How To Use Mendeley Like A Pro! What You MUST Know Before Downloading [Web Importer, Full Tutorial]

TL;DR

Download and install Mendeley Desktop from ml.com, then create or sign into a Mendeley account so the library can sync.

Briefing Cornell Notes

Briefing

Mendeley becomes genuinely useful only after installing two add-ons: the Mendeley Web Importer for pulling citations from the web, and the Mendeley Site for Microsoft Word for generating in-text citations and bibliographies while writing. The setup starts with downloading Mendeley Desktop from ml.com, installing it on Windows, and creating (or signing into) a Mendeley account so the desktop library can sync with an online version.

Once logged in, the next step is to install the two “must-have” tools before importing any references. The Web Importer is designed to capture journal articles directly from web pages, but it can be finicky depending on the browser—Chrome tends to work better than alternatives like Vivaldi. After installation, the workflow is straightforward: open the Web Importer, sign in, navigate to a paper’s page online, and use the importer to detect and list the references it finds. From there, users can select a specific article and add it to their library, optionally organizing items into collections.

The second add-on, Mendeley Site for Microsoft Word, connects the library to the writing process. Installation can be done either from Mendeley’s Tools menu or through Microsoft Word’s Add-ins area (searching for “Mendeley Site” if it doesn’t appear in popular add-ins). After it’s installed, Word gains an “Mendeley Site” button that opens a panel listing the user’s saved references. Citations are inserted directly from that panel, and the citation style can be changed via citation settings—switching styles reformats the document’s citations to match the selected standard.

Before any of that writing integration matters, the transcript emphasizes how to build the library efficiently. Mendeley’s online library (accessible via ml.com under Library) mirrors the desktop library, enabling access across devices and integration with Word. For adding references, the preferred method is “Watch Folder,” where users point Mendeley to a folder and drop PDFs into it; Mendeley automatically imports and syncs them. Other import options include importing files from the computer or importing folders.

After references are in place, Mendeley’s interface supports cleanup and enrichment. Imported metadata such as DOI, ISSN, and Scopus identifiers often populate automatically, but incorrect fields can be edited directly in the record. Users can also attach and retrieve PDFs, then annotate them inside Mendeley—highlighting text, adding colored highlights, and using the built-in PDF viewer.

Finally, the transcript walks through the Word workflow: open the Mendeley Site panel, insert one or more citations, update the citation style (example shown with ACS Applied nanomaterials), and then manually insert the bibliography using Word’s Mendeley Site controls. The bibliography updates as edits occur, keeping citations and the reference list aligned. The overall takeaway is practical: install the two add-ons first, import references efficiently (especially via Watch Folder), and then use the Word integration to generate citations and bibliographies with minimal friction while writing.

Cornell Notes

Mendeley Desktop syncs with an online library, but it only becomes a full writing tool after installing two add-ons: Mendeley Web Importer and Mendeley Site for Microsoft Word. Web Importer lets users pull citations from paper pages online, though browser compatibility can matter; Chrome is more reliable than some alternatives. Mendeley Site for Word adds a panel where saved references can be inserted as in-text citations, with citation styles adjustable through citation settings. A bibliography must be inserted manually in Word, and it updates as citations change. Efficient library building is emphasized through Watch Folder, which automatically imports PDFs dropped into a monitored folder.

What two add-ons turn Mendeley from a library app into a writing workflow tool?

The transcript highlights two required installs. First is “Mendeley Web Importer,” used to import references from web pages into the library. Second is “Mendeley Site for Microsoft Word,” which adds an in-Word interface for inserting citations and managing citation styles while writing.

Why does the Web Importer sometimes fail, and what workaround is suggested?

The Web Importer can be buggy and browser-sensitive. The transcript notes that it may abort or fail to respond depending on the browser; Chrome is suggested as the browser that “managed to get it to work” compared with Vivaldi, which is described as finicky.

What’s the fastest way described for adding many references to a Mendeley library?

“Watch Folder” is presented as the primary method. Users choose a folder to monitor, then drop PDFs into it; Mendeley automatically imports and syncs the references, reducing the need to manually add items one by one.

How does Mendeley Site for Microsoft Word insert citations and change formatting?

In Word, the Mendeley Site button opens a panel listing the user’s library references. Users insert one or more citations from that list, then go to citation settings to change the citation style (the transcript demonstrates switching to ACS Applied nanomaterials). The document’s citation formatting updates to match the chosen style.

When does a bibliography appear in Word, and what must be done manually?

After inserting citations, the transcript notes there’s initially no bibliography/reference list. Users must manually insert it using the “insert bibliography” option (via the Mendeley Site controls). Once inserted, the bibliography stays “alive” and updates as the document’s citations change.

What kinds of reference details can be corrected after import?

Imported records may automatically populate identifiers like DOI, ISSN, and Scopus IDs. If anything is wrong, the transcript says users can click into the record and update fields directly. Users can also retrieve and annotate associated PDFs inside Mendeley.

Review Questions

What steps must be completed in order before importing references so that Mendeley can cite properly in Word?
Describe the Watch Folder workflow and why it’s preferred over manual importing.
What sequence of actions in Word produces in-text citations and then a bibliography using Mendeley Site?

Key Points

1
Download and install Mendeley Desktop from ml.com, then create or sign into a Mendeley account so the library can sync.
2
Install Mendeley Web Importer to capture citations from web pages, and expect browser compatibility issues (Chrome is suggested as more reliable).
3
Install Mendeley Site for Microsoft Word via Mendeley Tools or Word Add-ins so citations can be inserted while writing.
4
Build the library efficiently using Watch Folder by monitoring a folder and dropping PDFs for automatic import and sync.
5
Use collections to keep large libraries organized by research theme or project.
6
Verify and correct imported metadata (DOI, ISSN, Scopus identifiers) directly in each reference record when needed.
7
In Word, insert citations via Mendeley Site, change citation style in citation settings, then manually insert the bibliography so it updates with edits.

Highlights

Mendeley’s web-to-library workflow depends on Mendeley Web Importer, but it can be buggy—Chrome is the practical workaround mentioned.

Watch Folder is the preferred bulk-import method: drop PDFs into a monitored folder and Mendeley imports and syncs automatically.

Mendeley Site for Word provides a reference panel for inserting citations and switching citation styles, but the bibliography must be inserted manually.

Citation style changes in Word reformat the document’s citations, and the bibliography updates as the writing changes.

Topics

Mentioned

Andy Stapleton