does not insert citations throughout your existing prose.

- [Zotero export instructions](https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/exporting)
- [Add and cite sources](/docs/adding-sources)

## Connect your personal library

1. Check the Zotero entry in Integrations. If account access needs service setup, use file import while that setup is unavailable.
2. In your Zotero account, create a dedicated key with permission to read your personal library. Copy your numeric user ID. Citation does not need permission to write to your library for this workflow.
3. Enter Zotero user ID and Dedicated library read key in Citation, then choose Connect Zotero.
4. Choose Browse items. Use Find an item to narrow the list, or Next page to continue through results.
5. Choose Preview beside a reference, review its metadata, select a Citation document and add the reference.

This connection browses the personal library identified by your user ID. Group library browsing, attachment downloads and background updates are not part of this workflow. Disconnect Zotero stops use of the connection; review previously imported references separately.

## Try a small reference file

For a format check, save the following illustrative record as example.ris in UTF-8 and import it through the Zotero entry. It describes an example book, not a real research source. You can inspect the preview without adding it to a document.

Example RIS record
```text
TY  - BOOK
TI  - Example Research Notes
AU  - Example, Alex
PY  - 2026
PB  - Example Press
ER  -

```

The preview should contain one source titled Example Research Notes. For your own references, check the author order, date, title, publication name and DOI against the original record before saving.

## Return references to Zotero

1. In Citation's Zotero entry, choose the Citation document whose sources you want to export.
2. Under Export from Citation, choose Download RIS or Download BibTeX.
3. Use Zotero's file import workflow to open the downloaded bibliography. Check the imported records and resolve any duplicates in Zotero.

This is a new file transfer. It does not update the original Zotero records or preserve their connection to citations in a Word or Google Docs document.

- [Export documents and bibliographies](/docs/exporting)

## Recover an import

- Too many references or a file that is too large: export fewer than 51 records and keep the file within 1 MB.
- A missing title or invalid record: correct it in Zotero and export again. For CSL JSON, use an array of reference objects rather than a single object.
- BibTeX macros or concatenated strings: export RIS or expand the values before importing. Unsupported TeX commands can remain visible in names and titles.
- Duplicate warnings: review the reported count. Citation removes matching duplicates within the imported file and skips existing or duplicate sources when saving.
- The library connection fails: verify the user ID, key and read access, then reconnect. Use a file export if account access remains unavailable.