Go to the Zotero Download Page, and click "Install Zotero"
If you are installing Zotero on a university-owned computer, you can bypass the Administration authentication page by downloading Zotero from the ITS Software Center.
A Word Processor Plugin is automatically installed when you download Zotero. This easy-to-use plug-in lets you insert citations and bibliographies directly into Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs. Although the plug-in automatically installs for Microsoft Word, you can learn more about plug-in functionality on the Zotero Word Processor Plug-In site.
The Zotero Connectors allow your web browser to save citations to your Zotero library automatically. Open the web browser you would like to use Zotero with, and click the Zotero Connector link for that browser to install it.
Each browser has its own version of the Zotero connector, so if you use Chrome and Firefox when doing research, you'll need to install both connectors.
After you have installed the connector, be sure to close and restart the browser.
Create an account on the Zotero website and, once you've validated your new account by email, Zotero will ask you to finish setting up your preferences.
Log in on the Zotero website with your username and password, then open Zotero Standalone by clicking on the Zotero icon in the browser toolbar or opening the Zotero Standalone app from your computer's dock.
On a Mac computer: click the actions menu button (which looks like a gear), at the top of the left column and click "Preference". Then click the "'Sync" tab.
On a PC computer: click the "Edit" drop-down from the top of the app, and click "Preference", then click the "Sync" tab
Enter your username and password into the sync preferences.
Zotero will now automatically sync your saved items!
To create a bibliography, open Zotero by clicking the "Z" in the upper right hand corner of the browser, then right click on the folder that contains the citations you plan to make into a bibliography. Choose "Create Bibliography from Collection"
Choose the citation style you want to use, the output mode will automatically be set to "Bibliography" and you can opt to either save the document as an RTF or copy to clipboard. Either method will allow you to copy and paste the bibliography into your paper.
Zotero also allows you to create in-text citations by using a Word Processor Integration PlugIn. Click here to find out more.
Zotero comes with many citation styles, but many more are available to download.
To install a style (via Firefox browser):
To install a style (via Zotero Standalone):
The new style will appear in Zotero's style file.