Search, read, annotate, and add to your Zotero research library, local or web.
To add Zotero MCP to Claude, run the install command below or copy the ready-made config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code further down. Restart your client after adding it and its tools show up in your next conversation. It needs 5 environment variables, listed below.
Install
uvx zotero-mcp-server@0.15.2Environment variables
ZOTERO_LOCALSet in your MCP configZOTERO_API_KEYSet in your MCP configZOTERO_LIBRARY_IDSet in your MCP configZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPESet in your MCP configZOTERO_MCP_TOOLSETSSet in your MCP configInstall with your client
claude mcp add zotero --env ZOTERO_LOCAL=<YOUR_ZOTERO_LOCAL> --env ZOTERO_API_KEY=<YOUR_ZOTERO_API_KEY> --env ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID=<YOUR_ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID> --env ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE=<YOUR_ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE> --env ZOTERO_MCP_TOOLSETS=<YOUR_ZOTERO_MCP_TOOLSETS> -- uvx zotero-mcp-server@0.15.2
Run this in a terminal to add the server to Claude Code.
What this does
Zotero MCP exposes a set of tools to Claude over the Model Context Protocol. After you add it to claude_desktop_config.json (snippet above) and restart Claude Desktop, those tools become callable inside any conversation.
Requirements
This server needs the following environment variables to be set before it can run:
ZOTERO_LOCAL ZOTERO_API_KEY ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE ZOTERO_MCP_TOOLSETS
Set these via the env object in your MCP config (see claude_desktop_config.json snippet above).
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Zotero MCP?
Run the Claude Code command in the install section to add Zotero MCP to Claude Code, or copy the ready-made config for your client from the install section on this page. Restart your client afterwards and the tools appear in your next conversation.
Which clients work with Zotero MCP?
This page carries setup and config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code. Any other MCP client that accepts a standard server config can connect to Zotero MCP as well.
Does Zotero MCP need an API key?
Yes. Before it can run, set these environment variables: ZOTERO_LOCAL, ZOTERO_API_KEY, ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID, ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE, ZOTERO_MCP_TOOLSETS. They go in the env block of your MCP config.
Imported from the Official MCP Registry. The details above come from the registry entry; the maker can claim this listing to correct them, add docs, and see its traffic.
Is this your MCP server?
Claim this listing to see its traffic, fix details yourself, and skip the review queue on future updates.
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