zotero-mcp

Quick start

1. Install (Python 3.10+):

uv tool install zotero-mcp-server     # or: pip install zotero-mcp-server

New to the command line? Try the community-built Zotero MCP Setup: a macOS GUI installer, one-click scripts for Mac and Windows, and a step-by-step guide.

2. Enable Zotero's local API: in Zotero 7+, open Settings → Advanced and tick Allow other applications on this computer to communicate with Zotero.

3. Connect your assistant:

Claude Desktop

zotero-mcp setup      # auto-configures Claude Desktop

or add the server by hand to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero": {
      "command": "zotero-mcp",
      "env": { "ZOTERO_LOCAL": "true" }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and other agents with a shell

Teach the agent to drive zotero-cli (the cheaper route, see below):

zotero-mcp install-skill

Or use the MCP server: for Claude Code, add the same mcpServers entry as above to ~/.claude.json.

ChatGPT, Cherry Studio, Chorus, Autohand and other clients

See Getting started.

Zotero itself (the Zotero Agent chat panel)

zotero-cli plugin     # where the .xpi is, and how to install it

Then in Zotero: Tools > Plugins, the gear, Install Plugin From File. Details: Zotero Agent plugin.

4. Writes (optional): on Zotero 10+, run zotero-mcp authorize-local once and choose Always Allow. On older Zotero, add ZOTERO_API_KEY and ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID to write through the web API.

Then ask things like "Find papers in my library on attention mechanisms", "Summarize the key findings of this paper", or "Highlight the main claims of this PDF".

Optional extras

The base install covers search, reading, annotations, and writes. Heavier features are extras:

…