Setup Zotero and Connector

Close all Microsoft products on your computer (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
Go to Zotero.org
Download and install the Zotero desktop application
Install the appropriate Zotero Connector for your browser (Firefox or Chrome usually works best)
Set up a Zotero.org user account
- Upper right corner > Log In > Register for Free Account
- Use a personal email address to ensure access to your library content after you graduate.

You will have 300 MB free storage space in the online account. On your desktop, you have as much storage as your computer allows.

Backup and Sync Your Library

Synching your reference library to your online account enables you to access your updated library from any computer with an internet connection. Keeping your online library updated also works as a backup if something were to happen to your computer or desktop application.

Open the Zotero desktop app
Click Edit (on PC) or Zotero (on Mac) > Preferences >Sync
Enter your Zotero username and password
Check "sync automatically"
Check both boxes under "File Syncing" (sync attachment files)

If you think that you will have a very large library, you may want to disable synching of the attachment files. The limit for the online storage of a free Zotero account is 300 MB.

You can also manually create a backup of your library. Go to File > Export Library. Here you can choose to include notes and/or files in the backup file. Your library will be saved as a compressed file that you can choose to import into Zotero on a new computer if needed.

Language

This guide will refer to the English version of Zotero. If you have installed the Swedish version, it may be easier to follow the instructions if you temporarily switch to the English version. Go to: Edit (PC) or Zotero (Mac) > Preferences > Advanced > General. Change language to English in the drop down menu.