University Libraries

Zotero should automatically appear in your word processor when you install the desktop version of Zotero. The Word Processor plugins are bundled with the installer.

Zotero works with the following word processors: Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, and Google Docs.

Make sure you have the latest version of Zotero, as of 2025 the latest version is Zotero 7. Any earlier version should be upgraded, and old plugins removed. Check out the official Zotero Documentation on word processor plugins which also includes troubleshooting instructions.

Basic actions you can take:

1. Restart your computer. After installing a system refresh may be needed to have the plugin detected.
2. Make sure your Zotero connector in your browser and your Zotero software are synced together with your free Zotero account. Re-watch the syncing video if needed.
3. Make sure your Microsoft Word or other word processor is updated. OHIO students and faculty can download for free at OITs website.
   • Restart your computer after downloading Zotero and completing the syncing process and after ensuring your Microsoft Office is updated.
4. Try Manually installing the Zotero Word Processor Plugin.
5. Still not working? Then explore Zotero's help forum or reach out to the Research Impact Librarian, Jourdan Corbitt.

Errors are infrequent, but can happen, especially when saving items/records from the general web, like Google. Zotero allows you make corrections.

DO NOT edit the citation in your Word processor if you have used the in-text citation add feature as the next refresh of citations and the error be back. To fix the error permanently, edit the wrong information in your Zotero library.

1. Locate the record/item in your Zotero library. Either by searching through "My Library" or from the subcollection.

2. Click on the title of the record that is incorrect.

3. On the right-hand-side, you can click into those fields to edit the title, author, etc. Make your edits.

If you noticed the error by using the in-text citation addition feature, then go back to your Word document, go to Zotero in your ribbon/toolbar, and click refresh. The reference will updated based on your edits from your Zotero library.

If the PDF is old or has incomplete data (often happens when saving PDFs from websites, not library databases) it will be unreadable to Zotero. Zotero tried to extract the metadata from the first few pages of the PDF. Details on Zotero's retrieving pdf metadata. 

This means that even after you drag/drop it into Zotero and retrieve metadata, it will not create your record. You will have to add the metadata manually.

Under the Adding Citation Data tab, see Manually Add... and Attaching Files...)

The Zotero browser extension may cause the screen to continuously blink but never fully connect to BrowZine. This is a redirect loop. The problem can fixed by going into the Zotero browser extension and disabling the proxy redirection.

For Chrome the directions are:

1. Click on the 3 dots below the 'X' to close your browser window.
2. Select 'More tools', and then click on 'Extensions'.
3. Click on 'Details' in the Zotero Connector.
4. Click on 'Extension options'. And under 'Proxies', uncheck the box “Enable proxy redirection”.

Full directions with screenshots can be found in this document, but feel free to reach out to the Research Impact Librarian, Jourdan Corbitt for more assistance.

Make sure that in your Zotero Library preferences, under General Settings, that the box is checked to automatically identify and attach PDFs.

Sometimes Zotero cannot find a PDF from where you are saving the record. You may have to manually add the PDF as an attachment to your record after you save it to your computer.

Increasing full text gathering in Zotero by adding Ohio University to the OpenURL advanced preference setting

By adding Ohio University's OpenURL, you will increase Zotero's ability to identify Ohio University Libraries' full text subscriptions and gather the full PDF to your library.

Steps to add Ohio University to the OpenURL:

1. In the Zotero software, click on Edit and then Preferences
2. Navigate to Advanced within Zotero Preferences
3. Under OpenURL, click on the drop down menu and click on "North America" and then "Ohio University"
4. Save preferences

Screenshot below demonstrates what to look for in Zotero's Preferences. This is Zotero 7, as long as your resolver says Ohio University you are good to go.

First, make sure you are using the Microsoft Word or Google Docs Zotero plug-in. If you copy and paste into a new document the highlighting may occur.

Still happening? Then check out the Zotero Help Forum for directions on how to remove.

Visit Zotero's help forum to ask the Zotero community or search the Zotero documentation space.

Note: These help resources are not managed or affiliated with Ohio University Libraries, so they will only be able to answer Zotero specific questions. If your question is Ohio University specific, reach out to your subject librarian.