Saving an article to Zotero requires both the Zotero program and the Zotero web browser connector. If you have not added those to your computer yet, go back and do so now.

Locate a journal article online, and find the Zotero connector icon on the top right-hand side of your web browser.

A web browser displaying an article in PubMed. A red arrow points at the Zotero browser plugin.

It's important for you to wait for the page to load fully. Your web browser's Zotero icon will transform into the shape of a little white square with grey lines on it.

Click on that Zotero button in your browser. A message will pop up telling you that Zotero is saving this item.

A web browser displaying an article. Beneath the Zotero plugin reads "Saving to My Library."

Next, look back to your Zotero program. You should see this item appear in your Zotero program.

The title appears in the center column, and more detailed information (like its title, authors, publishing journal, etc.), are all visible on the right-hand column. This is all the information that Zotero will need to build an auto-generated citation in a citation style of your choice.

The Zotero program, displaying one article saved to it.

Saving the full text of a journal article

Whenever possible, Zotero also saves the full-text PDF of the item at the same time as the citation information. Either scroll down the right-hand column, or click on the little arrow beside the title in the center column, which will reveal any attachments automatically saved to this entry.

The Zotero program, displaying the attachments for the one article saved to it.

If the item you're saving isn't open access, or you don't see a direct link to the full-text PDF on the webpage, Zotero will not save the PDF alongside all the citation information. Try following the MGetIt link first before saving the item to Zotero. Alternatively, you can download the PDF separately and attach it within the Zotero program.