How to Use Zotero in Chrome: Setup and Key Features

The short answer

Install the free Zotero desktop app plus the Zotero Connector extension for Chrome, then click the connector's icon on any page, PDF, or Google Scholar result to save it straight into your Zotero library with full citation data. Use Zotero's word processor plugin to insert citations and generate a bibliography automatically.

What is Zotero, and do I need more than the Chrome extension?

Zotero is a free, standalone reference manager you install as a desktop app; the Zotero Connector is a separate browser extension that talks to that app, so 'using Zotero in Chrome' really means installing both pieces together. The extension alone can't store your library — it just captures sources into the desktop app running in the background.

Zotero desktop app: The program that stores your library, generates citations, and syncs across devices; it must be running for the connector to save anything.
Zotero Connector: The Chrome extension that adds a one-click save button on webpages, PDFs, and search results like Google Scholar.
Collection: A folder-like grouping inside your library, similar to a project or paper you're working on.
Tag: A label you can attach to any item across collections, useful for cross-cutting themes a folder structure can't capture.

How do I install Zotero and its Chrome connector?

Download the desktop app from Zotero's official site first, install and open it, then add the Zotero Connector extension for Chrome from the Chrome Web Store. The connector checks for the running desktop app the first time you use it and won't save anything if Zotero isn't open.

Go to Zotero's official download page and install the desktop app for your operating system.
Open the Zotero app at least once to finish setup and create or sign into a free Zotero account.
Install the Zotero Connector extension from the Chrome Web Store.
Pin the connector's icon to your toolbar for quick access.
Leave the Zotero desktop app running in the background whenever you plan to save sources.

The app must be open

If the connector's icon looks greyed out or clicking it does nothing, check whether the Zotero desktop app is actually running — it's the single most common reason saves silently fail.

How do I save my first source with the Zotero connector?

Click the connector's icon on any webpage, PDF, or search result and its icon changes to match what it detects — a webpage icon, a document icon for a PDF, or a folder icon on a page listing multiple results, like a search page or table of contents.

Open the article, PDF, or search results page you want to save.
Look at the connector's icon in the toolbar to see what it detected.
Click the icon once.
Check the small popup confirming the save and which collection it went into.
Switch to the Zotero desktop app to confirm the item appears with its metadata filled in.

Google Scholar and library databases work best

The connector reads structured citation data most reliably from academic databases and Google Scholar; a random blog post saves fine too, but with less complete metadata, such as missing page numbers.

How do I organize a growing Zotero library?

Zotero organizes items with collections (like folders, one per project or paper), sub-collections for nested topics, and tags (labels that cut across collections). An item can live in one collection but carry several tags, so you can find it either by project or by theme later.

Collections vs. tags in Zotero
Feature	Best for
Collection	Grouping sources by project, paper, or class, one primary home per item
Sub-collection	Splitting a large project into chapters or sections
Tag	Cross-cutting themes, methods, or status labels like 'to read' that don't map to one folder
Saved search	A live filter that updates automatically as new matching items are added to your library

How do I insert Zotero citations into Google Docs or Word?

Zotero's word processor plugin installs automatically alongside the desktop app for Google Docs, Word, and LibreOffice, adding a toolbar button that inserts a formatted citation and builds the bibliography for you as you write, instead of typing citations by hand.

Confirm the Zotero plugin appears in your word processor's toolbar (reinstall Zotero if it's missing).
Place your cursor where the citation should go.
Click Add/Edit Citation, search your library, and select the source.
Choose a citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, and others are built in).
Click Add/Edit Bibliography at the end of your document to generate the full reference list.

What are the most useful Zotero workflows once you're past the basics?

Beyond basic saving, a few habits make Zotero much faster once your library grows past a handful of sources.

Batch-save a reading list: click the folder-shaped connector icon on a search results page to save every listed result at once, instead of opening each one individually
Attach PDFs automatically: Zotero pulls the full-text PDF alongside the citation when a database provides direct access, so the file and reference stay linked
Search full text: Zotero indexes the text inside saved PDFs, so you can search for a phrase across every paper in your library, not just titles
Switch citation styles instantly: change the style in your word processor plugin and every citation and the bibliography reformat automatically, without retyping anything
Sync a shared group library: create a group library for a co-authored paper so collaborators see the same collection and citations update for everyone

Does Zotero sync across devices, and what counts against storage?

Zotero syncs your citation data for free across every device you sign into, but full-text PDF file syncing draws from a separate storage allowance tied to your account. If you're mainly syncing citations and metadata rather than large PDF libraries, you're unlikely to run into a storage limit at all.

Citation and metadata sync: included on the free plan, no separate storage quota to track
Attached PDF files: count against Zotero's file storage allowance, which you can check from your Zotero account settings
Alternative: link to files stored in your own cloud storage instead of uploading them to Zotero's storage
Paid storage tiers: available if your PDF library grows past whatever the free allowance covers; check Zotero's current storage page for pricing

What does the Zotero Connector see on the pages I visit?

The Zotero Connector needs to read the content of the page you're on to detect citation data, which means it requests broad site access similar to other research and clipping tools. It only sends data to your own Zotero library when you actively click save, not automatically in the background.

Broad access, narrow action

Broad site-reading access is standard for connector-style extensions like this one — the same pattern applies to bookmarking and screenshot tools. See our permissions guide for how to read what any extension is asking for before you install it.

If you're on a shared or managed computer, confirm the Zotero desktop app you're syncing to is signed into your own account, not a previous user's, since the connector saves to whichever account the desktop app is currently logged into.

What other extensions pair well with a Zotero research workflow?

A handful of general-purpose extensions pair well with a Zotero-heavy research workflow, even though none of them replace the connector itself. Browse the research category for more research-focused tools beyond this list.

Extensions that pair well with a Zotero research workflow

Zotero ConnectorFree

Research

The extension that actually saves sources into your Zotero library; install this first, since nothing else on this list replaces it. Main catch: it does nothing unless the Zotero desktop app is running.

Review Add to Chrome (opens Chrome Web Store)
OneTabFree

Productivity

Collapses dozens of open research tabs into a single list you can save or restore later, useful for the browsing-heavy phase before you've decided what to save into Zotero. Main catch: tabs collapsed this way aren't saved to Zotero automatically.

Review Add to Chrome (opens Chrome Web Store)
GoFullPageFreemium

Screenshots & Recording

Captures a full-page screenshot in one click, handy for archiving a page's exact visual layout alongside a Zotero citation, such as a webpage that might change or disappear later. Main catch: it's a static image, not searchable text like a Zotero-saved PDF.

Review Add to Chrome (opens Chrome Web Store)
Google TranslateFree

Productivity

Instantly translates a non-English source you want to read before deciding whether to save it to your library. Main catch: translated text isn't what gets saved into Zotero — the connector still captures the original page.

Review Add to Chrome (opens Chrome Web Store)
GrammarlyFreemium

Writing

Checks grammar and tone while you write around your Zotero-inserted citations in Google Docs or Word. Main catch: some advanced style suggestions sit behind Grammarly's paid tier.

Review Add to Chrome (opens Chrome Web Store)

Connector not detecting a source?

Refresh the page after opening the Zotero desktop app, since the connector checks for a running app when the page loads, not continuously afterward. More setup help is also in our general blog if you run into a different issue.

Frequently asked

Do I need to install anything besides the Chrome extension to use Zotero?

Yes, the Zotero Connector extension needs the free Zotero desktop app installed and running; the extension alone can't store or sync your library.

Why isn't the Zotero Connector saving anything when I click it?

The most common cause is the Zotero desktop app not being open; start the app first, then click the connector icon again.

Can I use Zotero without Chrome?

Yes, Zotero connectors exist for other browsers too, and the desktop app itself works independently of any browser for managing your existing library.

How do I add a citation from Zotero into Google Docs?

Install Zotero's word processor plugin, added automatically with the desktop app, then use the Add/Edit Citation button that appears in the Google Docs toolbar.

Can Zotero save PDFs I already have on my computer?

Yes, you can drag a local PDF directly into your Zotero library from the desktop app, separate from the browser connector.

What citation styles does Zotero support?

Zotero includes common styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago by default, with thousands more available to add from its style repository.

Is Zotero completely free to use?

The desktop app, browser connector, and citation syncing are free; only extra storage for large attached PDF libraries may require a paid tier.

Can multiple people share a Zotero library for a group project?

Yes, Zotero's group libraries let collaborators see the same collection and citations, syncing changes for everyone in the group.

Does Zotero work with Google Scholar?

Yes, the connector detects Google Scholar search results and individual paper pages, and can batch-save multiple results from a search page at once.

How do I move my Zotero library to a new computer?

Install the Zotero desktop app on the new computer and sign into the same account; your synced library, minus any storage-limited files, downloads automatically.

Can Zotero search inside the text of saved PDFs?

Yes, Zotero indexes full text from attached PDFs, so you can search for a phrase across your whole library, not just titles and authors.

What's the difference between a Zotero collection and a tag?

A collection is a folder-like grouping where an item has one primary home; a tag is a cross-cutting label you can attach to items across multiple collections.

How to Use Zotero in Chrome: Setup, Features and Tips