Browsing and filtering the library

See the papers in your Mendeley or Zotero library, narrow the list down, and open a paper.

Applies to Mendeley and Zotero editions Windows · Linux · Mac · iPad · Android Free

The library screen

  • Mac · iPadThe left column has two tabs, Library and Across papers. Library shows the sidebar (smart views, libraries, collections, tags) and the list of papers. On iPhone the sidebar is its own screen.
  • WindowsThe left column has two tabs, Library and Across papers. Above the list are the library and collection pickers, Tags & keywords, the view chips and Sort. Hide library (Ctrl+B) gives the paper the whole window.
  • AndroidThe sidebar (smart views, libraries, collections, tags & keywords) sits on the left on a tablet and is its own screen on a phone. The list of papers is beside it.

Across papers searches inside all your papers and notes, rather than their titles. See Search.

  • AndroidOn Android, the button with a magnifier and lines in the library title bar opens Across papers.

Filter the list

  1. Choose what to show:
    • Views: All, Unread, In progress, Favorites and others.
    • Windows · Mac · iPad · AndroidMore smart views: Recently Added, Recently Read, Unsorted, Duplicates and Trash.
    • Windows · Mac · iPad · AndroidMendeley editionMy Publications lists the papers you authored.
    • WindowsThe chips also include Downloaded and Recently opened.
  2. Choose a library: your own or a group you belong to.
    • Mac · iPadYour own library is called Personal Library.
    • Windows · AndroidYour own library is called My Library.
  3. Choose a collection to see only its papers.
    • WindowsUse the Collections picker above the list.
  4. To filter by tag, open Tags & keywords and pick one or more tags. With several tags, papers that have any of them are shown. Clear tag filter removes the filter.
  5. Mac · iPad · AndroidTo filter by reading status, use the status chips above the list (unread, in progress, read).

Sort changes the order: recently added, recently modified, title or year.

Type in the search field above the list. It matches the title, author and year.

  • WindowsIt also matches DOI and tags.
  • Mac · iPadPress ⌘K to jump to the search field.
  • WindowsPress Ctrl+K to jump to the search field.

To find words inside papers and notes, use Across papers instead. See Search.

Open a paper

  • Mac · iPad · AndroidTap or click a paper.
  • WindowsDouble-click a paper, or select it and press Enter. Ctrl+Enter opens it beside the paper you are reading.

If the PDF is not on the device yet, it downloads first. See Downloading PDFs and reading offline.

Each row shows the paper's status: Unread, In progress or Read, a star if it is starred, and whether its PDF is already on the device.

The row menu

  • Mac · iPadLong-press a paper (right-click on Mac) for Select, Add to Collection, Mark as read / Mark as unread, Copy BibTeX, Copy citation key, Remove PDF from This Device (keep paper), Remove from Collection and Move to Trash. Swipe a row for quick actions such as starring.
  • WindowsRight-click a paper for Open, Open beside, Export figures and tables… (once its PDF is on this PC), Mark as Read / Mark as Unread, Add to Collection…, Remove from This Collection (while a collection is shown), Copy BibTeX, Copy citation key, Remove PDF from This PC and Move to Trash.
  • AndroidLong-press a paper for Open in right pane (on a wide screen), Select, Add to collection…, Remove from collection, Mark as read / Mark as unread, Remove local PDF and Move to Trash. Swipe a row for quick actions.

See also Copy with page, BibTeX, citation keys and Exporting figures and tables.

Select several papers

Mac · iPad · AndroidChoose Select (in the … menu or a row menu), tick the papers, and use the bar at the bottom to add them to a collection, download them, remove their PDFs from the device or move them to Trash.

Organizing your library

  • WindowsYou can add papers to collections, mark them read and move them to Trash here, and add PDFs. New collections, tags and details are made and edited in Mendeley Reference Manager or Zotero, and arrive with the next sync.
  • Mac · iPad · AndroidYou can add papers to collections, mark them read and move them to Trash here. Tags and details are edited in Mendeley or Zotero on your computer.
  • Emptying the Trash for good is done in Mendeley or Zotero on your computer.
Zotero edition

Zotero edition:

  • Stars and the read mark stay on this device, because Zotero has no read mark of its own.
  • Collections can be created, and papers added to or removed from them. Renaming, deleting and moving collections is done in Zotero.
  • The Trash is as far as Rectoly goes. Emptying it, which removes a paper for good, is always done in Mendeley Reference Manager or Zotero on your computer.

Updated September 20, 2026