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PDF to Zotero BibTeX — Extract References from PDF

Extract references from a PDF bibliography, verify them against academic databases, and download a .bib file ready for Zotero.

No signup · No credit card · Works in your browser

How does it work?

1

Step 1

Upload your PDF bibliography

Drop a PDF that contains a references section. CiteMe extracts the bibliography server-side and discards the file.

2

Step 2

Verify extracted metadata

CiteMe matches each reference against OpenAlex, CrossRef, and Semantic Scholar so DOIs, journals, years, and authors come from canonical records where possible.

3

Step 3

Download for Zotero

Export the extracted references as a BibTeX .bib file, then import the file into Zotero or your reference-manager workflow.

By CiteMe Editorial Team·

Which citation styles are supported?

Need it in a specific citation style?

Format the result in the style your paper requires — APA, MLA, Harvard, Vancouver, Chicago, or IEEE.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I import the file into Zotero?
Download the .bib file and import it in Zotero with File > Import. Use this path when you prefer BibTeX over the default PDF to Zotero RIS workflow.
Why does this use BibTeX?
Zotero accepts BibTeX-style bibliographic records, and .bib files work well for LaTeX, Overleaf, and reference-manager import workflows.
Does CiteMe store my PDF?
No. The PDF is used to extract the references section during processing; CiteMe keeps the resulting citation metadata for the session, not the uploaded PDF file.

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Each result shows its match evidence and metadata source.