2 Getting Started
Zotero 8 released January 2026!
Read about what changed here. Highlights include a new unified citation dialog, built-in themes (Dark, Snow, Sepia), and automatic attachment filename syncing.
If you’re already running Zotero, you can upgrade from within Zotero by going to Help → “Check for Updates…”
2.1 Step 1: Download & Install Zotero
There are four things you want to do before you can use Zotero effectively:
Download and install the program from the Zotero website
Create a Zotero account (required to sync across devices & use shared-library features)
(Optional) Set-up & configure RStudio or Word integration
(Optional) Install (preferred) Internet browser extension
2.2 Need help?
Zotero has extensive online documentation that can help you with specific questions or issues.
You might also want to check out the Zotero Quick Start Guide. It likely has an answer to your question!
If for some reason you cannot or refuse to download the Zotero program, ZoteroBib offers a free in-browser solution to creating a bibliography.