Customizing the toolbar

Choose which tools sit on the tool rail beside the page (the toolbar above the paper on Windows and Linux), put the ones you use most first, and hide the ones you never use.

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

Open the customize screen

  • Mac · iPadChoose … › Customize toolbar… — in the … at the top right, or the one at the foot of the tool rail — or open the reader's settings › Toolbar.
  • WindowsSettings › Reader › Toolbar › Customize toolbar…. In a narrow window, More tools (…) in the toolbar has Customize toolbar… too.
  • AndroidTap … at the foot of the tool rail › Customize toolbar…, or Settings › Reader › Tool rail.

The tool rail Mac · iPad · Android

Mac · iPad · AndroidThe tools sit in a vertical rail at the edge of the page: on the left, or on the right with left-handed controls. The rail holds as many tools as the height of the screen allows. The rest, and Customize toolbar…, are in the … at its foot.

  • Mac · iPadShow tools at the top right shows or hides the rail. It starts shown on iPad and Mac and hidden on iPhone and in a narrow window, and Rectoly remembers your choice.
  • Mac · iPadWhile the rail is hidden, the tool keys such as H and U and the Apple Pencil gestures still work.
  • AndroidThe button beside the side panel button shows or hides the rail. On a phone the rail starts hidden and hangs just under the top buttons.
  • AndroidZotero editionIn Reading Mode, the rail's button is at the top left.
  • Mac · iPad · AndroidThe page moves aside only when the open rail would cover the text.

Reorder and hide tools

  1. Move a tool up or down with the arrows on its row (on iPad, drag the row).
  2. Use the switch on a row to show or hide that tool.
  3. Tools fill the rail (on Windows, the toolbar) from the top of the list. Those that do not fit go into ….
    • Mac · iPad · AndroidHow many fit depends on the height of the screen: on an upright iPad, all of them; fewer in landscape and on a phone. The customize screen tells you how many fit right now.
    • WindowsHow many fit depends on the width of the window.

Presets

If you are not sure where to start, pick a preset: Highlighting first, Handwriting first or Reading only. Each puts the tools for that way of working first.

Presets only change the order. Tools you switched off stay off. Reset to default order brings back the original order.

  • Mac · iPadYour toolbar order follows you to your other iPads and Macs through iCloud.

Customizing the toolbar is free.

Updated September 27, 2026