Zotero and LaTeX

Import your Zotero library into a LaTeX project in BibTeX or BibLaTeX format.

Zotero lets you collect and organize bibliographic references. BlaBLaTeX lets you connect a Zotero library to a LaTeX project and import it as a .bib file.

The file can be created in BibTeX or BibLaTeX format. References remain managed in Zotero and can then be updated in the project using Refresh.

Connection

Connect Zotero to BlaBLaTeX

In BlaBLaTeX, open Integrations, then Zotero. Sign in to your Zotero account and authorize BlaBLaTeX to access your library.

Import

Import a Zotero library into a LaTeX project

Once your Zotero account is connected, the library can be added directly from your LaTeX project.

1

Add a file

Open Add files, then select From Zotero.

2

Choose the library

Select your Zotero library and specify the name of the .bib file.

3

Choose the format

Select BibTeX or BibLaTeX, then create the file.

Add files

New file
Upload
From another project
From external URL
From Zotero

Import a BibTeX file from your Zotero account

Library
My Library
File Name In This Project
zotero.bib
Format
BibTeX
Cancel Create

The available format can be BibTeX or BibLaTeX. Your personal library and the Zotero group libraries accessible to your account can be used.

Citations

Cite a Zotero reference in LaTeX

Each reference in the zotero.bib file has a citation key. This key can be used with \cite{...} in the LaTeX document.

In the zotero.bib file

@book{knuth_introduction_2026,
  title  = {Introduction to {LaTeX} with {BlaBLaTeX}},
  author = {Knuth, Donald},
  year   = {2026},
}

In the LaTeX document

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

Donald Knuth \cite{knuth_introduction_2026}.

\bibliographystyle{plain}
\bibliography{zotero}

\end{document}

In this example, knuth_introduction_2026 is the citation key found in zotero.bib. The bibliography is generated from this file when the document is compiled.

Update

Update the bibliography from Zotero

References in the imported file are managed in Zotero. After making changes to your library, open the .bib file in BlaBLaTeX and click Refresh.

The file is then updated from Zotero. Recompile the document to include the updated references.

Imported from Zotero
Refresh Download 
@book{knuth_introduction_2026,
  title  = {Introduction to {LaTeX} with {BlaBLaTeX}},
  author = {Knuth, Donald},
  year   = {2026},
}
Zotero Refresh zotero.bib LaTeX compilation PDF
Resources

Learn more about Zotero

To learn more about Zotero and bibliographic reference management, see the official documentation.

Official Zotero documentation