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WebDAV Sync for Zotero Files

How to use WebDAV to sync files in Zotero

Syncing files in Zotero allows you to synchronize literature, notes, tags, etc. across different devices, achieving cross-device synchronization.

Sync Mechanism in Zotero

The content that needs to be synchronized in Zotero is divided into two parts: Data Syncing and File Syncing. Understanding the difference between these two is crucial for configuring synchronization.

Data Syncing

Data syncing refers to synchronizing your bibliographic item information (such as metadata like title, author, publication year), as well as notes, tags, etc.

  • Free and Unlimited: No matter how many items you have, Zotero officially provides unlimited data synchronization storage for free.
  • Must be Enabled: To use Zotero's sync function, you first need to register an account in Zotero and log in.

File Syncing

File syncing refers to synchronizing your actual files such as PDF attachments, images, audio, etc.

  • Official Storage Limit: Zotero officially provides 300MB of file storage space for free users. For most researchers, this space will run out quickly.
  • Alternative Solution: To break through the 300MB limit, you can use the WebDAV protocol to connect to third-party cloud storage services to synchronize attachments.

Note

WebDAV only applies to File Syncing. You must set up Data Syncing (log in to your Zotero account) in Zotero preferences first.

What is WebDAV?

WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) is a protocol that allows users to manage files on a server just like operating local files.

Zotero allows you to use it as an alternative to the official paid storage. This is very useful for users who want to sync PDFs and attachments across different devices but do not want to purchase Zotero's official storage space.

Which WebDAV Service Providers are Available?

According to Zotero's official documentation and community feedback, here are some recommended service providers that support WebDAV (in no particular order).

ProviderFree SpaceWebsiteNotes
Koofr10 GBhttps://koofr.eu/Easy to set up, servers located in Europe.
Jianguoyun1GB/mo (Upload) 3GB/mo (Download)https://www.jianguoyun.com/Fast access speed in Mainland China.

Note: If you need more options, please refer to Zotero Knowledge Base - WebDAV Providers.

Walkthrough: Configuring Koofr WebDAV

Koofr is a cloud storage service provider based in Europe, recommended for its good privacy policy and official support tutorials for Zotero.

Register and Set Up Koofr Password

  1. Register a Koofr account (provides 2GB initial free space, can reach up to 10GB by completing tasks).
  2. Log in to the Koofr web version.
  3. Click on the avatar in the upper right corner and select Preferences.
  4. Select Password in the left menu.
  5. Scroll down to the App Passwords area.
  6. Enter a name in the input box (e.g., Zotero), then click Generate.
  7. Be sure to record the generated password, as this password is only shown once.

Configure Koofr in Zotero

  1. Open Zotero, go to Edit -> Preferences (Zotero -> Settings on Mac).
  2. Select the Sync tab.
  3. In the File Syncing area, select WebDAV.
  4. Fill in the following information:
    • URL: Select https, enter app.koofr.net/dav/Koofr in the address bar.
    • Username: Your Koofr registered email.
    • Password: The App Password you just generated.

Note

Pay attention to the capitalization in the URL, the first letter of Koofr is capitalized.

Verify and Sync

  1. Click Verify Server.
  2. After successful verification, click OK to save the settings.
  3. Click the sync button in the upper right corner of the Zotero main interface to start syncing attachments.

Walkthrough: Configuring Jianguoyun WebDAV

Below, taking Jianguoyun as an example, we introduce how to configure WebDAV synchronization.

Enable Jianguoyun WebDAV Service

  1. Log in to Jianguoyun Web Version.
  2. Click on the account name in the upper right corner and select Account Information.
  3. Click on the Security Options tab.
  4. In the Third-party Application Management area, click Add Application.
  5. Enter a name (e.g., Zotero) and click Generate Password.
  6. Record the generated password, it will be used in Zotero later.

Server Address

Usually, the Jianguoyun WebDAV server address is: https://dav.jianguoyun.com/dav/

Configure WebDAV in Zotero

  1. Open Zotero software.
  2. Go to Edit -> Preferences (Zotero -> Settings on Mac).
  3. Select the Sync tab.
  4. In the File Syncing area:
    • Check Sync attachment files in My Library.
    • Select WebDAV in the dropdown menu (default is Zotero).
  5. Fill in the WebDAV information:
    • URL: Select https, enter dav.jianguoyun.com/dav/
    • Username: Your Jianguoyun registered account (usually email).
    • Password: The Application Specific Password generated on the Jianguoyun web page just now (note: not your Jianguoyun login password).

Verify Server

  1. After entering the information, click the Verify Server button on the right.
  2. If the configuration is correct, Zotero will prompt that the verification is successful.
  3. After successful verification, Zotero may prompt to create a folder named zotero on your WebDAV server, just click confirm.

Sync Tip

Once configured, Zotero will automatically sync your attachments in the background. If you use it on multiple computers, please ensure that each computer has the same WebDAV configuration.

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